MINOT – The Minot Historical Society met at the Town Office on June 10. Donna Berry, a member of the West Auburn School Historical Society board, addressed members.

She told the history of the West Auburn one-room schoolhouse that was used from 1843 to 1950. When the Auburn School Department announced its intention to dispose of the school, local citizens and alumni, under the leadership of George Anthony, raised the necessary funds to restore the school.

The first classes were offered to visiting school groups in 1999. Berry, educator at the school, recreates an 1850’s school day. The children experience reading, spelling, arithmetic, a penmanship lesson with a quill pen and recess.

In 2000 the West Auburn School Historical Society applied for and received a New Century grant from the Maine Humanities Council. It was used to record a video of former students and teachers of the school. After showing the video, Berry shared some of the old textbooks from her collection and invited members to try their hand at writing with a quill pen.

A visit to the schoolhouse may be scheduled by calling Berry at 346-3106.

President Hester Gilpatric said a meeting with Christi Mitchell was scheduled for June 19 at her home to discuss cataloging Minot homes.

Work is under way at the William Ladd Homestead site in preparation for making a park on the property. Members are clearing old brush and cutting dead and/or necessary trees.

The Minot Consolidated School children have written letters to the society about fund-raising monies for a war veteran memorial and a plaque for the 1945 D-6 Catapillar snowplow.

Mechanic Falls True Value donated $35 toward the purchase of a coffee urn for the society. Madeline Hicks and Eleanor Thayer also contributed.

The next meeting will be held Tuesday, July 8. Members and other interested persons are asked to meet at the home of John White, 193 Jackson Hill Road, at 7 p.m. to see the flower gardens. White is well known for his Iris gardens.