BETHEL – A fall course, “Wood and Woods: Logging and Landscape in Northern New England,” will be offered by the Bethel Historical Society’s Regional History Center beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The course in being offered in conjunction with the current exhibit at the society’s O’Neil Robinson House, “Wood and Woods: Finding a Middle Ground,” and will explore many of the issues raised in the exhibition. The Nov. 4 class will deal with the region’s logging heritage and include a visit to the exhibit by Bruce Towle, who organized and prepared it.

Society Director Stanley R. Howe, who will coordinate the course, will also present the historic background of logging with a slide lecture.

The second class on Nov. 10 will focus on a presentation by Wayne Millen, assistant director of the Resource Division of the White Mountain National Forest based in Gorham, N.H., who will discuss the history of the National Forest and its practices, procedures and goals through the years.

The third class on December 1 will feature a panel consisting of foresters, forest land owners and representatives of organizations which advocate limits on logging. This presents an opportunity for participants to hear a variety of viewpoints and to interact with some of those involved with this complex issue. The fee for the course will be $10 for non-members and $8 for society members. To register, call the society office at (207) 824-2908 or (800) 824-2910 or use the e-mail address: [email protected].

The fourth lecture in the 2003 Series on the history of Maine transportation sponsored by the Bethel Historical Society and funded in part by a grant from the New Century Community Program and the Maine Humanities Council was held Oct. 9 at the Dr. Moses Mason House Lecture Hall.

Mason Philip Smith, co-author of “Four Short Blasts: The Great Gale Of 1898 and The Loss Of The Steamer Portland,” presented a lecture on that topic to an audience of approximately 40. He discussed the nature of the storm and the fact that the ship was ill-suited to withstand its ferocity, which sent it to the bottom of the Atlantic with a large loss of life including four of Smith’s relatives. Recently, the wreckage has been discovered, but in respect for the dead, its exact location has not been made public. Smith had copies of his book available and autographed them for anyone wishing to obtain one.

Prior to the lecture, three other authors were available to sign and sell their books, Robert Spidell, “The Pynelis Journals;” Pat Stewart, “Mollyockett;” and Randall Bennett, “The White Mountains: Alps of New England.”

Further information about the society and its activities may be obtained by calling (207) 824-2908 or (800) 824-2910 or emailing at the address listed above. The mailing address is P.O. Box 12, Bethel, ME 04217-0012.