NORWAY -The Waterford Historical Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 8, at the Wilkins House in Waterford village.

The meeting will be preceded by a potluck supper.

Following a short business meeting the program presentation by Paul Artlip will be on the Civil War. Paul and his wife first came to Maine to visit with a friend in 1970. Subsequently they purchased the old West Stoneham Schoolhouse and converted it into a camp for seasonal use.

The Artlips have relocated 34 times in the eastern United States and have lived in all the cities and towns where there were major Civil War battlefields.

Paul will be augmenting his program with diaries from an area Civil War soldier, Ben Tucker’s great-great-great-uncle, who was a harness maker. Also on display will be a chest containing the tools of his trade along with tin type photographs.

Artifacts relating to the Civil War era will be welcome for display. Items from the Waterford Historical Society museums will be shown as well.

The society will be honoring Civil War veterans by displaying the recently completed Waterford Civil War Veterans Plaque. Descendants of Civil War veterans are invited to attend and, if they are comfortable, share some information about their ancestors’ service.