MINOT – The Minot Historical Society met recently at the home of Paul and Frances Lodge in West Minot Village. Members toured the numerous flower gardens which the Lodges have established.

Frances Lodge gave a history of the gardens, which were started after the ice storm of 1998. There are many “Garden rooms” which propagate different flowers. Paul Lodge has recorded a complete record of all the flowers in each garden by botanical name as well as the popular name. He has also recorded where and from whom each species was obtained.

Frances Lodge spoke of their varied colored violets, columbines, lilies, iris, daffodils, tulips and many different and rarely seen flowers.

Paul Lodge is also a model train enthusiast. He has an extensive layout in his barn attached to their home. The society was given a tour of this exhibit which included villages with buildings built to scale. He has notebooks which have newspaper clippings of the history of Maine railroads. Paul Lodge also has a notebook, which has the records of his vast collection and layout. He does classes on model railroading.

In other business, thanks were given to Beverly Spofford and her committee for the fine display at the Minot Community Fun Festival. Also thanks for the donation of a book written by Raymond Philbrick, which will become a part of Minot’s history. Larry Fields was thanked for the American flag he donated to the society. Barbara Driscoll donated a picture of the Pottle Hill School with the names of the children playing in front of the school.

The Saturday, July 16, fund-raiser supper will be held at the West Minot Grange Hall from 4:30 to 6 p.m. This is a roast pork supper with strawberry shortcake for dessert.

The Aug. 9 meeting will be at 6 p.m. at the West Auburn School. Everyone is to bring a sandwich, and dessert will be furnished. A typical one-room school class will be part of the program with Donna Berry as the teacher. June Spear will speak on how the West Auburn School was rescued.