RANGELEY – Handed down from the Penobscot tribe to early Maine settlers, bean-hole bean dinners eventually became a favorite within the logging camps. That traditional burying of the beans is carried on each year during several Maine festivals and celebrations, including the 26th annual Rangeley Logging Festival Days on July 28 and 29.
The burying of the bean-hole beans will be the kickoff event along with a biscuit bake and tasting at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Rangeley Lakes Region Logging Museum. Lucille Richard, who founded the museum and festival with her husband, Rodney, said watching the beans being buried is a popular event.
“Some people have no idea how they are cooked,” she said. “They seem to enjoy seeing all parts of it.”
The festival will continue Friday night with music by the Little Fiddleheads, young Rangeley fiddlers, and the Rangeley Ramblers before the Little Miss and Mr. Woodchip contest for 6- to 8-year-olds begins at 7 p.m. at the Episcopal Church. After the contest will be the Loggers Hall of Fame induction of one or more people who have spent a good portion of their lives working in the woods.
Saturday’s festivities begin with the parade at 10 a.m. on Main Street. The parade has no theme for the floats. “But it sounds like there’ll be some interesting ones,” Lucille said.
Everyone will then move to the museum and the adjoining field to watch woodcarving by Rodney, also known as the Mad Whittler. The beans will be served at 11 a.m., and about 20 artisans will have their work on display and for sale. Music will be played by the Rangeley Ramblers and the Old Crow Band.
The logging games begin at 1 p.m. with contests like the pulp toss and two-man crosscut saw competition. Richard said contestants are amateurs and locals, which makes the event more enjoyable to watch.
A raffle will also take place, and prizes include a carved dog by Rodney, a quilted wall hanging, a child’s Alpine rocking chair and Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, and a handcrafted loon by Rodney Richard Jr.
Lucille said she and Rodney continue to operate the museum and organize the Logging Days to educate the public about the history of logging in Rangeley.
“It was a big industry, the only industry, in Rangeley years ago,” she said. “There’s a lot of heritage to it.”
Among some of the interesting exhibits in the museum, there are 19 Alden Grant paintings of logging in Maine, and it is the only such series in existence.
“One of his relatives lives in town and told us about his beautiful paintings,” Lucille said. “We were able to buy them by struggling, working hard and taking out loans.”
The museum also has 100 chain saws of every brand and size and a collection of folk art.
“There are plenty of nice things to see in it,” Lucille said.
Comments are no longer available on this story