BETHEL – The Bethel Historical Society’s Program Committee met to finalize the 2006 lecture series, which will focus on the character of Maine and Maine characters.

The first lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10, and feature a presentation by Paul T. Burlin, PhD, dean, College of Arts and Sciences, University of New England, on “Maine-Hawaii Connections.”

On Thursday, June 14, State Historian Earle G. Shettleworth Jr., director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, will speak on “A Painter’s Progress: The Life, Work and Travels of Harrison Bird Brown of Portland, Maine.”

The Hall Memorial Lecture during Sudbury Canada Days will focus on “Western Maine Mining and Miners.” Vandall T. King of Rochester, N.Y., will be the speaker.

William B. Krohn, USGUS Biological Resources Division, Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Maine in Orono, will discuss “Joshua Gross Rich (1820-1897): Western Maine Pioneer and Wildlife Writer” at the society’s annual meeting on Thursday, Sept. 13.

On Thursday, Oct. 11, David Fuller of Farmington will discuss “The Spruce Gum Industry of Maine.”

The final lecture will be on Thursday, Nov. 8, and it will feature a presentation by Society Director Stanley R. Howe on “Elizabeth Mason Carter (1907-2006): A Centennial Retrospective.”

All lectures will be held in the Dr. Moses House Meeting Room and are free and open to anyone interested.

For more information about the society and its activities, those wishing may call 824-2908 or 800-824-2910, send an e-mail to info@bethelhistorical.org or visit www.bethelhistorical.org.