CASCO – Members of the Raymond-Casco Historical Society are looking to preserve pieces of the past. Their goal is to gather a wide variety of items of local historic interest so they can fill their new Route 302 museum.

The newly built museum was donated by Henry and Zeena Watkins.

A grand opening is scheduled for Sunday, July 27, with a dedication ceremony starting at 10 a.m.

In addition, there will be two other events leading up to the day. From 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 19, there will be a reception for members and friends. On Wednesday, July 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. Appraisal Night will be held with Harry Hepburn from Heritage Antiques, Harrison, checking antique items.

A suggested donation of $5 for each item appraised will go into the society endowment fund.

“Word is spreading, and people are starting to call us about donating some of the most wonderful antique and vintage items,” said Wayne Holmquist of Raymond, society president.

Museum members are especially interested in written word items such as genealogies, newspapers and records related to the two towns, the schools, churches and businesses. Photographs and paintings of the local landscape are needed, as are vintage and antique home furnishings and clothing.

“We’d like to put together an entire room setting to show people what family life looked like in Raymond or Casco in the early to mid 1800s,” said member Ann Miller of Casco.

The society is also interested in developing museum displays that would feature local turn-of-the-century hunting, fishing and camp life. They encourage residents to think twice before throwing anything away when cleaning out the attic this summer.

For information about donations, membership or volunteer opportunities, call Elizabeth Bullen, vice president, at 998-3123 or Betty McDermott at 655-4646 or visit www.raymondcascohistorical.org.