MONMOUTH – A recent special event at the Monmouth Museum included a reception and VIP guided tour for all Monmouth Academy Alumni Association members who attended their annual meeting at the Monmouth Academy recently.

The Monmouth Museum joined the alumni activities and hosted alumni from the community, surrounding towns and many states.

The general store and reception center for the museum displayed portraits of famous Monmouth Academy alumni and renowned citizens of Maine. The portraits had been in storage for more than 25 years and had been restored for the event by volunteers.

The majority of the portraits were painted by Harry Cochrane, who was raised by his grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. James Cochrane of Monmouth. Cochrane was a naturally gifted and prolific artist. Locally, his work is seen at the Kora Temple Building in Lewiston, where he painted murals in 1927. He was also the interior artist for Cumston Hall in Monmouth. Cochrane was a graduate of Monmouth Academy.

Portraits in the display included Samuel Benson, Dr. Charles Cumston, Chancellor James Roscoe Day, Franklin Simmons, John Franklin Stevens, George Evans, Gen. Selden Connor, Major General Henry Dearborn, Dr. Alonzo Garcelon, Lorettrus Sulton Metcalf, Albert Moore Spear, Gen. John Chandler and the Rev. Charles Edson Owen.

Paintings by other artists included Arthur J. Chick, Admiral Joseph Fowler, Truman Hollis and Harry Cochrane.

In addition to the collection of portraits, original copies of Monmouth Academy graduation exercises were on display, including one for Nov. 6, 1829. Alumni guests were greeted with a window display at the reception center of vintage Monmouth Academy sportswear.

The newest acquisition of the museum, an original Monmouth store ledger dated 1825-1827, was also on display. The ledger showed daily activity of the store as well as names of the local residents who did business and what they purchased.

The purpose of the Monmouth Museum is to preserve evidence of the way of life in the town over the centuries. In the present collection, housed in the museum’s nine buildings, are artifacts representing the industrial and domestic life of the small community.

The special event is one of several presented by the museum over the past summer.

Currently the museum is conducting a membership drive and asking people to join or renew their membership. Single membership is $15; family, $25; and senior (60+), $5. Business/corporate level is $100. Checks should be payable to Monmouth Museum and mailed to P.O. Box 332, Monmouth, ME 04259-0352.