BETHEL – Earle G. Shettleworth, Maine Historic Preservation Commission director and state historian, was the speaker at the 42nd annual meeting held on Sept. 11 at the society’s Dr. Moses Mason House exhibit hall.

In a slide presentation, Shettleworth provided images of figures with Maine connections who ran for national office at the presidential or vice presidential level, including Hannibal Hamlin in 1860, James G. Blaine in 1884, Thomas B. Reed and Arthur Sewell in 1896, Margaret Chase Smith in 1964, George H.W. Bush in 1980, 1988 and 1992 and Edmund Muskie in 1968 and 1972.

The speaker also included samples of campaign buttons and banners that were used in the campaigns.

Prior to the program, a brief business meeting was conducted by outgoing President Allen Cressy, who announced that the report of the 2007 annual meeting was published in the Courier as well as the annual financial statement.

Cressy said total assets (including buildings and equipment) had grown $62,000 since the previous year to total $1,267,221.

A moment of silence was observed for all those members who died since the last annual meeting. They included Robert M. Young, Barbara H. Brown, Ronald E. Snyder, Arline K. Hoar, Otis Bartlett, Dexter Stowell, Doris Valentine, Doris Brown, James T. Keith, Florence Hastings, John B. Head, Dorothy Christie, Alan Chastenet, Samuel H. Timberlake, Rudi Honkala, Michael Revay, J. Richard Littlefield, John A. Bremer, Eleanor Wilson, Richard M. Ford, Sylvia E. Wight, E. Marna McGinnis and Arlene Lyon.

Cressy reviewed some highlights of the past year and thanked volunteers, staff and fellow board members for their help and cooperation in making the year a success.

Kent G. Taylor, a new trustee and chairman of the Development Committee, spoke briefly on last year’s planning study and the resulting Readiness Task Force, which he chaired in 2007-2008, and the steps taken since that time to build organizational capacity.

Executive Director Stan Howe introduced the incoming development director, James Dock, who will begin his duties later in the month.

Sally Taylor, Historic Preservation Committee, in the absence of the committee’s chairman, Ken Bohr, presented the 2008 Preservation Award to Bruce Perry and Heidi Davidson-Perry for the following: “The recipients rescued, removed and reassembled an early 19th century English barn from East Bethel and adapted it as the focal point of their 21st century residence on Sunset Hill.”

The 22nd annual Noll Volunteer Service Award was presented to Blake and Rachel MacKay for their outstanding service to the society. Blake has been a long-time member of the Building Committee since the 1980s. He has also been willing to help with electrical problems and spent many volunteer hours assisting John Greenleaf in rewiring the Robinson House in the early years of the 21st century.

MacKay has been active for some time as a member of the Special Projects Committee, which works on receptions, meals and other related activities. Marjorie MacArthur Noll was an outstanding volunteer and an inspiration for many volunteers in the early days of the society.

Cressy presented honorary memberships to the following: Suzanne Fiske, former trustee, longtime chairwoman of the Museum Committee and guide in the museum in the early years of the furnishing and operating the Dr. Moses Mason House; Jack and Lucy Nordahl, for Jack’s longtime service in laying out each issue of the Courier and Lucy’s service as a museum shop volunteer and assistance with the St. Never’s Day sale through the years; Warren Stearns, longtime volunteer in the research library, who transcribed and annotated the Powers diary being published in the Courier, contributor of information on the Bethel area families included in the Maine Families in 1790 series published by the Maine Genealogical Society.

Also, Dean and Priscella Walker, for Dean’s service on the Nominating Committee for a number of years and as a longtime and active member of the Building Committee and for Priscella’s service as a trustee and as museum shop manager for several years.

To be selected as an honorary member, one has to be at least age 75 and have compiled a long and outstanding record of service to the society.

The Nominating Committee, consisting of Arlene Lowell, Dean Walker and Arlan Jodrey, presented the following officers and trustees for consideration: president, Susan Herlihy; vice president, William Andrews; secretary, Kent G. Taylor; treasurer, Walter Hatch; trustees, Rodney Harrington, Bruce Pierce, Dennis Wilson and Allen Cressy. Mary Keniston and Arlan Jodrey were elected as the general membership representatives on the 2009 Nominating Committee.

More information about the society and its activities may be obtained by calling 824-2908 or 800-824-2910, e-mailing [email protected] or visiting www.bethelhistorical.org.