BETHEL – Ben B. Conant, curator of the Paris Cape Historical Society, will be the featured speaker at the next lecture in the Bethel Historical Society’s 2008 Series at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, in the meeting room of the Dr. Moses Mason House.

Titled “Marketing Maine Apples,” the presentation will focus on several apple growers primarily operating in western Maine under names that included the Oxford Bears Fruit Growers Association and the Indian Head Fruit Growers based in Hebron/Minot/Turner, Andoxco, Conant Brothers, South Paris, and the Oxford Fruit Products Co., Buckfield.

Conant will trace the apple growing and marketing tradition back to the founding of the Maine Pomological Association in 1873 and discuss the relationship with the English market for the fruit up to the 1930s when economic changes severely curtailed the companies’ opportunities for success.

The lecture is free and open to all those interested.

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.