CASCO — The Raymond-Casco Historical Museum will open for another exciting summer on Saturday, June 1. Hours will be Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. until Oct. 6.

There will be no admission fee; donations are encouraged and help ensure the museum’s continued well being and stability.

This year will feature the opening of the newly restored barn along with the existing museum and the classic antique automobile barn. The new barn will have displays of larger items of yesteryear, including a variety of farm equipment, tools and many other items and displays.

Several presentations are scheduled for this summer at the main museum on Route 302.

On June 10 at 6:30 p.m. Henry H. Hamilton will speak about the Spanish Flu of 1918. Hamilton was born and raised in Otisfield.

He spent 23 years working internationally in the Third World and war-torn nations of West Africa, The Balkans, Pakistan and Afghanistan. He was employed by the Peace Corps, USAID, State Department, the UN and others. Hamilton is presently occupied as a hobby farmer and proprietor of the Maine Fun Farm. 

His discussion will give insights to the following questions: Why was a disease that began in Kansas called the Spanish Flu? The Spanish Flu killed more people in a single year than did the Black Death in four years, yet history books make little mention of it. Why is this? Most military deaths happened in a bed from the flu rather than in combat. This is a fact that is seldom remembered from the World War I era. Why? Did the Spanish Flu influence the outcome of the war? How did the Spanish Flu affect local Maine Communities?

On June 15 at 2 p.m. Betty Djerf, the daughter of Princess Goldenrod of Raymond, will come from New York City to talk about her mother’s life in Maine. Princess Goldenrod was a Penobscot Native American, an entertainer, a lecturer and a business-woman who sold native-made products and operated a shop locally. Princess Goldenrod also helped the local economy by employing local families to make many of the products that she sold.

On July 8 at 6 p.m. Harry Hepburn III will return to share his vast knowledge of antique clocks as well as clocks made in Maine.  Hepburn has been a full time antiques dealer since 1971 and has specialized in antique clock repair since 1968. He is a licensed and bonded auctioneer and appraiser of antiques and personal property since 1977.

He is well recognized throughout New England as an authority on early clocks, period furniture and their accessories.

Hepburn will discuss, evaluate and appraise clocks brought by attendees.

On Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. Cathy Corbett, a Maine native, 25-year resident of Otisfield and the owner of the Oxford Mill End Store, will share her knowledge of all aspects of hand braided rugs.

Corbett will include information about the history of braided rugs and why they were created, what materials were most commonly used, color choices and of course the passing along of these pieces from one generation to the next. She will also include insightful information concerning the production of wool material in Oxford at the woolen mill that operated there for more than 150 years.

Corbett will have several braided rugs displayed as well as the tools that are used to make a rug. She will demonstrate how the tools are used.

On Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. John Manoush will speak about life in the early 1800s in the area.

As a trustee of the Hawthorne Community Association for the last 11 years, Manoush has learned a lot about what Nathaniel Hawthorne’s early life was like when he lived in Raymond between about 1812 and 1825. The fact that the Hawthorne’s home is still standing after 200 years attests to the fame of its former resident — but what about the average working person? What were their homes and lives like?

Picking up from where he left off at last year’s presentation, Manoush will continue on to other aspects of everyday life in the early 19th century, including eating, drinking and smoking; shopping and entertainment; and travel.

For more information visit www.raymondcascohistory.org or call Pam Grant at 655-2438.

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