MEXICO — The Wills Homestead Museum opened its doors at 8 a.m. June 6 as sixth grade students from Mountain Valley Middle School were met by Mexico Historical Society members.

Students, accompanied by teachers, were guided throughout the museum house and barn.

Norman Vashaw showed and explained the use of old barn tools, a privy, horse stalls, the cordwood saw, double-runner sled and miscellaneous tools. An early model computer, shortwave radio, television set, record player and radio donated by Leo Dyer of Radio Shack made up a separate display.

Robert Daigle showed a classroom with student desks, a teacher desk, American flag and a potbellied stove. Many trophies, yearbooks, uniforms, old photos of sports teams, award and Pinto banners were on display. Students were interested in the typewriters and vintage books.

Marge Harlow demonstrated the use of old utensils in the main house. The students saw an apron made out of grain bags, a salt cellar and an ice box.

Millie Vashaw showed the students needlepoint furniture made by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gogan and an exhibit of the Gogan family. The Gogan family owned the house at one time and has donated many of its furnishings.

The bedroom displays included a baby crib, a portrait of Donald Haines as a baby and an antique hammock that he slept in, and vintage hats on the dresser.

Irene Hutchinson showed the students the Genealogy and Resource Room and explained how to trace their family tree. Many Mexico families’ history is held along with books written by local authors, which can be used for research.

A photography area was set up to take pictures for the Maine Memory Network. One exhibit, created by Hutchinson, is “A Man’s Life in a Suitcase,” the story of John Barry of Mexico.

Lorraine Legere showed the dining room featuring a dining room set with china cabinet, hutch and table donated by Bea Shaw. A photograph album of the late Dr. Victor Abbott family was on display.

Exhibits and artifacts of area churches were on display, including an oil painting of the Congregational Church painted by longtime Mexico resident Bernadette Arseneault. Exhibits on Ridlonville proved to be a tool to discuss a part of Mexico’s past.

Students viewed an exhibit featureing veterans buried in foreign countries in World War I and World War II, as well as an exhibit of Fred Richards who served in World War I and returned to live out most of his life in Mexico.