RUMFORD —  Rumford Historical Society will begin its year at 7 p.m.  Wednesday, Sept. 18, in the town hall auditorium. Persons attending are asked to enter and exit the building through the River Street entrance adjacent to the Rumford Police Department.

There will be a brief business meeting at which Treasurer Lewis Irish will present the annual financial report.

Following the business meeting, a presentation will be given by Len Greaney, former historical society president, and Ron Leberge, former history teacher in the Rumford/Mexico School District.

Since 2013 is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, and many historical societies throughout the state are holding special recognition events, the Rumford Historical Society will present a program on the Civil War in Maine and Its Impact on the Rumford Area.

Leberge will address the historical background, and Greaney will present data on the Civil War soldiers and sailors from the River Valley Area. Members with Civil War ancestors, or in possession of family Civil War memorabilia, are encouraged to bring the items to the meeting to share with others.

Light refreshments will be offered at the end of the evening.

The board of directors is trying a new approach to its meetings and programs this year. Due to the significant numbers of members going south for the winter, the difficulties of securing speakers and the uncertainties of traveling, the board has voted to restrict meetings to September, October, a Christmas potluck with Mexico in December, April and the annual meeting in May.

Board meetings will be held on the Thursdays prior to the scheduled meetings on the second Wednesday of the month, and members are encouraged to contact board personnel with any concerns.

The board for 2013-2014 is composed of Jane Peterson, president; David Kimball, vice president; Lewis Irish, treasurer; Terri Palmer, secretary; Randall Smith, membership chairman; at-large, David Gawtry, Nghia Ha, Dennis Breton and Len Greaney.

The Oct. 9 meeting will be a tour of the Pulp and Paper Museum, Church Street, Livermore Falls. Car pools will leave from the River Street entrance at 8 a.m. for a 10 a.m. tour, with a 12:30 p.m. lunch at each person’s expense at the Mill Street Café. Sign-up sheets have been distributed.