The Gallery in Readfield opened two years before the pandemic, but is starting to kick events off again. The Gallery is “commission free” and all proceeds go to the artists. Emily Duggan/Kennebec Journal

READFIELD — Lynn Lewis said his mother, a New York City transplant, would be “thrilled” to see the town Readfield has become if she was still alive today.

And Lewis, who has lived in Readfield his whole life, would agree, although he does wish there were a couple of more stores.

“What other town can say they have an art gallery next to the post office?” he said Saturday while visiting The Gallery in Readfield during the town’s Heritage Days celebration.

The annual two-day event, which began Friday night, celebrates Readfield by reflecting on its past and also acknowledging the town it has become.

“Heritage Days has been going on for quite some time,” said Select Board member Dennis Price. “It was originally a fundraiser for the community library, but it started to become more of a celebration of Readfield and what brings us here.”

All day Saturday the town put on events for children and adults of all ages, but it was not without some controversy.

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People in town, and from away, were upset over having a “pig scramble” as one of Saturday’s activities. Despite a petition and notice from both residents and the Maine Animal Coalition, the event still went on at 3 p.m. at the town beach.

Those not interested in the pig scramble could find more to do along Main Street where there was a book sale at the fire station, the grand opening of Moonglow Fine Cannabis and an art gallery display at The Gallery in Readfield. The exhibit, “Animal Worlds,” featured Maine artists.

Though the Gallery in Readfield opened five years ago, it has just started to host speakers and concerts.

Curator and owner Camille Davidson, who is an artist herself, believes her gallery is the only one in the state that is “commission free,” meaning the amount of money a piece of art is sold for goes directly back to the artist.

The Gallery in Readfield owner Camille Davison’s “work partner” Aurora waited for visitors Saturday during Heritage Days. Emily Duggan/Kennebec Journal

“I call it my gift to the community,” she said. “I got tired of the hustle and wanted to do this at this time for the town and myself.”

While The Gallery drew a number of visitors, The Readfield Historical Society was also packing people in. At 10 a.m., Dale Potter-Clark gave an hour-long presentation on the town’s history that led into a historic walk through the town.

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Potter-Clark, who has a fascination with the town’s history, picked up the torch from her 92-year-old mother and town historian, Evelyn Potter. Their family has lived in the town for 10 consecutive generations.

Her presentation went through the history of houses and businesses and ended with the walk through town with around half-a-dozen stops. Potter-Clark regularly leads the history walks and since 2012, when she started, she has done more than 61 tours.

Dale Potter-Clark, whose family has lived in Readfield for 10 consecutive generations, offers history walks around town. On Saturday, she can be seen at the Readfield Historical Society as she prepares to lead another walk during Heritage Days. Emily Duggan/Kennebec Journal

“When I retired from Waterville Hospice, I wound up researching in ‘my other life,'” Potter-Clark said.

Most of the roughly 30 attendees at her presentation had an “interest in learning more” about Readfield. The event drew a range of people, from summer residents to those whose families have been in town for generations, as it helped reinforce the purpose of the event itself — to celebrate the town and to bring everyone together.

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