OTISFIELD — The Otisfield Historical Society’s first program of 2023 will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, at the Otisfield Town House on Bell Hill Road. Dr. Jean Hankins, archivist for Otisfield Historical Society, will focus on the early history of the town, covering the period from 1690 to 1803, shortly after Otisfield was incorporated.

Her working title, she says, is “Mistakes Were Made.”  A resident of Otisfield since 1993, Jean will explain some of the many rules and regulations imposed by Massachusetts on the proprietors who were the first owners of our town and on the settlers who moved in after the Revolution.

Otisfield’s first settler was George Peirce, Jr. (1734-1807), a native of Watertown, MA, who arrived about 1774. He had been hired by the proprietors to serve as surveyor of the new territory. Jean will also discuss the part of Otisfield known as ‘Phillips Gore’ and how it became a major part of Otisfield in 1803.

Refreshments will be available after the Program.