Edward “Sandy” Ives is known by thousands of college students as a master of folklore, particularly among those from Maine and the Maritime Provinces of Canada. He taught at the University of Maine for several decades before retiring a few years ago.

Ives has maintained his love of history and art and the stories and music that shape societies through his continued involvement with the Maine Folklife Center in Orono.

On Wednesday, May 19, he’ll bring his stories and expertise to life as the guest speaker at the Rumford Historical Society.

Now living in Bucksport, Ives will touch on some of the stories related to the woods and timber harvesting, with some directly related to the Rumford area.

“He’s a folksy, well-bearded, down home person,” said Bill Weston, vice-president of the Rumford Historical Society.

Ives visited the Rumford Public Library several years ago to speak on unique gravestones and epitaphs.

Anyone interested in hearing stories from within and without the area is welcome to join the society when it meets at 7 p.m. in the conference room of the Municipal Building.

Rumford is not alone in offering a fascinating historical program. Several other historical societies have special guests and topics lined up during May. All meetings are free and open to the public.

At the Woodstock Historical Society, warmer weather allows meetings at the museum along Route 26. The May 8 meeting will feature news clippings found in the Lewiston Sun over the past few decades. Those attending can also take advantage of viewing the thousands of historical artifacts covering local and nationwide events. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.

The Mexico Historical Society’s museum on Oxford Street is opened from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday.

Here, residents and others can view former Mexico High School artifacts as well as antiques and other memorabilia.

The May meeting, set for 5:30 p.m. on May 25 at the Mexico Town Hall, features a potluck supper followed by a talk by local logger and maple syrup maker Randy Richards on how to make the sweet “nectar of the gods.”

On May 18, Bob Keith, a local historian who has done extensive research on early families and land ownership in Carthage, will speak on how town roads were named. As always, the meeting begins with a potluck supper at 5:30. Meetings are held at the old schoolhouse in the Berry Mills section of town.

Gilead’s history during this year of its bicentennial is the topic of a special lecture at the Bethel Historical Society’s Moses Mason House at 7:30 p.m May 13.

Hugh Chapman and Howard Reiche have written a book in honor of the bicentennial titled “The Smile of Providence, A History of Gilead, Maine.” They will speak on the book and show slides of the town as it has appeared through the years.

This town once had several steam-powered mills that produced spool stock, boxes and barrel staves. It is believed to have been named Gilead because of a large outcropping of balm of Gilead trees in the center of the town when it was settled.

The arts

A new first in the River Valley commercial art gallery is scheduled to open later this spring on Congress Street in downtown Rumford at the site of a former jewelry store. The Pennacook Art Center, named for the famed water falls off Bridge Street, the gallery will feature works produced by area visual artists.

Aspiring young artists will have their chance to show-off works at several schools in the area during the month as well.

Youngsters in grades 1-6 from SAD 44 will show their creations at the annual Faye Taylor Memorial Art show at the Moses Mason House on May 29. This year’s theme is river ferries, so all works will show some variation on the theme. Taylor was a local artist who created landscapes and paid particular attention to children’s art, and was one of the founders of the Bethel Historical Society. The exhibit aims to get young children to visualize history. The juried exhibit will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Virginia and Meroby elementary schools will display their students’ work this month, as well. The date for the VES exhibit is May 20, while Meroby youngsters have their turn on May 6.

Artcetera

Readers and writers may want to help celebrate Rumford Public Library’s centennial on May 22 when the Friends of the Library will hold a special event, centered around reading, at the ornate and historic Carnegie library. Details have yet to be worked out.

The theatrically-inclined are invited to try out for a production of “Beauty and the Beast” directed by Troy Mills from 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 3 at the Mexico Recreation Center. The date for the performance will be scheduled later.

A open house will be held at one of Rumford’s downtown architectural gems, Hotel Harris, on May 14. New owner John Roza has big plans for renovating much of the ornate beaux arts building while maintaining its 1906 integrity.

For those who want to add a bit of humor to their day, comedian Bob Marley will perform to benefit the Mountain Valley High School Class of 2004 at 8 p.m. on May 22.

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