Newsletter

The UHS will again honor the founding of our town with several activities on Saturday July 19, 2008. This year Founders Day falls on the exact date in 1774 that Sibley recorded in his HISTORY OF UNION when the first tree was felled to begin the new settlement. In its earliest days, Union was known as Taylortown - after the landowner Dr. Taylor. The settlement was also called Sterlington or Sterlingtown, taken from "Sterling," a section of Warren from which Scottish men came to cut those first trees. (In 1786 the town was formally incorporated as Union.)

The UHS will sponsor the following activities for this year's celebration:

9:30 am
The perennial favorite COME SPRING Bus Tour, narrated by Alison Metcalfe.
12 pm - 2 pm
The UHS will hold Open House at both the Robbins House and Old Town House; be sure to stop by to see new acquisitions and to purchase books, tee-shirts and note paper.
7:00 pm
"The FRESHMAN" with Harold Lloyd, a Silent Movie at the Old Town House with Doug Protsik playing the piano as accompaniment.

In addition, UHS member and licensed Maine Guide, Lyle Cramer, will offer his Come Spring Canoe Tours.

UHS member Roland Watier is arranging for an introductory story from the Golden Raven Story Telling Circle. This activity will be held at the Band Stand.

This year Founders Day will be organized by the Union Board of Selectmen. The UHS has several activities, which are outlined above and detailed elsewhere in this newsletter. We urge you to join your friends and family at the Common, now on the National Register of Historic Places. Also be sure to visit the Matthews Museum of Maine Heritage at the Union Fairground and enjoy one the finest collections of artifacts from rural Maine; many items are from Union and other Knox County families. Other groups will be holding activities during the weekend, so watch for more information and help us to celebrate and remember what makes this town a special place.

Founders Day Canoe Trips
on Seven Tree Pond
See Come Spring sites and wildlife with Maine Guide Lyle Cramer

Sat. 7/19 at 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM (weather permitting) All equipment included - no charge-- Begin and end at Ayer Park, Depot St. Trip lasts about 4 hours FMI: call 233-2979 and leave a message Alternate number 845-5115

Thank you, Lyle!

Come Spring Bus Tour

Once again Union Historical Society will offer the popular annual COME SPRING BUS TOUR on Founders Day on July 19, departing from the Common at a new time this year: 9:30 AM, from the Old Town House, where there is plenty of parking and washroom facilities available. The narrated 2-hour guided tour will make a circuit of many of the sites mentioned in Ben Ames Williams' historical novel about the founding of the town of Union. Passengers will disembark at the Common Cemetery, the site of the Philip Robbins Cabin, the David Robbins homestead, the site of the Royal Mess, and finally at the Ebenezer Alden Store and Barn. Except for the cemetary, these sites are on private property and are not accessible to the public at other times. Transportation is by Luce Transportation. The tour is priced at $10.00 per person. Seats fill up fast and early reservations are recommended. If there is sufficient demand an afternoon tour may be considered. Please call 785-5444 and leave a message with your name and phone number or email this information to unionhis@hotmail.com. Pre-ordered tickets should be paid prior to July 19.

SILENT MOVIES AT THE TOWN HOUSE
THE FRESHMAN

Founders Day on July 19 will feature another Silent Movie at the Old Town Hose, starting at 7:00 p.m. with a warm-up by incomparable pianist Doug Protsik of The Old Grey Goose. This year's movie is the 1925 silent classic The Freshman, starring Harold Lloyd and Jobyna Ralston. Lloyd, one of silent film's "Big Three" in comedy (the others are Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton), plays a nerdy, naive, bumbling but attractive young rube off to college to prove himself as a man. When he arrives at Tate University, he soon becomes the target of practical jokes and ridicule. With the help of his one real friend, the "townie" Peggy, he resolves to make every possible effort to become popular.

In one of his most famous films, Harold Lloyd once again demonstrates his brilliant mastery of the new medium, responsible for all the trademark style that his unique influence represents in this spoof of higher education and the social conventions of the era. The slapstick, comic mayhem, and over-the-top craziness are brilliantly enhanced by an original authentic old-time piano score performed live by Doug Protsik. This film is suitable for all ages.

Once again thanks are due to Susan Fay who has generously offered to sponsor the event, allowing us to offer admission at only $5.00 per person. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. For more information call 785-5444 and leave a message with your name and phone number or email that information to unionhis@hotmail.com. We ask that you send payment for pre-ordered tickets prior to Founders Day.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the UHS has some advantages. Dues and donations of our members provide real support for our (!) work. You help. We've kept the dues small (@$5.00/year) so that no one is discouraged. People who are members may make donations, and many do. We like people to join as 'courtesy members,' perhaps after a particularly agreeable meeting or help from the curators. That's fine. Many such members continue and become more active. Bring a guest to a meeting. Some members become particularly active while many others give their main energies to other causes. If you might increase your helpfulness to the UHS, call on any officer. If you have questions, you may call Dave Shaub 785-6092 or email him sdshaub@midcoast.com.

OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS

Our monthly program meetings, free and open to the public, are becoming increasingly popular. Join us at the Old Town House, just off Union Common, on the first Wednesday of the month for lively programs by informed speakers, on topics ranging from the local to the global, but all about history. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m.

Here's what's coming up this summer:

July 2: Titanic.
Captain Charles Weeks of Maine Maritime Academy has intensively researched the famous marine disaster and is prepared to challenge our misconceptions, in a powerpoint presentation.

August 6: The Georges River.
Landscape shaper, food source, commercial highway, connector of communities - our beautiful local river has many aspects. Annette Naegel, Director of Georges River Land Trust, will discuss them all in her presentation.

September 3: Eminent Mainers.
A talk by Doug Stover of Alna, in which he will discuss the many amazing people who have connections to Maine and their fascinating accomplishments."