Historical Society to present Family Fun Day | SeacoastOnline.com

First-ever 'Friendraiser' is set for Saturday, July 23

If you're going to be in Wells on Saturday, July 23, you'll want to stop by Wells Harbor Park. That's because the Historical Society of Wells and Ogunquit will be holding its first-ever Family Fun Day, with plenty of things for everyone in the family to do and enjoy. The event is a type of "Friendraiser" for the society, aimed at making people aware of the society while offering them a fun day at the harbor.

"It will be a good time," said society board member and event planner June Messier. "Making money is not the most important thing. It's not a fundraiser."

The day-long festivities will begin with the famous breakfast put on by the Wells-Ogunquit Center at Moody, beginning at 8 a.m., and run until 4 p.m. There will be rides, games, crafts, music, and other entertainment. Space for vendors is free, and Messier said there's still time for craftspeople to sign up (call her at 646-5596 if interested).

"We'll have a K-9 demonstration by the Wells Police," Messier said. "We'll also have a falconry demonstration. There are pony rides beginning at 11. The Elks will be there with a dunk tank."

There will be entertainment in the Hope Hobbs Gazebo beginning at noon, with lip-synching by Jan Smith and singing by Bailey Johnson and David Hollis.

Messier said crafts available include jams and jellies, gift baskets, jewelry, and art from Bob Hastie.

"A lot of crafters have been invited," said Messier. "This is still a work in progress."

The food will include hot dogs, hamburgers and French fries cooked up by Shawn Hubbard.

Admission is free.

The Historical Society, with its headquarters at the iconic Meeting House on Route 1 across from the Hannaford Plaza, is a neat little gem of an organization. Organized in 1954, it took possession of the Meeting House, built in the 1860s as the First Congregational Church of Wells, in 1969. Over the years, the society's volunteers and staff have gradually turned the building into a resource that contains much information about the history of the town and the people who settled here.

The museum opened there in 1980, with the upstairs now serving as a library and a gold mine for genealogists, with local history, diaries, and scrapbooks. The first floor contains the old auditorium, still in use for a variety of programs and activities, including weddings. In addition, there are several exhibits on the first floor, including an area that presents information regarding early Maine explorers and settlers from the 1600s. One of those, Edmund Littlefield, is considered the Father of Wells. There's also information about conflicts the early settlers had with Indians.

Other exhibits include "People and Places," "Work-a-Day World," "Service and Sacrifice," and "Following-the-Sea-Lanes," all depicting aspects of the town's rich traditions and history.

The museum is a great place for history buffs, people interested in classic buildings, and anyone who wants to learn about Wells and Ogunquit.

The Meeting House is open to the publicfrom 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. The rest of the year, it's open on Wednesdays and Thursdays for the same hours.

For more information, visit the society's website at wohistory@maine.rr.com or call 646-4775.

In the meantime, head down to Family Fun Day on July 23 and meet some of the society's members up close.

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Source: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20110714-LIFE-107140381

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