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News & Announcements

Bridgton Historical Society Receives "Conservation Bookshelf"

Treasured objects and artifacts held by the Bridgton Historical Society will be preserved for future generations with help from the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a core set of conservation books, DVDs, and online resources donated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal funding of the nation’s museums and libraries. IMLS and its cooperator, the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), will award a total of 2,000 free sets of the IMLS Bookshelf by the end of 2008.

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18th Annual Woodworkers & Artisans Show Seeks Exhibitors

The 18th Annual Woodowoerkers & Artisans Show will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 12-13, at Narramissic, the society's historic farmstead in South Bridgton.  If you are interested in participating in the show as an exhibitor, please contact us.  For more details, see Woodworkers & Artisans Show in our Events section.

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Mourning the loss of our friend, Bob Dunning

We were all terribly saddened to hear of the sudden death of Bob Dunning over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Bob was one of the state's most talented preservation craftsmen.  He has been one of the mainstays of the restoration of Narramissic since we acquired the property twenty years ago, and his passing leaves a void in our lives that will be hard to fill.  Our hearts go out to his wife, Sally and their children Jessie and Dan.

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Winter Hours

The museum does not have regular open hours during the off-season, but we will be happy to make an appointment if you wish to visit or use our research facilities.  Call us 207-647-3699 or email info@bridgtonhistory.org.   We are a largely-volunteer organization, so it may take a few days for us to get back to you.  Please bear with us and accept our apologies for any inconvenience.  Evelyn Lamb, 207-647-3759 will also be happy to assist with your genealogical inquiries.  Narramissic is closed until the Spring.

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Bridgton & Saco River RR Page

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Your webmaster has completed transferring all photos and text concerning the Narrow Gauge Railroad from the old BHS website.  Please check out the new layout and visit some of the other links to other NGRR websites. The WW & FRY site is of particular interest as it includes a section on the B & SR RR in its discussion forum.

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Bridgton Bicentennial Photos Needed

A video is being planned for documenting events from Bridgton's Bicentennial in 1968. Anyone who has photos from the Bicentennial that can be used for this video is asked to contact the museum at 207-647-3699 or via e-mail to info@bridgtonhistory.org.

 

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Narramissic, The Peabody-Fitch Farm (1797)

Visit "Narramissic," the Peabody-Fitch farm, for a glimpse of New England on the eve of the Civil War. Tour the house, furnished largely with items original to the property, and visit the restored blacksmith shop. Or simply enjoy the view of the spectacular Maine & NH mountain range and explore the grounds, which are being restored to reflect a mid 19th-century Maine farm.

The house was built in a simplified version of the Georgian style in 1797 by William Peabody, son of one of Bridgton's first settlers. In the 1830s his daughter, Mary, and her husband, George Fitch, purchased the property. They added a rear ell, renovated much of the house to reflect the more fashionable Federal style, and constructed the blacksmith shop and "Temperance Barn" (raised without the traditional barrel of rum!).

Over a century later, in 1938, Mrs. Margaret M. Monroe from Providence, Rhode Island, purchased the property to use as a summer home. When she passed away in 1986, she left the farm to the Bridgton Historical Society.

The house is open for tours Fridays and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. from June 15 to Labor Day and by special appointment. The Society also holds many programs and events from large festivals to small workshops (including courses in blacksmithing) on the grounds.

For a map/satellite view of the area around Narramissic, please visit this Google Earth link.

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House in Fall of 2006

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Rear of House in Fall of 2006

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Temperance Barn

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View From Fields

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The Second Parlor

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Bedroom

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Kitchen

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Ladies in Historic Dress

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Blacksmith Shop

 

House Tours

Tours of the historic Peabody-Fitch homestead at Narramissic and the Temperance Barn will be available during the summer months on Fridays and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m.  Other times may be available by prior appointment.

 

Regular Exhibits and Collections

Information will be added to this section when it becomes available.

 

Special Events and Programs

During the spring, summer and fall, the grounds and buildings at Narramissic are available for social gatherings such as Weddings, Family Reunions, Bridal and Baby Showers, Company Functions, Clam Bakes and Birthday Tea Parties. We can create and serve meals to smaller groups, otherwise, you may hire your own caterer. The farmhouse is appropriate for about 15 people. The barn, on the other hand, is suitable for larger groups and the fields can accomodate tents. There is plentiful parking and the views are magnificent!

To get more details and/or to reserve a date, please contact the Society at 207-647-3699 or via email at info@bridgtonhistory.org.

 

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