Museums of the Bethel Historical Society facts for kids
The Society's Dr. Moses Mason House museum
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| Established | 1966 |
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| Location | 10 Broad Street, Bethel, Maine 04217 |
| Founder | Eva Bean |
The Museums of the Bethel Historical Society is a cool place in Bethel, Maine. It's a museum and a group that helps save history. This museum is in two old buildings: the 1821 O'Neil Robinson House and the 1813 Dr. Moses Mason House. Both are in Bethel's historic area. The museum's main job is to keep and share the history of western Maine. It also covers the White Mountain area in Maine and New Hampshire.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's History
The Bethel Historical Society started on May 31, 1966. Eighteen people met at the Bethel Library Association. One important person there was Eva Bean. She wrote a book called East Bethel Road. Eva Bean became the secretary and is seen as the founder of the society.
Important Leaders and Support
An early president of the society was Margaret Joy Tibbetts. She was a United States Ambassador to Norway from 1964 to 1969. The society got early money from the William Bingham II Trust for Charity. This money helped fix up the Dr. Moses Mason House. The house was given to the society in 1974.
With this help, the society hired its first paid staff member. This was Dr. Stanley R. Howe. Over the years, the society grew. It changed from a small local group to a bigger museum. Now it focuses on history from a whole region.
Exploring the Museum's Collections
The Museums of the Bethel Historical Society collects many things. These items tell the story of western Maine. They also cover the White Mountain region in Maine and New Hampshire.
What's in the Research Library?
Besides old objects, the museum has a research library. This library is full of historical items. You can find books, old letters, and diaries. There are also photographs, maps, and scrapbooks. The library has recordings and old newspapers too.
Since 2014, the society also takes care of old records. These records come from nearby Gould Academy. In 2015, a big grant helped the society. They made their research library much bigger. They also hired their first librarian and archivist that year. An archivist is someone who organizes and preserves historical documents.
Programs and Exhibitions for Everyone
The museum offers many fun programs. These are for people of all ages and interests. They also have special exhibitions.
Past Exhibitions and Art Shows
Some past exhibitions have shown the life of Molly Ockett. She was a local Native American woman. Other shows have explored the history of the Grange in Maine. The Grange is a farming organization. The museum has also featured Maine's skiing history.
The museum often displays White Mountain art. This art shows beautiful scenes of the White Mountains. Famous artists like Benjamin Champney and Aaron Draper Shattuck have had their work shown here. Modern artists also display their art.
Popular Community Events
One very popular event is the annual community picnic and concert. This is a free concert. The Portland Brass quartet plays music outside on the museum's lawn. It happens every Fourth of July. It's a great way to celebrate and enjoy history!
