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PHOTO: Belgrade Historical Society member Rod Johnson, left, talks about the history of the former Belgrade Grammar School, 11 School St., which, after it closed as a school in 1969, was the health center for 30 years. It was recently renovated into residential and community space. The BHS held its first annual meeting since 2019 in the building on June 16. (Maureen Milliken photo)
BELGRADE – The Belgrade Historical Society, which held its first annual meeting since 2019 on June 16, has several events planned for the coming months.
The annual meeting was held in the former Belgrade Grammar School, 11 School St., which opened in 1929 and closed as a school in 1969. It then became the Belgrade health center, until 1999. The build had been largely used for storage until 2020, when resident Kate DiBerardino bought it and has renovated it into community event and living space. BHS members Rod Johnson and Eric Hoogland talked about the building’s history at the meeting.
On July 14 and 15, the society will host storyteller Jo Radner, who will speak about “Family Stories: How and Why to Remember and Tell Them.” Both sessions will be held at 6:30 p.m., with the Thursday, July 14, session held via Zoom and the Friday, July 15, session held at the Belgrade Public Library, 124 Depot Road. For more information and the Zoom link visit the Belgrade Historical Society webpage, belgradehistoricalsociety.org.
At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 21, society member Rod Johnson will talk about the boat building tradition in Belgrade. The event will be held at the Old Town Meeting House, Cemetery Road. The program is in conjunction with the Belgrade Public Library’s Community Read, “The Lowering Days,” by Gregory Brown.
At 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10, “Comfort and Community: 250 Years of Maine Quilts” will be presented by Laurie Labar, chief curator of history and decorative arts at the Maine State Museum. The event will be held at the Community Center for All Seasons, 1 Center Drive, off Route 27, just south of the village. Several historic Belgrade quilts will be displayed.
