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RANGELEY — As 2016 comes to a close we reflect on our many accomplishments, as well as the loss of good friends. On behalf of our board of directors, we’d like to thank you for all your support, time and gifts over this past year. Your encouragement and support are truly what make our many efforts possible. Thank you.
The past year was one of both triumph and great loss for the Rangeley Lakes Region Historical Society. Last July, we were stunned by the sudden and sad passing of our president and beloved friend, Don Palmer. Don, and his wife, Stephanie, co-founded the Society’s Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum and Don served as president of RLRHS for over 20 years. Don’s passionate efforts and sterling legacy of service will have positive impacts in this region for years to come. On a personal note, Don’s friendship, kindness, guidance and leadership still help guide my efforts to this day and from time to time, I still find it hard to believe that he is not just going to walk through the door with his bright smile and infectious enthusiasm.
The past year also saw the sad passing of our dear friend and stalwart volunteer Harry Cary. The link https://youtu.be/hArnBCPo-VE will bring you to a short video of our wonderful friend demonstrating OSHM’s silk fly line braiding machine that he so lovingly and expertly restored. A smiling and humble Harry appears at its conclusion. He remains in our cherished memories and like Don and other friends we have lost over the past year, they will remain greatly missed and forever appreciated.
Despite these tragic losses, your Historical Society and our two museums experienced great success in 2016. We hosted over 5,400 visitors, our membership grew yet again and we hosted 26 special event days featuring both educational and experiential opportunities. Events sharing the work of artists, authors, speakers, and instructors again filled the calendar each weekend with our Saturday Summer Series at OSHM. Plans are now in the works for another exciting schedule of events for 2017. We also hosted historical field trips, special programs and a potluck supper. We opened three new interior exhibits on local vintage watercraft, Maine Gunsmiths and the Middle Dam/Rapid River region.
In 2016 we were blessed to receive over 100 loans and donations of fascinating regional artifacts to add to our important collections. We began a program in cooperation with the Maine State Library to completely digitize the entire volume of the Phillips Phonograph and Maine Woods newspapers to be available online in a searchable format to provide a unique look back in time into our amazing region’s past. This is a large effort that should be completed in 2017.
Student interns from the University of Maine Farmington provided invaluable service while helping to operate OSHM and update all our accessions and re-organize artifact storage areas.
We dedicated a new exterior exhibit featuring an authentic 16,000-year-old Native American stone meat cache and thanks to a grant from Franklin Savings, the Old Oquossoc Schoolhouse Bell now graces the grounds of OSHM.
The Historical Society also received a generous grant from PARC Foundation to completely restore and outfit six vintage Rangeley boats and to help support the Rangeley Regatta. Many other members contributed to this program which will allow several future opportunities and programs for all to enjoy this important regional icon. This past September, the newly renovated “fleet” allowed teams of boys and girls to compete in style in the second annual Rangeley Regatta, which was won by Stratton School. A rental program in support of OSHM featuring these vintage boats at lakeside partner locations around the region called “Row a Legend” is being planned for summer 2017. History can be fun and experiential so we are excited about this and other programs that will allow friends of all ages to enjoy Rangeley’s own classic boat.
Don used to share the following with a knowing smile when we would part after a meeting: “Bill, the future is fraught with opportunities” and he was so right.
Thanks to your generous support we can look to 2017 and the years to come with both promise and anticipation and for that we thank you. Bill Pierce, executive director, can be reached at info@rangeleyoutdoormuseum.org or visit www.rangeleyoutdoormuseum.org/.
