Since 1992
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AUBURN – The Androscoggin Historical Society elected officers and directors at its recent annual meeting, welcoming two new directors.
Re-elected were President Curtis Jack, Vice President Penny Jessop, Secretary Douglas Hodgkin and Treasurer David Chittim. Re-elected directors are Joline Froton, Sonia Jack, Beverly Robbins, and Elizabeth Young. The slate also included two new directors, Rebecca Drew and Laura Juraska.
Drew grew up in Wellesley, Mass., and has lived in Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. The family finally realized their dream when they moved to Turner, Maine. There they restored a 1798 brick cape on the Nezinscott River and opened their third antique shop, Irish Meadows. Upon retirement, Drew and her husband moved for 10 years to Seneca, South Carolina. Drew returned to Maine two years ago. She taught for 42 years in many different school districts in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. History and reading were her specialties. History is her first love, whether it was restoring two historic homes, collecting and restoring antiques, reading historic novels, or evaluating dwellings for the National Register of Historic Places. Gardening and building rock walls is another passion.
Wherever she has lived, she has become very involved in that community, generally counseling cancer patients and assisting The League of Women Voters. She is a member of Daughters of the American Revolution and the Philanthropic Educational Organization Sisterhood.
Juraska has a degree in anthropology (archaeology) from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s in information and library science from Indiana University. She began work with the Research Services group at Bates College in 1983 and experienced the digital transformation of the library profession. She retired in 2018 as head of research services.
After moving to Leeds, Juraska became interested in the history of the town, got involved in the historical society, and soon became its president. When the town office moved to a new building, the society took responsibility for the 1822 building and has renovated it into a collection, exhibit and programming center. She also enjoys gardening perennials and fruit, horseback riding, volunteering at local food pantries, cooking, reading, movie watching and daily walks with her dog up Monument Hill.
For more information on the Androscoggin Historical Society, visit androhistory.org.
