Legislation has been introduced in Augusta and referred to committee which would make Moxie the official state beverage.

LD-85 An Act To Establish Moxie as Maine's Official Beverage was introduced and referred to the Committee on State and Local Government on January 11, 2005. The bill was sponsored by Senator Rotundo of Androscoggin and Co-sponsored by Representative Berube of Lisbon. Additional co-sponsors include: Senators Cowager, Edmonds, Gagnon, Nutting and Rosen and Representatives Pingree, Thompson and Vaughan.

In as much as Moxie was invented by Dr. Augustin Thompson of Union, home of the Matthews Museum, passage of this bill would bring attention to both Union and the Museum. Those members of the Museum who would like to see this legislation succeed should contact the members of the Committee urging them to support it when it is considered in Committee and also when it comes to the floor for a vote. All legislators should be contacted once it is passed in Committee.

The members of the State and Local Government Committee along with their contact information is included in this Matthews Musings for your use. Mail, email or phone messages should be short and to the point and should include your name and address. There is no need to expound upon the history of Moxie. Merely indicate your interest and your desire for them to support it. Use the official designation, LD-85 in your correspondence.

In recognition of the support our business members give to the Museum, we ask that you support them also. See the following listing of our current business members and thank them for their support when you patronize their establishments or use their services. Each has given cash or in-kind support to the Museum during 2004 and/or 2005.

Dear members and friends of the Matthews Museum,

In 1965, the Union Fair Association purchased the original collection of Ed Matthews, and displayed it in a building at the Union Fairgrounds. In the forty years since, many items have been added, and the collection has been built into one of those rare treasures that not enough people know about. 2005 will see the 40-year anniversary of the museum, and you can read more about it in the pages of this Newsletter.

Late last year the Museum acquired an important original certificate that relates to the Civil War service of Dr. Augustin Thompson. We are still raising money to fully fund the acquisition, and the document is currently with the North East Document Conservation Center in Andover to determine the best way of restoring and preserving the piece. Following their advice we are planning to apply for grant funding to pay for this expensive conservation work.

This summer we will continue our intern program for the third year. In the past years, Sarah (Hamilton College) and Hillary (Bowdoin) have pretty much completed our inventory. The next phase it to start cataloguing (collecting information about the objects) and put pictures of all items in the database. In the past two years we have received grants from MBNA to fund this project, and we will submit another proposal in the next few months. The applications for the internship positions are coming in at a fairly high rate from students at Bowdoin, Bates and Colby. On the grant front, we also received funds from MBNA in December to acquire a significant amount of storage and conservation materials for the museum, which made our curators very happy.

I hope to see many of you at our annual cleaning day at May 21st, which is becoming a very successful event that leads to many compliments during the season. Everyone who would like to work at the museum in any capacity during the summer, please drop me a note or give me a call, we can always use enthusiastic people.

I hope to see all of you during the upcoming summer, and please remember that your thoughts and ideas will be most welcome, and you help, contributions and volunteering hours will be very much appreciated.

Ben van der Schaaf
Union, March 2005

Many members and non-members helped to support the Museum by subscribing to Yankee Magazine through the Community Partners program. The Museum has received over $1000 from these Yankee Magazine subscriptions. However, Yankee has recently informed us that they have discontinued the program.

We were informed however that any subscriptions that they receive on the green post cards will continue to be honored. If you renew, use one of the green cards. If you give a gift subscription, use one of the green cards. If you need cards, contact us and we will get them to you. Phone 973-379-1566 and leave your name and address and we will mail them to you as soon as we can. NO subscriptions are honored if they are not on the correct card. Also, please, if you do use one of the cards either phone or drop us a note that you have done this so we might follow up to be certain we are getting the credit. Thank you for your support in this fund-raising effort over the past few years!

This summer marks the fortieth year of continuous operation of our Museum. Founded when the Union Fair Committee purchased the collection of Edwards A. Matthews, the Museum has been growing ever since. Starting with less than 1000 items, the Museum now boasts in excess of 8000 artifacts pertaining to Maine Heritage and Culture.

Now an independent entity, the Matthews Museum will celebrate its fortieth throughout the summer with special offerings for its members and the visitors. Watch for announcements and support these activities and events. Volunteer your time to help out in the planning and execution of this special year by contacting Judy Grinnell, Box 633, Union or Judy Gross at 445 Wyoming Avenue, Millburn, NJ 07041. You may also reach us through the Museum address, Box 582, Union ME.

If there is an '05 on your address label you are current in your dues payment. If your address label does not have an ,05 on it your dues should be paid as soon as you can. We appreciate your support and need your memberships and contributions in order to continue our mission. Dues are $5 per individual, $10 per family, $100 for an individual Life membership and business dues are $25 which includes 25 free passes to the Museum for clients, customers and friends.

Gift memberships are always a way to share the treasures of Matthews Museum with a friend or neighbor. Memorial donations and special recognitions are tax deductible and go a long way toward improving the Museum. Please help us with your continued support.

The recently acquired Civil War document tracing the service of Union native Dr. Augustin Thompson is on its way to be restored and preserved. The large poster like item will be treated and properly framed for display. Once restoration is completed, a special ceremony of dedication will be held in conjunction with the 40th Anniversary events being planned. The document has well preserved color and will be framed in UV filtering materials. Special lighting will also be necessary to preserve the color and paper integrity.

When completed, the document will be displayed in the Moxie section of the Museum. Anyone wishing to support the costs of this restoration process may send designated donations to the Museum for this sole purpose. Mark checks in the memo section so the contribution is used for this purpose.

Recent special contributions to the Museum since September 1, include the following:

Celebration: 40th Anniversary for Phyllis and Bob Hazard ----- George and Judy Gross
57th Birthday, Virginia Gross ----- George and Judy Gross
Wedding , Mr. & Mrs. Lou Haskell, (Moxie Project) ----- Merrill and Diana Lewis

Memorials: Annie R. Eldridge ----- Mary Olson and friends
James Hamilton ----- The Gross Family

Donations Moxie Project: Lee & Patricia Lockman - Russell Poirier - Adept Screen Printing /Graphics
Merrill and Diana Lewis - Milyard Museum - Montana & Judy Barnard
Elroy & Joan Halfrey, Jr. - Curtis Hoberman - Ted and Kathy Valpey
Stuart & Pam Davis - William N. Cranshaw - Wayside Restaurant and Bakery, Montpelier VT
George and Judy Gross(Thompson Document) -

As with all volunteer organizations ours runs only with the support of volunteers. Matthews Museum uses volunteers to greet and serve visitors to the Museum, work on maintenance projects, guide tours through the Museum, clean up and maintain displays and work on mailings, publicity, membership, and the financial committee.

Also, this is the 40th Anniversary of the Matthews Museum and help will be needed to make this a special year for the Museum and it's visitors.

If you would like to volunteer in any of these areas please contact us by phone, mail or in person. You can email us at our web site, obtain phone numbers there or write to us at P.O. Box 582, Union, Maine 04862. WE NEED YOU!

Museum brochures are available for placement at surrounding businesses who consent to their placement and distribution. If your place of employment has a waiting room or customer service counter ask if you may put some out for distribution during July and August. If you are friendly with a local business or a regular customer, ask them if you might place some there, also. The Museum's annual success relies on the number of visitors who attend and tour the exhibits.

You may some by email at our web site or email us at the address given there. We will arrange for you to have them for distribution. This is another way you can serve as a volunteer to help our Museum to grow.

Archie Mitchell, curator since 1990, announced his retirement effective Labor Day, 2005. A search is currently underway to find a replacement for him so training may take place during the summer months.

If you or someone you know might be interested in this volunteer position, please contact the Museum as soon as possible. You may use any of the contact addresses contained in this issue to leave information about yourself or the individual expressing interest. The position of curator runs from May 1, through October, beginning with set-up of displays through shut-down after the season is over. The Curators work with 20 +/- volunteers and are responsible for coordination, opening and closing, maintenance of displays, evaluations and reports to other groups, guiding tours, relating information about the Museum and its contents and general management.

Our best wishes and sincerest thanks go to Archie for his retirement and his service through these 15 years. Stop by the Museum this summer and thank him personally.

Four major committees were formed to serve some of the needs of the museum as it continues to expand. These committees are seeking volunteers to serve. The committees are: Membership, Finance, Publicity and 40th Anniversary.

Membership will organize data for mailings, Newsletters, and the recruitment of new members. Mailings will be made to surrounding communities for recruitment and a brochure will be designed for membership enrollment. The Committee Board members are Judy Grinnell and George Gross.

Finance will work with records, tax exempt status, fund raising and the general financial well being of the Museum. Board Members are Fred Gildred and Ben van der Schaaf.

Publicity, Headed by Board Members Bruce White and George Gross will produce press releases for papers, TV and radio and other publications throughout the state. They will also oversee the production of the Matthews Musings and the brochure advertising the Museum. Members will coordinate distribution of brochures to local places of business.

The 40th Anniversary Committee will plan and oversee events this year to celebrate thie special event in the history of the Museum. Co-Chairs are Judy Gross and Judy Grinnell and Board Member/Curator Irene Hawes will assist

Please contact the appropriate individuals if you would like to volunteer..

Name____________________________________________________ ______$ 5.00 Individual

Address__________________________________________________ ______$10.00 Family

City_____________________________State___ Zip_____________ ______$25.00 Business

Phone______________________email_________________________ _____$100.00 Life

Thank you for your prompt response and support of the Museum.

Mail to: Matthews Museum, Box 582, Union, ME 04862

________Donation to Museum ________Donation Hodge School

________Donation Moxie Bottle Project ________Donation for Thompson Document

Total Enclosed: $___________ Check payable to Matthews Museum