The Newsletter of the Matthews Museum of Maine Heritage
Union, Maine
matthewsmuseum.org
Volume 3, Number 3
September, 2004
September, 2004|
Dear friends of the Matthews Museum, It is September, and we are close to finishing another Museum season. Many activities have taken place since I last wrote in this space, and I will give you a brief overview. In June we received another grant from MBNA to continue our work on the documentation of our collection. Hillary Matlin, a student at Bowdoin College, filled our intern position this summer, and very enthusiastically and capably continued the inventory work that we started last year. Hillary enjoyed working at the Museum and has volunteered to remain involved with the project. During Founder's Day in Union, the Museum and the Moxie Bottle Stand Project were well represented. Two tables on the Common to sell Moxie and memorabilia, and to display some of our Museum artifacts. In the parade we had a Museum flat, the replica Moxie Bottle Stand and two young ladies on horseback with a Moxie theme. At the end of July a group of board members and other volunteers spent a good part of a sunny Saturday at the Gross residence at Biscay Pond to work on the restoration of the Moxie Bottle Stand panels. Armed with brushes, Q-tips, water and some chemicals they cleaned and treated more parts of the antique Bottle Stand. Old paint was also re-adhered. The main event in August was the Union Fair which was a very successful one for the Museum this year. The Museum booth, as always, organized with great dedication by George and Judy Gross, was very successful in raising funds for the Moxie Bottle Stand Project. Wednesday was Moxie Day per proclamation of Governor Baldacci. The Museum attracted a record number of visitors and did well with donations. Outside of these special events many people have worked to keep the Museum and the collection in good condition and open to the public. Special thanks go to Archie Mitchell and Irene Hawes for coordinating efficient functioning of volunteers and the Museum. The common denominator in all of this is the contribution and time by many volunteers for which I say, "Thanks!" On Saturday, October 9, we will have the next event, our annual meeting of members. It will start at 11 am at the Museum on the Union Fair Grounds and we will have lunch afterward. If you can make it please plan to be there and join us to make this another successful event. Annual Meeting This year our annual meeting for members and board of directors will be held at the Museum on Saturday, October 9th. All members are invited to attend the meeting and a cook-out lunch to follow. Election of our President and Treasurer will take place and comments will be received and welcome from members. Anyone wishing to run for either of these positions is welcome to place his or her name in nomination at that time. For specifics of nomination see our Constitution on file in the Museum and in the hands of all Board of Directors members. The meeting will begin at 11 AM with the reception/luncheon immediately following. Time will be available to check out the Museum and our progress this year. If you are planning to attend, please phone Ben van der Schaaf, at 785-6482, so we may plan for food. Special Thanks! Our Teddy Bear raffle was a great success due largely to the fine job of making the bear. Thanks go to Claire Wingren of Waldoboro for a special job. We were able to sell hundreds of tickets to more than 300 individuals adding several hundred dollars to the Moxie Bottle Stand funds. Thanks go to all Board members who sold tickets and to all of our members and friends who supported this project. "We loved having him even for a short time -- he now lives in Camden, Maine, with Joyce Bedford." Another Winner The winner of the Earth Machine, home composter, was Karen Zahnow of Silver Spring , MD. Congratulations! Karen purchased her winning ticket during Union Fair at the Matthews Museum table. The composter was donated by board member, Bruce White. Thanks, Bruce. Moxie Corner Refurbished The Moxie Corner in the Museum was refurbished this summer in time for the Fair. The wall was covered and painted white, new display cases were built and installed, the collection was reorganized, new items were added and the corner was expanded. We are still looking for donations of additional Moxie items that are not already in the collection and hope to expand the Moxie Corner even further, next year. If you would like to donate one or more items please check first to see that they are not duplicates of what is already on display or that they are in better condition than those on display. Then, contact us at matthewsmuseum.org and let us know what you have and would like to donate. We will make arrangements to receive your donation. Hat Contest Winners There was a tie in the Moxie Hat contest this year. Winners were Susan Levett of Tenants Harbor and B. J. Moody of Coopers Mills. Susan's hat was a charming Moxie 'bottle cap' hat while B.J.'s was a fully operational Moxie race track mounted on a helmet. Judges Judy Gross and Quimby Robinson awarded each winner with $20 in prize money. Thanks to those who entered and to the judges. Additions to the Museum If you visited the Museum this summer you probably noticed several new additions to the Museum. A new steel door was added to replace the door near the office, screen doors were added here and at the main entrance and a large exhaust fan was installed in the south end of the building to pull out hot air from the building. Special thanks go to Poole Brothers Lumber, Damariscotta for a significant reduction in the cost of the door. Renew your Yankee subscription on one of the special cards so Matthews Museum receives its donation. Community Partners receive $8 for each renewal! Give a gift subscription and give an extra $8 to the Moxie Bottle Stand Project. Cards available at the Cricket on the Common or by contacting us by mail or email. Support Our Business Members and Contributors Much of what we are able to do at the Museum is made possible through the dues and donations of members as well as our visitors. This year there was a greatly increased amount of support from local businesses and a tripling of the number of Business Members. We urge you to support these businesses who support the Museum, its programs and efforts. Damariscotta Bank and Trust Hallowell Printing Lewis Merrifield Construction Pioneer Grange Union Farm Equipment Fred Gildred Computer Services Hammond Tractor Ralph Chevrolet Mic Mac Market Union True Value Hardware Hannibal's Café Key Bank Rockland Savings and Loan Viking Lumber Rock Maple Realty Marks Appliances Pool Brothers Lumber Maritime Energy Common Market Cricket on the Common Special Donations -- Memorials and Celebrations The following special contributions were made during the 2003-4 Museum year. Celebration: 56th Birthday, Virginia Gross - George and Judy Gross Memorials: John K. Koob - George Gross Esten C. Soule - June Grierson Sumner D. Gorodetzer - Marilyn S. Gorodetzer Margaret Gross Berlinger - George and Judy Gross Elgin Muse - Tammy, Nathaniel and Emily Rolfes Elgin Muse - George and Judy Gross Thelma Richards - Beverly Fuller Mike Pelak - George Gross Steve Haselton - George and Judy Gross Taurus at Moxie Day at the Union Fair Taurus the clown, AKA Fred Goldrup, made Wednesday, Moxie Day at the Fair something special again this year. Taurus roamed around the fairgrounds all day entertaining youngsters and oldsters alike with his antics and pet monkey. He also did a magic show at the park entertaining the youngsters with magic tricks and having volunteers help him with his tricks. Fred, of Lewiston, was recently included in the book, Amazing Men, by Joyce Tennison. The book, a photographic depiction of Amazing Men, includes photos of people such as Ted Turner, Andrew Wyeth, Ben Kinglsey and Rudy Giuliani. Fred was photographed last year at the Union Fair along with other fair regulars. The book was released this spring. Taurus informed us that he will be back next year on Moxie Day. Nominating Committee Report As of August 31, both Ben van der Schaaf, President and Fred Gildred, Treasurer, consented to run again for their respective offices. We are still in search of volunteers to take over other responsibilities on the Board including the role of secretary. Welcome New Life Members Ervin and Bertha Fryman of Union ME and Robert Tosi of Arlington VA have recently become Life Members of the Museum. Thank you for your confidence and support. Annual Membership Dues Annual dues for the 2005 year are now payable. Mail your check payable to Matthews Museum to Box 582, Union, ME 04862. Individual - $5; Family - $10; Business - $25; Life - $100. Thank you in advance for your continued support. Attend the Annual Meeting. Phone Ben van der Schaaf at 785-6482 Matthews Museum -- 2004 |
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