The Dexter Historical Society has had an extraordinary summer in this year of the Bicentennial. Figures for attendance, sales and donations have all been record-breaking.

Visitors to the Grist Mill Museum were able to enjoy the new display featuring Dexter garages and auto dealers created by Curator Richard Whitney and intern Maria Mountain. The Carr Schoolhouse, which was dedicated in September of 2000, had its first full season as a museum. The one-room school, built in 1845, although popular with visitors of all ages, elicited many "I remember" stories from older visitors. The garden at the Millers House was given loving care by Hilde Bensheimer.

On August 11, the Bicentennial Day, we had some extra offerings. Adjacent to the schoolhouse, blacksmith Keith Richards gave demonstrations of his craft. Our newly acquired building, the 1836 Town Hall/Abbott Mill Office, was the site of an art show featuring the work of local artists, photographers and sculptors as assembled by Dave Pearson. The building received some interior clean up work and exterior painting by Pearson with assistance from Ann Kendall, Doug Pooler, Rick Whitney and Ernie Robinson. The Unitarian Universalist Church hosted an exhibit of photographs by Bert Call, that are in the society's collection. The society was also represented in the parade by our surrey as driven by Frank Spizuoco.

After Labor Day the museums will begin fall hours: Monday through Saturday 1 to 4 PM until the end of September. We still have Bicentennial items available for sale; tokens, afghans, wooden block representations of the Morrison Building and N.H. Fay High School, the 2001 calendar. We will soon have a new calendar for 2002 featuring photographs from the new garage exhibit.

We will be holding a work day at the Abbott Mill Office building on Saturday, September 15 from 8 AM to noon. The work will mostly consist of removing unneeded items from the building and general cleaning. Anyone interested in helping out is welcome to attend. For further information call 924-5721 or email: dexhist@ctel.net