The museum also has had a number of renovations this year including a new $24,000 metal roof; a new window in the kitchen display and the replacement of rotten boards and new siding on the low addition by the parking lot. Painting was done on the backside of the museum, trim and barn door. Two new windows will be replaced in the barn this fall. Also, the handicapped ramp to the Miller's house received two coats of preservative and the entry floor a coat of paint.

The Grist Mill Museum celebrated its 35th birthday on Friday, August 9th, with an open house at the museum. Over 150 people visited the museum between 9:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. to share in remembrance and refreshments. At 10:00 A.M. a cutting of the birthday cake was held with the surviving incorporators of the Society. In attendance were; Frank Spizouco, Ed Guiski, Isabel Jacobs, William Reed, Dean Thompson, and Helen Wilkins. Members displaying autos included; Hal Wilkins, Dick Hall, Lionel Getchell, Ron Clukey, Dino DiSotto and Ron Dodge. The Dexter Fire Department, with the help of Roger Salley, displayed the 1836 handpumper, which had been on display in the museum when it first opened in 1967. In the Miller's house, a life size doll, made by Helen Small Wilkins was on display. The doll is wearing Helen's mother's 1911 wedding dress. The Carr's Corner school featured a video display of Franco-American culture in Dexter. The Sunshine Club provided the punch with the help of Judy Brawn and at 6:00 P.M. a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new footbridge over the Mill Stream. The Grist Mill Museum first opened its doors on July 1, 1967, in the former S.L. Small gristmill, which was purchased by the town in 1966. The museum has remained open continuously each summer for thirty-five years and has expanded the displays and the number of artifacts considerably during that time. It was very hard in 1966 to visualize what the museum might become in thirty-five years and the dedicated people who had a vision deserve the thanks of the society and the community. The original plan of the town was to tear down the Grist Mill and the Miller's house for additional parking space. Society members pointed out that 12-14 additional spaces would be gained by razing the two buildings and looking back, the decision to keep the buildings has been to everyone's benefit.

New Fernwood Blocks

The new Fernwood of Maine blocks were released by the Society during the August open house. The block, now the fourth and fifth in a series, feature the Amos Abbott & Company Woolen Mill on Church Street and the Dumbarton Woolen Mill on lower Main Street. The blocks are available by contacting the Society by phone, or by contacting Rick Whitney at 924-3443. Individually, the blocks sell for $18.95 each plus tax, or $35.00 a pair plus tax. Each block also carries a short history of the buildings on the reverse and are suitable for shelf display or along the top of window moldings. Large framed colored and matted prints of each block are also available at $25.00 each plus tax.

2003 Historical Photo Calendar

The Float Bridge looked down on from Abbott Hill is the photo for May

December holds a photo of Main Street in 1847

The first Methodist Church in 1899 is the picture for the month of January

You will find a photograph of the Mercantile Block fire for the month of February

The Society continued its work on the Abbott Museum Building on Church Street with several cleaning sessions over the summer. The top floor ceilings were removed and more "junk" left by Guilford of Maine was removed. The building committee met several times to make major decisions on renovations and it has been decided to renovate the form of the building to its 1900 look. This will include removal of the front porch and doorway, installation of double-doors in the center, and installation of three new windows. New wood clapboards will be installed with styrofoarn insulation underneath. The remaining three sides will also feature new siding and windows. All windows on the building will be nine by six pane windows as originally used on the building. As of this writing $43,000 had been donated or pledged to the building which is probably about 50% of the money needed to totally renovate the building. Six of the eleven rooms have been sold at $5,000 each and two other rooms are being reserved for donors. With this newsletter the Society is kicking off its individual donor program with donor levels of $1,000, $500, $250, and $100. Individuals can make donations in their name or in memory of someone else for a donor board that will be prominently displayed in the building when it opens. Donations can be pledged and spread over two years for convenience. For more information concerning the individual donor plan, please contact the museum at (207) 924-5721 or e-mail at dexhist@panax.com

Curators Message

The Dexter Historical Society is embarking on its annual fund drive as another year winds down. Our annual fund drive is the Society's major fundraiser for the year and the Society is asking for your help again this year in funding a variety of needs through your annual dues and donations. Your dues help to fund the newsletter, the Veth Hope Scholarship, renovations to the museum facilities, a scholarship for the summer intern, operation expenses such as; phone, office supplies, preservation supplies, lights, insurance, and a host of other expenses. Also, more work is needed next year on the Grist Mill siding, windows, and concrete support under the barn, which will require expenditures from our general funds. Your help is needed and greatly appreciated. Dues again are only $10.00 per year, and with the new gift shop and museum store in the near future members will be given a 10% discount on the purchase of merchandise. The Society realizes that the community has had a very tough year with many people out of work, but the Society would really appreciate any help from those of you who are able to take a membership or make a donation. Remember, all donations are tax deductible as the Society is a 501 (3) c non-profit organization.

Thank you,
Sincerely,
Rick Whitney, Curator

Interesting Acquisitions and Queries

We received over one hundred collections this year. (A "collection" is any item or group of items given by one donor.) Some interesting ones are: a cheerleader's uniform of white pique with red trim worn by Rita Goulette Fahey at N.H. Fay in 1948-49, the black and gold office sign and several medical instruments belonging to Dr. Taylor donated by his daughter Diana Paine, 31 hand-tied trout flies made and donated by Lionel LaFerriere, the soapbox derby car made and raced by Philip Batson in 1960, and the last pair of shoes made at Dexter Shoe in Dexter in December 2001.

We answered over sixty queries, most received by email and most concerning genealogy information. In the process we have learned about the activities of Dexter natives such as Frederick Proctor. He was born here in 1851, son of Dr. Alpheus Proctor. He became an acrobat and juggler, toured Europe, and was a vaudeville act as "F.F. Levantine, Equilibrist." Later he owned a chain of 53 theaters including the elegant Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady, N.Y., which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2001.

We have also added folders of genealogical information for over thirty French-Canadian families. Much of the information came from a CD created by researcher Robert Chenard of Waterville. This material is available for use at the Millers house.

Historical Society Web Site

The Dexter Historical Society had a new web site, DexterHistoricalSociety.com sponsored by the Dexter Regional Federal Credit Union and constructed by Dexter resident Judy Wilbur Craig. Parts of the site are still under construction, so please be patient.

December through May Meeting site to be announced

This issue of the Dexter Historical Society's newsletter was designed by Mary Tibbetts, Graphic Design and Communications at Tri County Technical Center in Dexter.