Historical Society
gets ready for a ‘Jolly Molly’ season
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Spring is finally on its way and that means one important thing for the Presque Isle Historical Society — a new season of tours, exhibits and presentations. This year is even more exciting as Molly the Trolley will make her tour debut for the season, with plans under way to use the vehicle to provide tours in Presque Isle, as well as to other historical sites throughout Aroostook County.
“Molly is no different than any other grand dame — she is frantically getting spiffed up for her spring debut, with a new paint job. And of course, just like any other lady, she also needs accessories,” said Kim Smith, who serves as tour guide for the Historical Society.
The accessories Smith referred to are Molly’s new sponsorship signs, which are displayed both inside and outside the trolley.
“Although the exterior signs are completely sold out, there are still some interior spots available for purchase,” she said.
The Presque Isle Historical Society continues to offer free quarterly presentations in partnership with Northern Maine Community College.
“These one-hour presentations will be held in the Edmunds Conference Center on the NMCC campus, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on June 6, Sept. 5 and Dec. 5. Topics include the History of the Northern Maine Fair, the Life & Times of A.C.T. Wilson, and Ice Harvesting on the Presque Isle Stream,” said Smith, noting, “The Society has over 30 presentations available on various topics of local historic interest which are available for schools, civic groups and community organizations.”
Six different tours will be offered this season, said Smith, making this “the most ambitious undertaking in the Historical Society’s 49-year existence.”
“Beginning in April, the Society will offer guided walking tours of historic downtown Presque Isle, city-wide historic tours on Molly and County-wide museum crawl tours. In October, fall foliage tours will once again be offered on Molly and guided lantern tours will be offered as we near Halloween,” said Smith.
The trolley is also available for private charter.
“She has already been scheduled for a birthday party and a wedding,” Smith said.
The guided walking tours are free and open to the public.
“These two-hour, two-mile tours begin and end at the Vera Estey House, 16 Third Street,starting10 a.m., on the following Saturdays: April 28, May 19, June 9, July 28, Aug. 25 and Sept. 22,” she said.
Over 30 properties and numerous colorful figures from Presque Isle’s past are discussed during the tours. In addition, a self-guided tour is available. Maps for the self-guided tours may be printed out free from the Society’s website at ww.pihistory.org.
Smith said participants of the tours will find something new this year, with the introduction of a technological twist.
“Something new and exciting has been added to the self-guided tours this season. Several of the self-guided tour signs now have QR codes. QR — Quick Response — codes were developed by Toyota originally to track parts in the auto assembly plants. Since then, QR codes have been adapted for use in advertisements, entertainment venues and much more,” said Smith.
Smith said the codes allow added access to additional information on historic locations.
“Since the tour signs only hold about 150 words and usually only two historic photographs, tour participants with Smart phones and QR reader apps can access a website for each tour site with a QR code to see additional information on the historic significance of the site, as well as additional historic photographs,” said Smith.
She said August is always an exciting time of year for anyone interested in local history and this August will be no different.
“The 15th annual Historical Pavilion will take place Tuesday, July 31, through Thursday, Aug. 2, in the Forum as part of the Northern Maine Fair. The Historical Pavilion features exhibits by Aroostook County historical societies and museums. Admission to the Pavilion is free with paid admission to the fair,” she said.
The Pavilion is open each day from 4-8 p.m. Smith said last year approximately 40 organizations had exhibits and this year should be even bigger and better.
“The Historical Society is hard at work on a brand new exhibit for this event entitled ‘Apparel and Accessories,’” Smith said.
New this year is the city-wide and county-wide trolley tours.
Molly is a 1985 gas-driven aluminum-body trolley with a Chevrolet 454 engine. She began her service life in the Biddeford-Saco Transit System. Molly has 13 bench seats and open seating in the rear to hold 30 passengers, plus a driver and tour guide.
“The city-wide trolley tours begin and end at the historic fire station on Church Street on the following Saturdays: April 21, May 12, June 16, July 21, Aug. 18, Sept. 15 and Oct. 20. These tours are $5 per person and require pre-paid reservations,” said Smith.
These narrated three-hour tours start at 9 a.m. and cover many historic sites around the Presque Isle area including, but not limited to: the first known potato field location in Aroostook County, the Incident of Arnold’s Cow, Maysville Grange, Northern Maine Sanatorium, the Presque Isle Army Air Base, Mantle Lake, Double Eagle II, the James School and much more.
“Museum crawl tours will visit different parts of Aroostook County, one Saturday each month from April through November, stopping at various museums in each particular area,” said Smith.
The cost of these tours is $20 per person and also requires pre-paid reservations.
“The Presque Isle museum crawl kicks off the season on Saturday, April 14, and includes stops at the Vera Estey House Museum, the Presque Isle Air Base Museum and the James School. Other tours include: May 5, Allagash and Fort Kent; June 2, St. Agatha, Van Buren and Lille; July 14, Fort Fairfield and Caribou; Aug. 11, Oakfield, Patten and Smyrna; Sept. 8, Ashland, Mapleton and Washburn; Oct. 6, Houlton and Littleton; and Nov. 3, Madawaska,” said Smith.
Tours will begin and end at the historic fire station at 8 a.m. For the longer tour trips, tour participants may bring a bag lunch or purchase lunch for an additional fee, provided in most cases by one of the participating museums.
Founded in 1963, the mission of the Presque Isle Historical Society is to present a living history of Presque Isle through school- and community-related educational programs. The Presque Isle Historical Society shall study, preserve and promote the history, culture, heritage and physical artifacts of Presque isle for present and future generations.
For more information about the Historical Society, membership or making donations, call 762-1151 or e-mail pihistoricalsociety@hotmail.com.
