LITTLETON, Maine — Former Monticello resident Allen Delong, a Bowdoin College faculty member, recently brought eight freshmen and two upperclassmen to Aroostook County. It was the ninth community service trip that provides enrichment for the college students and an opportunity to see other parts of Maine away from their Brunswick campus. Many of the groups volunteer several hours helping non-profit organizations.
Upon their arrival, students toured the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum where Delong’s father, Walter volunteered for many years. They viewed furnishings from family homes and equipment from County farms that many had never seen before. The students took a step back in time sitting at the desks in the Ross School and learning about the jobs many students had to do at the schoolhouse. They also learned that rural students in the late 1800s and early 1900s boarded a school hack for their ride to school each day. The hack was pulled by a team of horses.
Zach Duperry of Portland said, “Being the grandson of someone from Aroostook County, it is fascinating to be able to view the tools, machines and lifestyles of the agricultural community. The museum does an incredible service for the state and the country by preserving this history. The fact that it is run completely by volunteers is astounding in its own right.”
Another student, Kathya Marte of the Bronx said, “I loved getting a tour of the museum because seeing the donated items that were decades old made me feel like I was immersing myself in a part of history. I also found it very inspiring that the museum is able to exist solely on the power of volunteering by people in the community.”
The following day the students spent the morning doing a variety of jobs inside and outside the museum. Nancy Wright, Joe Inman, Paul Klein and Paul Porter, museum volunteers, kept the students busy sweeping the paved yard, washing windows, chairs and tables, kitchen cupboards and cleaning the outside entrances.
Afternoons were spent exploring downtown Houlton, touring the wind farm in Mars Hill and watching a basket-making demonstration in the area. One group also spent time at Catholic Charities in Caribou, while a second group spent time in Presque Isle.
Joining the students for the first time on this trip was Bowdoin professor of film studies, Tricia Welsch. “I am so happy to have been part of this experience. SAAM offers a wonderful look back into the past and helps us understand more about our agricultural practices. This is sorely needed at present. It was a real pleasure to learn about ‘the other Maine’ alongside my Bowdoin students. I know they enjoyed doing the service work (as did I). Our time at the museum has offered a terrific introduction to Maine, one we won’t forget,” she said.
The SAAM summer tour season will end on Saturday, Sept. 13. After that date the museum will be open one Saturday afternoon a month in conjunction with their public suppers. The next supper will be Saturday, Sept. 20 and will feature roast turkey. Private tours can be arranged by calling 538-0050 or 694-6099.
