Museum matters
Washburn group struggling to carry on the work
To the editor:
In 1980 a group of central Aroostook citizens formed The Salmon Brook Historical Society. They purchased and were deeded the Benjamin Wilder House by the Jardine family in 1985. A year or two later they raised funds to build The Barn (The Aroostook County Agricultural Museum) which was completed in 1989.
The Wilder House houses many items that were used in our rich traditional history. The barn houses old farm tools and equipment and six horse-drawn sleighs and carriages that were reconditioned by the Amish of Pennsylvania and donated by Robert Solmon of Caribou. The two museums are owned and maintained by The Salmon Brook Historical Society.
In the early days, the founders were able to pay for expenses, insurance, heating and utilities with dividends from preferred stock from a local company. The stock has become worthless.
For a few years, because of lack of workers, the museum was not open at Washburn’s August Festival. The last four years a small group with the mission to keep the museum open and to perform the needed maintenance have been successful in raising money to replace the barn roof, the porch roof on the house, paint the house and most of the barn, thanks to donations from local businesses and our fund-raising efforts.
We were in desperate need of a new furnace to replace the old inefficient and aging oil-fired one. We started a Wall of Fame and asked for help again from local businesses. Thanks to everyone who contributed we were able to purchase and install a propane furnace.
Now we are approaching a crossroads. SBHS is a wonderful historical museum as witnessed by the classes from Presque Isle and Washburn that visit us in June of each year, and the 300-plus visitors at the August Festival. We need two things: people and financial assistance. We do have several fund-raising efforts: the very popular tea and quilt show the first Sunday of August, an annual quilt raffle (this year crafted by Rita Kingsbury), a spaghetti supper in the fall with the assistance of Washburn Rotary and our Wall of Fame project continues – see our Facebook page for details.
We have had great assistance from Dan Hanson and the Washburn High shop class with a couple of major projects. Students needing hours for community service can easily get them by helping us with cleaning, with inventory or by helping August Festival Day.
If you are able to assist in any way see one of us at The Museum Sunday afternoons from 1-4 p.m. or call me or my wife Wanita at 540-1154. Our next meeting is a potluck supper followed by business at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 25 at the Washburn Civic Center.
Come on Perham, Wade, Washburn and central Aroostook help keep our heritage alive!
Larry Hallowell, president
Salmon Brook Historical Society
