| "Sudbury
Canada"
was
Bethel's name from the time of the granting of this western Maine
township in 1768 to its incorporation in 1796. This early name
honored the original grantees from Sudbury, Massachusetts, who had
fought unsuccessfully to conquer Canada in 1690. The Commonwealth
of Massachusetts rewarded these men with land in the District of Maine,
naming it in honor of their Massachusetts town and the campaign in
which they served.
"Sudbury Canada Days," the Bethel Historical Society's annual heritage
festival, honors the town's rich heritage dating from the 18th century. |
| Friday,
August 7 |
|
| 7:30 PM |
The 18th Annual Hall Memorial Lecture:
"Abraham
Lincoln, Hannibal Hamlin and the Civil War Vice-Presidency" will be
presented by H.
Draper Hunt, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor, University of Southern
Maine. Lincoln and Hamlin were both born in 1809, and
this program honors the bicentenary of their births.
Free and open to the
public; Dr. Moses Mason House exhibit hall |
|
Saturday,
August 8
|
|
| All
Day |
Encampment of 18th Century Re-enactors; Traditional Craft Demonstrations |
| 10:00
AM |
Horseshoe
Tournament commences
on grounds behind the Mason barn Robinson House exhibits and Museum Shop open |
| 10:30
AM to 4:30 PM |
Artist Ruth Monsell will be creating unique
silhouette portraits at the Robinson house; fee for individual
portraits with matting: $20; duplicate copies: $10 each |
| 1:00
PM |
Old
Time Children's Games and Ice Cream Eating Contest |
| 1:00 to 4:00 PM | Traditional
Craft Demonstrations and Exhibits; Flower Show; Art Show; Historical
Videos; Farming/Logging Exhibit: Guided tours of the Dr. Moses Mason
House period rooms |
| 1:30 to 4:30 PM |
Porch
plays and walking tour on Main and Broad streets (a series of
five acts, on five porches), entitled "When The Parade Came By Our
House Every Year About This Time We Would Gather On The Porch,"
presented by the Bethel
Performing Arts Project |
| 2:00
PM |
Croquet
and Badminton Tournaments |
| 4:00
PM |
Drawing for Door Prize: "The Age of
Barns" poster and "East by North East" DVD |
| 5
PM |
Log Drivers' Bean Supper (advance tickets available in the Museum Shop; Adults - $6; 12 and under - $3) |
| 7
PM |
Presentation
by 18th Century Re-enactors |
|
Sunday,
August 9
|
|
| Till 3 PM |
Encampment of 18th Century Re-enactors |
| 1 to 4 PM | Flower Show; Historical Videos;
Farming/Logging Exhibit; Guided
tours of the Dr. Moses Mason House period rooms; Robinson House
exhibits and Museum Shop open Open House at Lower Sunday River Schoolhouse (1895), Sunday River Road, Newry |
| 2 PM |
Illustrated
talk and book signing by Steve
Pinkham of Quincy, Mass.,
author of "Mountains of Maine: Intriguing Stories Behind Their Names"; Mason
House exhibit hall
|
| 7 PM |
Old-Time
Hymn Sing, Middle Intervale Meetinghouse, Intervale Road, Bethel |