Bethel Historical Society

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Bethel Historical Society Calendar of Events

2010
January 23 to 31	WinterFest Skiing Heritage Exhibit at Bethel Historical Society Visit the Bethel Historical Society's Robinson House (10 Broad Street) to view our newest exhibit, "Sunday River, Mt. Abram and More! Celebrating the Skiing Heritage of the Bethel Area." This exhibit commemorates the 50th anniversaries of the Mt. Abram and Sunday River ski resorts, as well as the rich skiing heritage of the Bethel area in general. Exhibit hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM; Sunday, 1 to 4 PM (open weekends during WinterFest only). Funding for this exhibit has been provided by the Mt. Abram Ski Club and Sunday River Ski Resort.
January 30	Book Signing - Sunday River: Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future. On December 19, 1959, Sunday River Skiway opened, mostly through the work of a dedicated group of volunteers and business people from Bethel. Since opening with a rope tow and T-bar and just a handful of runs, Sunday River has grown into one of the largest and busiest ski resorts in New England. Author and former Sunday River Ski Patrol director David Irons will be on hand at the Society’s Robinson House from 1:30 to 3:30 PM to sign copies of this new book, which explores the establishment and evolution of one of the Northeast's most celebrated and time-honored recreational attractions. The 112-page book, which is priced at $19.95, features numerous historical and contemporary photographs, as well as period marketing pieces. As always, BHS members purchasing copies will receive a 10% discount off the retail price.
February 15	Winter Recreation Heritage Day In conjunction with our newest exhibit commemorating the 50th anniversaries of the Mt. Abram and Sunday River ski resorts, the Society will offer a full afternoon of presentations and activities. Among the FREE programs that will take place will be snowshoeing for children, talks about Maine Handicapped Skiing and sled-making by the Paris (Maine) Manufacturing Company, and the showing of the 1950s film, Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates. For a complete schedule of events, please click here.
May 22	Program and Book Signing to celebrate the publication of “Write Quick”: War and a Woman’s Life in Letters, 1836-1867, a book based on Civil War-era documents and artifacts in the collections of the Bethel Historical Society. Co-authors are Roberta (“Bobbi”) Gibson Pevear of Exeter, New Hampshire, who is descended from Eliza Bean Foster, the main character of the book, and poet and author Ann Chandonnet of Vale, North Carolina. The book is based on nearly 200 letters written by Roberta’s and Ann's ancestors and their extended kinship network in New England. During the talk and book signing, a sampling of the letters, photos and artifacts used in creating the books will be on display. 1:30 to 3:30 PM, Mason House exhibit hall.
July 1	Summer Season Guided Tours of the Dr. Moses Mason House 1:00 to 4:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday September 6; tours may be arranged during the remainder of the year by calling 207-824-2908.
July 3 - Sept. 4	Historic Bethel Hill: Guided One-Hour Walking Tours Bethel’s first settlers logged, farmed, sawed timber and built houses and barns. By the 19th century, though, they wanted more: the services and amenities of a town. Doctors, shopkeepers, lawyers and tradesmen began to establish themselves on Bethel Hill. Owners of small mills and factories joined them, and in 1851 the railroad came to town, bringing with it a boom in manufacturing and tourism. By the late 19th century Bethel was an economic hub for its region and a major tourist destination offering scenic views of the surrounding White Mountains, health-giving springs, hunting and fishing, New England hospitality in large summer hotels, and, at the turn of the 20th century, world-renowned opera singers and a clinic for the treatment of those with nervous disorders. The historic buildings and landscape of Bethel Hill village can help us picture all this today. Led by our summer student intern or a Society volunteer, tours will take place Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. through September 4; meet at the bell tower on the north end of the village common.
July 4	Fourth of July Community Picnic This free event begins at noon on the side lawn of the Dr. Moses Mason House (14 Broad St.). Bring your lunch and after the presentation of colors and the National Anthem, enjoy a two-hour concert by the Portland Brass Quintet. Dr. Mason began this Fourth of July tradition in the 1850s and the Bethel Historical Society carries it on today. In case of rain, the concert and picnic will be held in the Middle Intervale Meetinghouse (1816) on Intervale Road, approximately four miles down river from Bethel Hill village.
September 5	Last Day for Regularly Scheduled Tours of the Dr. Moses Mason House; tours may be arranged during the remainder of the year by calling 207-824-2908.

Each year, the Bethel Historical Society sponsors an on-going series of lectures, exhibit openings, conferences, seminars, demonstrations, and other educational activities for members and friends of all ages. Event dates and times are subject to change. Please call in advance (207-824-2908 or 800-824-2910) or email us at info@bethelhistorical.org for confirmation and/or more information.

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