Responses from four students in Mr. Koscuiszka's class can be viewed below:
The Lincoln Historical Societylocated at the Corro House, the oldest house in Lincoln
Nick Garfield
“Research your topic and summarize the ‘who, what, when, and where’ in the form of a few paragraphs”
The very first meeting of the Lincoln Historical Society was February 11, 1935. The idea for the group was thought up by Mary Buzzell. Even though this was not the first official meeting, this was the first actual meeting. The first official meeting of the Lincoln Historical Society was July 8, 1935. At the time, Gertrude Mills was the secretary and Addie Pinkham was the Treasurer. Some of the charter members are as follows: Sadie Adams, Mary Buzzell, Angie Lindsay, Edith McKenney, Laura Plumy, Lottie Weatherbee, May Bailey, Kate Edwards, Mildred Mackenzie, Gertrude Mills, Harriett Weatherbee, and Villa Whitter.
The reason that they started the historical society was so that they could discover unknown facts of early Lincoln and to preserve artifacts and documents from early Lincoln. The building that they used for the historical society was the primary school on School Street. The museum later opened on July 3, 1974.
One of the things that has changed is the museum has been moved. It was later located on West Broadway, next to the Lincoln News office, then it moved into the Corro House. The Corro House is one of the oldest houses in town, located on West Broadway, next to Region III. The newest president is Jeannette King. As you can see, not so many things have changed but one of the things that has remained the same is the goal, to preserve old artifacts and documents and to investigate the history of the town.
Joshua Phillips
"Compare/contrast your topic in the past and in the present"
The Historical Society started out only meeting in the library, and not having anything besides documents and artifacts. Now, they meet at the Corro house (the oldest house still standing in Lincoln), which is beside the library and across the street from the Little Red Schoolhouse, which they also own. They started with 14 lady members and now they have more people, plus some guys. They also have more documents and artifacts and more support and interest from the town. The new president is Jeannette King, not Gertrude Pinkham, like it was in the past. This is the second time the president has changed. The Historical Society has been open for about 36 years. More of my family is in it than when it started, and my Nana is President.
Blair Murphy
"How would you respond if Mattanawcook Junior High was saved from demolition by the Lincoln Historical Society, like the Little Red Schoohouse was?"
Little Red School Housepart of the Lincoln Historical Society Museum
The Little Red Schoolhouse in Lincoln was used as one room schoolhouse early in Lincoln’s history. There was a point in time when the schoolhouse was going to be demolished, but instead it was given to the Lincoln Historical Society. They moved it to its current location across from the historical society and a big part of our history was saved.
If Mattanawcook Junior High School (MJHS) were at a point where demolition was a possibility, I would hope that the building would be given to the Trustees of the Lincoln Historical Society. That way they could save the school and use it to keep information and artifacts in so the school would always be here. If it was demolished the memories and everything that has happened here would be gone and people would be devastated, or at least I know I would be devastated.
The Lincoln Historical Society opened the Little Red Schoolhouse, now turned into a museum, on July 3, 1974. MJHS couldn't be moved and put back together if it was being closed due to new school’s being built, but it could definitely become a museum. People would rather see a school be preserved and turned into a museum than see it demolished.
I would hope that in any situation where a school was being demolished in Lincoln that the Lincoln Historical Society would get ownership because I don’t think I could stand to see our school torn down. I think I would have to petition so that the Lincoln Historical Society could get the school. The school would need to be saved. Memories like the ones that are made here are too hard to find for them to just be destroyed.
The Lincoln Historical Society does a lot for Lincoln and our history, this was just one way they helped, and how I would feel if they helped take the present MJHS and make it history instead of allowing it to be demolished.
Little Red School Housedrawing by Sara Twombly
Trysten Pelkey
“Using your new found knowledge of this topic, write a creative piece (haiku, cinquain, story, song) about it”
Historical Society
Interactive, informative
Learning, documenting, compiling
Teaching about the past
Museum
Studying about the past
Of Lincoln and its customs
Its effect in Maine.
Works Cited
Achorn, Bessie. "Historical Society/Mary Buzzell." 1961. Lincoln Historical Society. Black Binder ed. Vol. 1&2.
Hawkins, Alan H. "Lincoln Society Saves School." Lincoln Historical Society. Black Binder ed. Vol. 1&2. Lincoln: Historical Society. 245-46. Print. Lincoln History.
Lincoln News, 1961. Lincoln. 40-41. Print. Lincoln History.