Stories from Maine Memory Network 

Film Clip: Removing Trolley Tracks from Congress Street, 1941   

By the 1930s, buses began to replace trolley car service in greater Portland. This remarkable film, made by the city of Portland, shows workers removing trolley tracks from Congress Street. It captures both the hard manual labor of city workers, and the bustle of downtown Portland. To view the film follow this link and press play. For more on the history of trolleys in Maine, visit the Trolley Travel exhibit on Maine Memory. 

Note: Join us for Home Movie Day this Saturday (details below) for screenings of your own home movies, and/or to view the films that others bring.  

Public Programs     

Thursday, October 13, 7pm

Book Event: Brilliant: The Evolution of Artificial Light  

Presenter: Jane Brox, Author

Join us to explore the fascinating history of human light--from the stone lamps of the Pleistocene to the LEDs embedded in fabrics of the future. Five hundred years ago almost everyone lived at the mercy of the night. Today, life as we know it--long evening hours, flexible working days, our sense of safety--depends upon cheap, abundant light. In her compelling new book, Brox examines the social and environmental implications of this remarkable transformation. 

Jane Brox is the author of three previous books including Five Thousand Days Like This One, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and her essays have appeared in many anthologies.

Brilliant: The Evolution of Artificial Light is available for purchase at our Museum Store and at our online store.  

Saturday, October 15, 1-4pm 

Maine Home Movie Day with Northeast Historic Film  

Do you have reels of old film in your attic that you've never been able to watch? Footage that captures a family event, community gathering, recital, or game way back when? If so, we invite you to bring them to Maine Home Movie Day.  

This year's special theme: bad weather! We will screen spectacular storm footage from Northeast Historic Film's collection, and WCSH's Kevin Mannix will be here to share his own tales.  

For an advance clip, visit Northeast Historic Film's blog.  

Home Movie Day provides the opportunity to screen your 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm movies, get advice on their care and storage, or just sit back and enjoy the films that others bring in. Archivists from Northeast Historic Film in Bucksport will be present to conduct on-site inspections and screen the films.

Coming Soon: Mark Your Calendar   

Wednesday, October 26, 7pm

Book Event: American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America

Presenter: Colin Woodard, Author 

Thursday, November 10, 7pm

Presenter: Victoria Reed, Curator for Provenance, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston