Maine Facts  

& Trivia 

Did you know...

In 1959, a tree from Presque Isle was used as the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C.

A 70-foot white spruce from the farm of Alice Kimball on Parson Road was selected for the White House Christmas, and was part of the Christmas Pageant of Peace.

The tree was prepared by community members and the Maine Public Service, Llyod White Inc., and Cole's Express; it was shipped via four railroads, and presented to President Eisenhower by the Presque Isle Chamber of Commerce.

The Presque Isle Historical Society has contributed several images of the tree and its journey to Maine Memory Network. Search for "Christmas Tree" to view the images.

3 Ways To Give 

Holiday Hours

Through 12/31/11

MHS Museum    

Longfellow House Tours   

Mon-Sat, 10am- 4pm, Sunday 12-4pm

MHS will be closed December 25 & 26, and January 1 & 2.  

For hours, directions, and admission coupons visit us online.

Current Exhibits

Museum

Dressing Up, Fitting In, Standing Out: Adornment & Identity in Maine (Through May 27, 2012)

Lecture Hall Gallery 

"Having in Paris a Great Success": French Fashion, 1928-1936  

(through December 31, 2011) 

Showcase Gallery

Student art work from our Local History/Local Schools program 

 
Maine Farmer's Exchange Holiday Potato Bag, Presque Isle, ca. 1975 

Maine Memory Network Item#16062

There are many regional riffs on the holidays. The item above is part of a rich Maine marketing tradition and genre: the potato bag. There are, in fact, nearly 100 hundred potato bags on Maine Memory, most of which come from the collections of long-time contributor Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton.  

This will be a busy, wonderful month at MHS. There are many ways to enjoy and experience the holidays--from family programs and special house tours, to music in the house and caroling in the library, to shopping for great Maine products at our store and holiday bazaar. It's also full steam ahead on regular programs, including a special Local History/Local Schools "opening" for our 3rd and 4th grade friends (and their families) from the Lyseth and Reiche schools.

As we approach the end of 2011, we are also looking back at the year's many accomplishments, and ahead to the work of 2012. We hope you will consider making a gift to the MHS Annual Fund this month. The Annual Fund supports all that we do to make history meaningful, accessible, and enjoyable. You can help!

Finally, individual and family memberships make a great holiday gift! There are many benefits--free admission to the House, museum, and library; a subscription to the journal Maine History, and discounts on merchandise, trips, and programs--but there's also the good feeling that comes with knowing your gift will help preserve history throughout the state. 

As always, thanks for your friendship, support, and interest. With best wishes for the holidays,

Richard D'Abate

MHS Executive Director 

Daily: Museum Store Holiday Bazaar   

Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm, Sunday 12 Noon-5pm 

From the Collections  

Elise Fellows White Journals Published  

In 2010, Dr. Houghton M. White of Brunswick donated the autobiography, diaries, letters, photographs and other materials collected by his grandmother, Elise Fellows White, to MHS. Those materials, now processed and accessible in the library, are the foundation for a wonderful new book published by MHS that tells her remarkable tale.

Elise was a violin prodigy from Skowhegan whose musical talents and adventuresome spirit took her around the country and abroad in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Our new publication--A Maine Prodigy: The Life and Adventures of Elise Fellows White--was compiled by Dr. White from her materials. (He also generously supported the book's publication.) MHS's Candace Kanes edited the book and wrote its introduction.

Place an advance order before December 15 and receive 5% off the cover price. We expect to have copies available at MHS during the week of December 19. (No guarantee of delivery by Christmas.) To place an advance order, please email or call Melissa Spoerl at (207) 774-1822 ext. 205. 

Coming Soon: Sign-Up Now!

2012 Book Discussion Group Announced:

Extraordinary Histories of Ordinary Things

Portland City Hall Rum Room, ca. 1930

Join us for interesting discussions about history, and a great opportunity to connect with the MHS community.

In recent years, historians have cultivated a fresh and imaginative new genre: studies that trace broad historical narratives through the stories of individual, seemingly-small objects, ideas, or phenomenon. This year's book discussion group will examine four particularly interesting examples: studies of the evolution of artificial light; how the lowly codfish changed the world; the toothpick as a paradigm for American manufacturing; and the influence of rum on the development of the New World.  

WHEN: Tuesdays 2/28, 3/27, 4/24, and 5/22 @ 7PM 

WHERE: MHS Lecture Hall 

COST: $10 Members/$20 Non-members

BOOKS: Discounts available through MHS Store 

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: By Friday, January 27 (Space is limited.)

Program facilitated by Larissa Vigue Picard. To register, please email: lvpicard@mainehistory.org