READFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

THE BUILDING: The Readfield Depot School House, home of the Readfield Historical Society and Museum, was built in 1853 and was used continuously as a school until 1955. The building consists of 2 floors, each with a small stage. The first floor has the restored school room; some of the desks are original to the building, the rest donated. The first floor also houses the research facility and vault. On the second floor is the museum, a charming repository of items that came from houses, farms, and businesses in Readfield. In 2019 a military room was added that includes memorabilia donated by veterans and their families, from Readfield. Also on the second floor is a room dedicated to Boy and Girl Scouts uniforms and memorabilia as well as other town organizations such as the Grange.
PROGRAMS: Readfield Historical Society (RHS) offers year round opportunities to gain knowledge about Readfield's history that also provides participants with interactive and hands on learning. All programs are made possible due to the efforts of committed RHS and community Volunteers.
RESEARCH: The Readfield Historical Society has one of the best built vaults of any small historical facility in the state. Built with the guidance of the Fire Marshall's Office and standards used by town offices, it protects valuable and fragile original documents. RHS has several volunteers who research and provide materials for family genealogists, students and organizations. The building and collection are made available during open summer hours and by appointment year-round.

1. Once a year, in the spring, the third graders walk from their "modern" school to RHS (the old Depot School) and have the experience of a "Day in a Rural School House". They dress up in time period clothing, and are taught their 19th century lessons by a similarly garbed teacher. In addition to being a fun learning day for the children, this program has received praise from the Maine Department of Education.
2. Several presentations specific to Readfield have been and continue to be offered to the public by local historians. Examples are:
a. 19th century factories and industry in Readfield by Marius Peladeau;
b. Train transportation in the 19th century by John Tyler;
c. Documented oral histories of early 20th century residents (i.e. selectmen and other town officials) by Evelyn Adell Potter and Dale Potter Clark ;
d. History Walks of Readfield done collaboratively with Readfield Trails Committee by RHS volunteer Dale Potter Clark;
e. “Lost Trotting Track of Readfield" to Maranacook Adult Education class by Stephen Thompson;
f. “Living and Working in late 19th century Readfield" to Maranacook Adult Education class by Dale Potter Clark;
g. Historical Bus Tours, done in cooperation with Kents Hill School, have been offered on several occasions, in different sections of Readfield. A historical interpreter, dressed in period clothing, gives a complete and entertaining narration while participants add their own stories about the area of town on tour at the time.
3. Reunion of students, many who attended the old Depot School (RHS building), is in planning stages for 2013. RHS is working collaboratively with the reunion planners to provide pictures and other memorabilia of specific interest;
4. Annual open house and wine social during the summer that raises awareness and draws in our summer residents.

An impressive band of Volunteers works as docents, researchers, program leaders, sorters and filers. They conduct business, serve on committees and the board of directors, set up museum displays and improve and maintain the RHS building. RHS also benefits from community service projects offered by Kents Hill School and Maranacook Community School students. We are supported financially by individual donors, grants and fundraising activities

A strategic plan "Looking to the Future" was conducted in 2000 and all goals were met by 2016. With the advent of new leadership in 2017 it was decided to distribute a survey via our RHS newsletter and the 2016 annual report asking for feedback from members of RHS and the community on what RHS was doing "right" and suggestions that RHS should consider reaching towards in the next decade. Accordingly, the RHS Executive Committee set some new goals and plans to continue others:
1) Maintain the quality and rotation of displays in our museum section;
2) Establishment of a research library and enhancement of our resource collection;
3) Add a room for displaying uniforms and memorabilia from Readfield that includes war veterans;
4) Continue efforts to digitalize our photo and archival collection;
5) Update our computer system to facilitate #4;
6) Continue community outreach through:
a. history walking tours
b. education / classes regarding local history
c. school programs
d. articles re history of Readfield people and events in local publications
7) Build community partnerships with:
a. Readfield non-profits that also have a historical mission;
b. the public and private school system;
c. local Boy and Girl Scout troops;
d. Readfield Community Library
e. historical societies in neighboring communities;
f. committees sponsored by our town government whose missions dovetail with RHS mission on some levels i.e. Readfield Conservation Commission, Trails Committee and Cemetery Committee;
g. local churches relative to historical projects and events;
8) Do our best to continue storage and / or display (as space allows) information, photos and artifacts concerning the history of Readfield businesses, farms, churches and organizations, past and present.
9) Encourage visitations to RHS and participation in our programs by young adults and children;
10) Build our membership to include more year round and summer residents;
11) Raise online visibility using current methods and regularly update our existing web site and Facebook page;
12) Share photos and articles of interest on our Facebook page;
13) Enhance our bi-annual newsletter to include historical photos and articles as well as RHS updates and future events.