THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
OF WELLS AND OGUNQUIT
PRESERVING THE PAST FOR TWO MAINE TOWNS
Event Calendar
Visit our Video Archive for recordings of previous programs and events.
Mystery Monday!
So you think you know Wells and Ogunquit? We have fun posting a variety of challenging questions on our Facebook page. Here's the latest one:
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This photo shows the interior of the Fishing Village Studio in Perkins Cove, c. 1920. HSWO is fortunate to have a large collection of this artist's work, including three paintings seen in this image. (As well as the guest book you can see lying on the table)
Question: Who is the artist?
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Scroll to the bottom to see the answer.
Rotating Special Exhibits
During our Regular Hours - Free Admission
At the Meetinghouse (938 Post Road in Wells)
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The Historical Society of Wells & Ogunquit was founded 70 years ago, and we're celebrating! In addition to special events, we will have rotating special exhibits throughout the year featuring some of our favorite artifacts. Our May exhibit includes the beautiful 1890 quilt shown here, which was recently donated to the Society and has a secret that makes it very special indeed. Come find out why we're so excited about this latest addition to our museum, and what other anniversary events are in the works. Admission is free. We look forward to seeing you!
Trivia Game & Annual Meeting
Tuesday November 19 at 6:30 pm
At the Meetinghouse (938 Post Road in Wells)
Free Admission
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Test your knowledge of local and Maine history! All are welcome to join us for our annual membership meeting. We'll give you a brief overview of this year's activities, take a vote on our updated by-laws, and then jump right into the trivia game. Enjoy light refreshments and compete in a team or on your own. Prizes will be awarded!
The Wreck of the Isidore:
A Musical Tribute
Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 7 pm
938 Post Road (US Rt 1) in Wells
Admission $15 (children under 13 free)
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On a cold November morning in 1842, the ship Isidore sailed out of Kennebunkport, Maine, headed for New Orleans. This was a common sight along the New England coast as boats carried goods along the coast and across the Atlantic. It was also a dangerous business, and in the evening of November 30th, 1842, the Isidore crashed onto the rocks off Bald Head Cliff in Cape Neddick, with all fifteen sailors lost. It was a tragic event and one of the worst shipwrecks in Maine history.
On November 30, the actual date of the shipwreck, Harvey Reid and Joyce Anderson will share a musical tribute to the tragic story of the Isidore and her doomed crew. Through ballads and storytelling, they will take us on a journey back to Maine as it was in the 1840s.
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“This is such an important part of state and local history,” says Society Director, Bryce Waldrop, “and we are pleased to welcome Harvey and Joyce back to the Meetinghouse to help bring the story to life. Visitors can also view artifacts from the Isidore on display in our museum, further connecting them with the tragic tale.”
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The Isidore was built in Kennebunkport and sailed by 36-year-old Captain Leander Foss along with 14 hands, one as young as fifteen. The crew members were all local men bearing well-known family names like Perkins, Grant, Davis, Young, and Lord, and together they are memorialized on a marble stone in Bass Cove Cemetery in Kennebunkport.
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Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online or at the door. Children under 13 admitted free.
Mornings at the Museum
Children's Program - Free!
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Saturday Dec 14 at 10 am
At the Meetinghouse
938 Post Road (US Rte 1) in Wells, Maine
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Be sure to bring the kids for the Winter Holidays edition of our Mornings at the Museum, where all ages can enjoy a fun program of stories, activities, a scavenger hunt, and a craft to take home. And admission is free!
Sponsored By
Market at the Meetinghouse
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Sunday, Dec 15, 2024, 9am to 2pm
At the Meetinghouse
938 Post Road (US Rt 1) in Wells
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Join us for our Holiday Market at the Meetinghouse as part of Ogunquit's festive Christmas by the Sea weekend. Browse all the wonderful local vendors for crafts and other goodies, and enjoy hot cocoa, doughnuts, and popcorn. Our historic 1862 Meetinghouse is the perfect spot to watch the start of the Town of Wells Christmas Parade at 2:00 pm.
​Vendor spaces are available at $35 each with all proceeds to benefit the educational programs at the Historical Society. Do you have a craft product you'd like to sell at our market? Please contact us to register for a vendor space.
Mystery Monday!
And the answer is...
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The artist is Barbara Armstrong. She is the subject of a special exhibit currently on display at our Meetinghouse Museum.