Local historian Eleanor Motley Richardson of Rockland and Naples, FL, will give a presentation on researching, writing and publishing neighborhood and family histories, at Union Historical Society's September meeting, to be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday September 1, 2010 at the Old Town House on Town House Road, just off Union Common.
Eleanor Richardson will explain the genesis and the process of writing her books, illustrated by a slide show of old photos. The author will demonstrate how she gathered material by digging beneath the surface, poring through the Registry of Deeds, opening up dusty leather bound tax records in City Hall, scouring Vital Records and the Rockland Historical Society, and conducting personal interviews, to bring alive neighborhoods of long ago.
Richardson writes, "If you could write a book, what would it be? Everyone has a different answer. While my stories deal with specific Maine locales, it could be the story of your street or your family. A neighborhood history is a mystery story and you are the 'History Detective'!" She encourages the audience to share ideas and projects, talk about how to get going, and give each other courage.
Eleanor Motley Richardson has written four books of local history: Hurricane Island and North Haven Summers, about two Maine islands, and Andover: A Century of Change, about Andover, Massachusetts. Mechanic Street: Uncovering the History of a Maine Neighborhood completes her trilogy of local Maine histories. Richardson is a retired organist and organ-builder, and is married to Rev. Peter Richardson. They live in a house built by Peter's great-grandfather in Rockland.
The program is preceded by a short business meeting, and followed by refreshments. All Union Historical Society meetings are free and open to the public.
The UHS Board has updated and made changes to the UHS Bylaws and Constitution. These documents are available here on the website and members may pick up a hard copy at the UHS Robbins House on the Common in Union. UHS members will be voting on the new Bylaws and Constitution at our Annual Meeting on November 3rd. If you need a copy sent to you as an email attachment or hard copy mailed to you, please contact us by telephone 207-785-6092 or email unionhis@hotmail.com .
The old Town house, located on Town House road just north of the Union common, has only recently been added to the National Registry of Historic Buildings. It is furnished with many antique "deacon's benches" with spindle backrests, contemporary with the building. There is a stage which is usually concealed by a painted hanging showing a composite depiction of Union and its surroundings. Antique quilts hang on the walls and a display cabinet dedicated to the veterans of Union contains memorabilia from the Civil and other wars in which Union citizens fought.
