The Cape Elizabeth Historical Preservation Society continues its celebration of community history through March at the Thomas Memorial Library.
An opening reception is set for Friday, March 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served and all are welcome.
Exhibit highlights include “I Remember Cape Elizabeth: Senior Stories, Extraordinary Memories,” with memory cards and photos, by Janice Reale. Stories from seniors about growing up in Cape Elizabeth have been recorded on displayed memory cards. Many participants attended the “I Remember Cape Elizabeth” sessions facilitated by Reale over the past year. This display is a continuation of a project that began in 2006. “The focus of the project is to document stories about places and events in Cape Elizabeth and build connections by sharing these stories and photographs with community members,” Reale says. This program was supported by a grant from the Maine Humanities Council.
Mapping Cape Elizabeth’s Historic Photos: an interactive exhibit is created by Cape residents Ellen Van Fleet and Norman Jordan. This part of the exhibit is a “working map” of Cape Elizabeth coordinated by Van Fleet and Jordan, who have been working over the past year to locate and document the Historical Society’s pictures of bygone Cape Elizabeth.
Along with the map and accompanying photographs of noteworthy and historically interesting buildings is a guide with facts about the photos. The exhibit creators are looking to the community for corrections and more information, as well as more photos to add to the society’s collection. Van Fleet writes the “Historical Snippets” column for The Cape Courier.
History Matters: a collection of articles about Cape Elizabeth is presented by Barbara Sanborn, the society’s secretary, who has written numerous articles over the past several years for local publications, including the Current. Her stories are about the history of buildings, traditions and places in Cape Elizabeth.
Publications celebrated
The exhibit also celebrates the recent publication of “A Culinary History of Cape Elizabeth,” edited by Jane Beckwith and compiled by members of the Historical Society and community members. The cookbook combines historical information about Cape Elizabeth with traditional recipes.
Limited copies of a previous society publication, “Cape Elizabeth Past and Present” and hand-colored and black-and-white note cards by Reale depicting familiar Cape Elizabeth sights will also be available for purchase.
Memories and memberships sought
Visitors to the exhibit will be able to document their own favorite memories and stories about Cape Elizabeth on memory cards which will become part of the permanent town archives.
The Cape Elizabeth Historical Preservation Society was established in 1986 by the late Constance Murray, Ph.D. Murray’s family has deep roots in Cape Elizabeth. She grew up in the Two Lights area and returned to Cape Elizabeth following her retirement from teaching. She formed a local organization composed of concerned citizens dedicated to locating, researching and preserving items of historical value. The society would like to continue Murray’s mission by encouraging preservation of artifacts, buildings, and memories of town history.
Annual membership in the society is $15. Membership forms will be available at the March 5 reception as well as throughout the month of March at the library. Contact CEHPS President Scott Berry at 767-0236 or CEHPS member and “Celebrating Community History” Show Coordinator Janice Reale @ 799-2457 for more information.