Join historian Jay Robbins of Richmond Monday, April 25, from 3 to 4 p.m. as he pours forth an interesting and illustrated talk, “An Economy of Spirits.” The role of alcohol in our local communities and economies from about 1740 until 1800 will come to life with Robbins’ stories. During this period we made the transition from Colony to Commonwealth and from Royal Edict to self- rule. Regardless of who was calling the shots, the needs to generate income from alcohol and to regulate the consequences of its consumption remained unchanged.

The first part of Robbins’ talk will look closely at the Massachusetts Acts & Resolves to see how government tried to regulate alcohol and human behaviors. Next, using the records of the Lincoln County Courts from 1761-1788, we’ll see what was really going on locally. The audience will then be taken on a tour of tavern culture before being besotted by a compendium of concoctions meant to please the palate of traveler and townie alike.

Jay Robbins has been digging out local history for over 40 years. His focus has been the Tidewater Kennebec and early Lincoln County. A former president and executive director of the Lincoln County Historical Association, Robbins has also been active with the Arnold Expedition Historical Society, the Friends of Swan Island and many other local organizations of this ilk.

The Lincoln Home is located at 22 River Road, overlooking the Damariscotta River, in Newcastle. For more information, contact Rhonda Hanna, director of community life, at 563-3350.