As we watched the Channel 7 broadcast of a recent talk at the Boothbay Region Historical Society this past week, we were reminded how very lucky we are that they are working hard to document our past. In our own personal households, we usually realize, too late, how many significant events in our lives have gone unrecorded, be it written documents, photographs or other means of preserving our heritage.

Locally, since 1967, the Boothbay Region Historical Society has been collecting artifacts, photos, private and public writings and much, much more which will tell the story of peninsula life for future generations to enjoy.They’ve interviewed countless individuals and recorded these conversations, delved into the history of our lifestyle and the businesses which have supported us, and made it easier for all of us to truly appreciate the past.  For such a small town, their success, dependent primarily on volunteers, is remarkable. Because of their efforts, more and more people are choosing to donate cherished family items to the museum because they know it’s the safest way to insure that future generations can share them.

Barbara Rumsey’s Out of Our Past column in this newspaper has been enjoyed by thousands over the years, and if you’ve followed her column, year in and year out, you can truly appreciate the hours and hours of research which have gone into her writings and her contribution to the historical society which still continues to this day.

As we get older, we find ourselves looking back on experiences which were a part of growing up, including the people we knew who are no longer with us. We were thrilled to learn that the recent talk at the historical society by several local fishermen recounting their association with Damariscove Island is being shared with the local access Channel 7 audience.  Along with noted Damariscove historian Chip Griffin, the special event featured stories by fishermen Brian Barter, David Norton and Dean Morrison, as well as Charlie Gould, who served as the first caretaker on the island for the Nature Conservancy.

As we listened to the tales of life and antics on Damariscove,  some of them  hard  to believe, we couldn’t help but feel that the peninsula doesn’t seem to have as many residents  we could best describe as “characters’’ these days. We may have one or two who could fit that description, but in our opinion, they’re scarce, and a generation or two ago, they were plentiful here.  If you’ve lived here for a spell, we’re sure you can recall some folks yourself who could be termed unforgettable “characters.’’  As we laughed our head off at the Damariscove stories, we appreciated how important it is to document accounts like these for future generations. It is just one more example of the valuable role our historical society plays in our community, frequently hosting talks and lectures and sponsoring special exhibits in addition to overseeing the wonderful museum at 70 Oak Street, opposite First National Bank.            

Why not show your appreciation for all they do for us by becoming a member ($15 individual, $25 family) or making a financial donation to support their work?