Cathy Orne and Deb Boucher, both of Edgecomb, have been working hard for a year, and not just at their respective livelihoods and hobbies: Boucher is Edgecomb’s tax collector and an accomplished professional quilt maker, and Orne is a genealogy aficionado who also drives the train at Bootbhay Railway Village with husband John, the conductor.

Orne is president and former vice president of the Edgecomb Historical Society (EHS). Boucher is vice president. The two took over their new titles six months ago.

They meet once or twice a week to keep things in order and to plan. The main focus for the past year has been on finding a permanent home base and raising funds for a reproduction smithy, or blacksmith’s workshop, to house a collection of tools. A Fort Road resident gifted the society with the contents of an 1820s smithy and the society has no permanent place to display them.

Last November, a fundraiser was held at the Edgecomb Town Hall. Boucher raffled off one of her quilts, made with Civil War reproduction fabrics. Master blacksmith Jeffrey Miller, a historian from Waldoboro, gave a talk about the life of a blacksmith and showed samples of items made by blacksmiths.

Miller has 40 years of metal-forging experience. He continues to act as an advisor to the society, and will hold a key role in building the smithy in a yet-to-be-determined, Edgecomb location.

Since Orne and Boucher have been involved, the society has had monthly to bi-monthly functions, with speakers and quilt raffles, and EHS books and notecards for sale, to help raise money.

They also raise funds by setting up a concession stand during auctions at Sawyer’s Way Auction House on Route 27 in Edgecomb. A bake sale is planned for early summer at Ames True Value Supply in Wiscasset.

The smithy will be a basic post and beam structure with a bellows, chimney, and all the tricks of the trade.

In August, the society will host a function at the Edgecomb Town Hall featuring music with the group Castlebay. Another of Boucher’s quilts will be raffled during the event.

“We want to eventually have a building of our own so people can come and learn about the history of Edgecomb, and see our artifacts, including maps, old cookbooks, genealogy material, and an old nail from Fort Edgecomb,” Orne said.

Boucher said there are also Edgecomb artifacts being housed at the Pemaquid Fort House. “We want to get it here, but we can’t do that without a building.” Orne said she would also like to set up a space for genealogy when a building does come available.

Until then, the society's books and notecards are available at the Edgecomb Town Hall. Check the website for details, or call Orne at 882-4228 or Boucher at 882-8402.

All are welcome to join the society.