A new symposium presented by the Lincoln County Historical Association will address how our ancestors kept warm. Speakers will present on coverlets, on wool and its preparation, on sheets, blankets, bed rugs and quilts on Saturday, June 28, at the Reuben Colburn House in Pittston.

At the Pownalborough Courthouse in Dresden Sunday, June 29,  there will be two hands-on workshops: on dyeing and on New England bed rugs along with a guided tour of an extensive display of coverlets. A centerpiece of the courthouse exhibit will be a mid-19th century coverlet — a one-of-a-kind work! Participants will be able to view two extensive collections of overshot coverlets, one from LCHA’s permanent collection and one on loan from the Ulrich-Plunkett collection. Volunteers from Old Fort Western in Augusta will provide continuous demonstrations of spinning and weaving during the day.

Speakers include Edward Maeder, president of the Museum of the American Coverlet; Karen Clancy, supervisor of the Weaving and Dying Program at Colonial Williamsburg; Sandie Tarbox, professional presented on 18th century culture and textiles from Tarbox and Tarbox; and Faye Snyder, Wiscasset antiques dealer and expert on antique textiles and quilts. 

Symposium tickets will be good for admission to all three Lincoln County Historical Association museums through Labor Day, to enable viewing the ongoing exhibits of Keeping Warm: Coverlets at Pownalborough, Sheets and Blankets at the Chapman-Hall House in Damariscotta, and Quilts at The Old Jail in Wiscasset.

Five museums in Midcoast Maine will contribute to this event: the 1761 Pownalborough Court House, in Dresden; the 1812 Old Jail in Wiscasset; the 1754 Chapman Hall House in Damariscotta; the Rueben Colburn House in Pittston; and Old Fort Western in Augusta.

For more information see www.lincolncountyhistory.org or call 207-522-8565.