President Kay Wilder welcomed Boothbay Region Historical Society members and guests to the 48th annual meeting at its Oak Street museum on May 19. Wilder called the meeting to order and provided an overview of the preceding year’s activities and events. Acting Secretary Barbara Wilson read the minutes from last year’s annual meeting and Treasurer Sarah Giles presented the treasurer’s report.

Wilder expressed her appreciation to the society volunteers for their hard work during the year and to Susan Leach for hosting last September’s historic Leach House fundraiser. Special recognition was given to Howie Barter who served as a trustee beginning in 2010 and as vice president from 2012-2014 prior to his death in January 2015. Also recognized was Ron Spofford who is stepping down from the board after 11 years of active service.

Elected as 2015-2016 BRHS officers were Jan Reit, president; Barbara Wilson, vice president; Judy Eastwood, secretary; and Sarah Giles, treasurer. Elected to an open one-year term was new trustee Kathy Tibbetts and elected to additional three-year terms were Judy Eastwood, Lorraine Hodgdon, Carolyn Shubert and Kay Wilder. trustees continuing their terms include Jim Botti, Susan Leach, Susan Lloyd, Wally Reed, Leigh Reinecke and Ann Sutter.

Following the business meeting, Ken Hanson gave a talk on the history of Sawyer's Island, a project he has been working on since 1988. The first deed on the 216-acre island was issued in 1746 and the first house established was the present day Leach House which dates back to approximately 1754. At the conclusion of his talk, Hanson presented a bound copy of his research to the BRHS to be maintained at the museum.

Upcoming BRHS events include a presentation by John Druce on June 11 about his and wife Charlotte’s years as the owners of the Spruce Point Inn; the fourth annual yard sale at 54 Tavenner Road on June 20; a holiday bake sale on July 3; a presentation by naval architect Bill Peterson on July 9 about boats he and his father designed and built in region shipyards; a program by Susan Brackett and Steve Teel on Aug. 20 about the history of the country club and the community effort to save the Kenniston Hill Inn; and a narrative on Sept. 17 by Jim Hunt about shipbuilding in the region during World War II.

The society’s always popular Cheese and Treats sale takes place on Oct. 10, followed by the final event of 2015, the society’s Holiday Open House on December 5. This year’s raffle item is a matted print by well-known local marine artist Earle Barlow and is entitled “View from the Footbridge: Boothbay Harbor 1910.” The same view is shown on the cover of the book, “Sketches II,” edited by our local historian, Barbara Rumsey.

Tickets are $1 each or six tickets for $5 and can be obtained at the museum this summer in advance of the drawing of the winning ticket at the Holiday Open House. The winner will receive not only the Barlow print but a copy of “Sketches II” as well.

Currently on display at the museum is the ensemble from the wedding of Boothbay Harbor natives Irene Nickerson and Butler Eames, who were married on October 20, 1923, in the front parlor of Fred and Laura Greenleaf’s house. The exhibit was created by Judy Dunsford, chairman of the society’s exhibit committee, and is open to the public throughout the summer during business hours. Admission is free.

The BRHS museum is open from Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., year-round. Our local historian, Barbara Rumsey, is available by advance appointment or by walk-in on Saturdays during regular hours. The BRHS museum is at 72 Oak Street and the phone number is 207-633-0820.