Join the Friends of the Southport Historical Society on June 10 at 7 p.m. in the Southport Town Hall for the group’s 2019 annual meeting. Following a brief business meeting, the program will feature a talk by Hamilton Meserve about his mother, actress Margaret Hamilton who is probably best known for her role as the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 movie, “The Wizard of Oz.”

But Margaret Hamilton’s professional career actually included 79 other films, Broadway performances and work in early live TV.

Meserve’s talk, “Margaret Hamilton: My mom the actress and Maine,” will last about 45 minutes during which he will share at least 40 slides that follow Hamilton’s career path from kindergarten teacher to Broadway, then Hollywood, and back again to Broadway. He will also trace the beginnings of her love for Maine back to the Lakewood Playhouse outside Skowhegan where she did summer stock in 1940. After World War II, Hamilton performed at the Ogunquit Playhouse, the Brunswick Summer Theater and the Maine State Theater.

In 1961 Hamilton, along with Ham and Helen Meserve, purchased Cape Island off the tip of Southport where she summered from 1962 to 1975. She returned again and again to spend summers on Southport with Ham and Helen until her death in 1984.

The Meserves purchased their current home on Southport, just across the water from Cape Island, in 1970 and became year rounders in 2006 after a career that took them to interesting places across the globe.

Light refreshments will be served following the program. All are welcome to join the "Friends" for this annual event at no charge.