Founding of the Society
The Chebeague Island Historical Society was founded on April 6, 1984 at the Chebeague Island Hall with the following members present –
- Blanchard Bates
- Peggy Bates
- Shirley Burgess
- Jane Abrahamson
- Margaret Trower
- Martha Hamilton
- Marjorie Monroe
- Eleanor Johnson
- Joan Robinson
- Donna Damon
Over the next few months, more people joined the group to help organize the Society. All of the people who joined before the organization became incorporated in June 1984 are known as the founders. In addition to those already mentioned they include:
- Mabel Doughty
- Sharon Bowman
- Elizabeth Sinkinson
- Gordon Trower
- Beverly Johnson
- Alice Bowman
- Peggy Dyer
- Jane Frizzell
- Ken Hamilton
- Sheila Putnam
- Alice Blackwell
- Madeline Brewer
- Cynthia Sheketoff
- Marjorie Rice
- Bill and Carolyn Swann
- Bob Follette
- Audrey Collins
- Ted Ballard
- Alexander Morton
- Bob Lewis
- Ginger Hobart
By the end of that first year, there were more than 100 charter members. As promised, their names as well as the founders hang in the new museum.
The Society’s Mission
The original mission of the historical society is as stated below. The current mission can be found here. Just as the Museum has evolved so too has the mission.
The Mission of the Chebeague Island Historical Society is to enrich the lives of Chebeague residents and visitors by the acquisition and preservation of antiquities and documents by researching and recording the story of the island’s past and present.
The primary functions of the Society include:
- Discover, collect, and preserve the Island’s material culture to document and illustrate the History of Chebeague Island
- Make Chebeague’s material culture accessible to all who wish to examine and study it
- Research and record the histories of individuals and families identified with Chebeague Island
- Initiate a collection of oral and visual history
- Cooperate with other historical organizations to further our goals
- Cultivate an awareness that today’s current affairs will be tomorrow’s history and promote accuracy and preservation of current records
The Vision for the District 9 Schoolhouse Project
- Make the building tight to the weather
- Hire and architect to develop drawings that will maximize space and minimize costs
- Drill a well and install a septic system to provide running water for sinks and toilets
- Construct a public bathroom
- Renovate the annex to store and display artifacts and archival materials
- Renovate the original school to be used for exhibits, educational programs, and conferences
The Present
Today we have largely realized the vision of the founders. While our mission has evolved our dedication to the history of Chebeague Island has not waivered. A newly opened permanent exhibit bears testimony to this dedication.