ABOUT THE ATHENS HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The next meeting of the Athens Historical Society is Thursday, March 20th, 7pm at the Somerset Academy.

To be added to the Historical Society Mailing list, and receive updates on meeting and events please email Hillary at hlm@startmail.com

All are welcome to attend and learn about, share, and help preserve local history.

The Athens Historical Society has been active and growing in the past year, with over a dozen new members, educational events, and regular meetings where we plan events and share local history with pictures and storytelling.

Volunteers have been working on cleaning and organizing the Historical Society museum so it can be open to visits on a regular basis.

If you are looking for information about your family, home, or history of the area, you can make an appointment to look through the Historical Society materials located upstairs at the Somerset Academy building.

SAVE THE DATES!

OLD HOME DAYS

Join us for Old Home Days 2025, scheduled for September 13th and 14th.

If you would like to volunteer or vend, please contact the Historical Society.

The Athens Historical Society organized a two-day Old Home Days gathering at the Athens Wesserunsett Valley Fairgrounds and Exhibition Hall in September 2024. The event brought together people from all generations in the community for a great time. The free event featured games, crafts vendors, wool spinning, displays of historic photos and quilts, local basketmaker displays, kids crafts, tug of war, a kids art contest, a frying pan toss (which broke the pan), facepainting, blacksmithing demonstrations, pie, chili and bean contests, a potluck meal, live music, silent auction, arm wrestling competition, fire truck demonstration, a horseshoeing demonstration, agricultural displays, beano, local food vendors, a general store with the original sign and model delivery truck from the former Rowell’s Store, and a ridable model railroad.

DONATIONS

The Historical Society received several donations in 2024, including:

~ A crazy quilt made in the late 1800’s by Floyd French’s grandmother, donated by Bette Withers of Ontario. The quilt was owned by the Kincaid family, who ran a store and dancehall in West Athens.

~ A wooden mortar and pestle that were originally used at L.C. Williams donated by Sharon Wise.

~ A collection of articles on Athens births, events, and artists, written by Anna Freeman between the 1970’s and 90’s, donated by Anna Freeman.

If you have historic documents, art, or photos of life around Athens and the Wesserunsett Valley that you would like to donate, please be in touch!

SOMERSET ACADEMY REUNION

The Historical Society is working to bring together people who attended Somerset Academy for an all-class reunion in 2025. If you are interested please contact the Historical Society.

Call: (207) 654-3471

President: Jesse Huff

Secretary & Curator: Hillary Lister

Town Historian: Guy Anton

Treasurer: Sandy McLardy