Brooklin Keeping Society to share old-time fun

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During the summer of 1999, the Hancock County community of Brooklin celebrated its 150th anniversary.

One outgrowth of that celebration has been the formation of an organization dedicated to keeping alive the history of the town.

Just its name makes you smile, which is why it is a pleasure to extend an invitation to you on behalf of the Brooklin Keeping Society.

The public is welcome to attend the regular meeting of the BKS at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, in The Little Red Schoolhouse, located in the center of town.

After a short business meeting, BKS members will be sharing, “Tales of Winter Fun from Brooklin’s Past.”

But the BKS members hope that you will join in the fun, too.

The society wants anyone who wishes to do so to share with them the things that made winter such fun for them many years ago or share stories from their parents or grandparents about what they enjoyed during the winters of old.

You are also encouraged to bring photographs or props to illustrate the stories you have to tell.

George Allen of North Brooklin is considered the “chief historian” of the BKS.

He told me that when work was begun on celebration plans for the 150th anniversary, the call went out for people to provide old pictures of the community to be put in a book.

But more pictures were collected than could be used, he explained, “so they decided to form a society to keep them,” and thus the Brooklin Keeping Society was born.

“We’ve been meeting the last Thursday of the month,” Allen said, “and we have some good times at these meetings.

“A lot of people bring in new pictures.

“It’s quite an old town, you know. It was part of Sedgwick, and it goes back before the [American] Revolution.”

Allen told me, for example, that the land he owns was given to his family by a grant from King George III of England.

Everyone is welcome to attend meetings of the Brooklin Keeping Society, and membership is open to any and all who would like to join.

“The dues are low,” Allen said of the $10 per year, per family, assessment.

“We like to get anybody we can to come in and talk with us, and anybody is welcome. We usually have some kind of program for each meeting.”

A regular monthly program, he explained, might be someone “giving the history of their family, way back when they started” settling this lovely old Maine town.

You do not have to be a member to attend this or any meeting, or to share your memories with the society. Refreshments are available, too.

Children are particularly welcome to attend, and the Keeping Society would be pleased as punch if today’s youth shared with them what they consider fun things to do in the wintertime in Brooklin.

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Last December, the Family Housing Resident Council of the Housing Authority of the City of Brewer sponsored a Christmas party for 53 children residing in public housing.

And while the nonprofit organization had plenty of Christmas spirit to go around, it didn’t have enough funds to put the party on alone, so it requested support from the Brewer-Bangor business community.

Fortunately, that support was forthcoming.

On behalf of the FHRC, its president, Mary Henderson, extends thanks to all the businesses and organizations that helped make the party a success.

Brewer contributors included Green Point Auto, Shop ‘n Save, Paradis Foodliner, Pepsi-Cola Co. of New England, Brewer High School Key Club, Brewer Parks and Recreation Department, and employees of the Brewer Housing Authority.

Party contributors from Bangor were the Hogan Road office of Bangor Savings Bank, Wal-Mart, Ames, Shaw’s Supermarket on Springer Drive, Garelick Farms of Maine, Perry’s Market, Union Street Burger King, General Electric Co. and The Salvation Army.

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Howard and Cecile Brown of Orono were in an automobile accident Wednesday, Jan. 3, on Interstate 95 in Etna.

They have written the Bangor Daily News to express their gratitude for the assistance of two unknown good Samaritans.

“Thank you very much,” the couple wrote.

“It was comforting to have you both help and wait until the police arrived.

“Your help and kindness was greatly appreciated.”

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No matter where you are in the world, if you have access to a computer – and know how to use it – you can now make donations to any Eastern Maine Healthcare member through the Internet.

For information, check the EMH Web site at www.emh.org.

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It’s winter vacation time.

The Joni Averill column will return to Page B4 on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

In the meantime, look for information about community members and events in the local and regional section of your edition of the NEWS.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.