In March of 2020 the Scarborough Historical Society, in partnership with the Scarborough Public Library, began to bring a series of programs to the community in observance of Maine’s 200th anniversary of statehood. The series was made possible through the financial partnership of the Society and Library and a grant awarded by the Maine Humanities Council. Dr. Liam Riordan, Professor of History at the University of Maine, delivered the first program, Past and Present Perspectives in Maine Statehood, on March 1, 2020. Not long after this, the COVID pandemic brought a halt to most activities, including our programs. Finally, over a year later, in June 2021 Dr. Matthew Edney of the Osher Map Library delivered via zoom the second program of the bicentennial series, Mapping Maine. Since many people missed the opportunity to view this program, it will be repeated in September.
Bicentennial Quilt
Photo: Joyce Alden
Sunday, August 22nd, the third program in the belated bicentennial series was an in-person reception at the Library featuring an exhibit of the Scarborough Bicentennial quilt on a bed owned by William King, Scarborough native and Maine’s first governor. In the fall of 2019 more than 40 quilters from the Scarborough community created individual squares representing themes related to Scar- borough and its history. The quilt was as- sembled by Joyce Jensen, assisted by Joyce Alden. The quilt is on display at the library until mid-September when it will be returned to the Society.
The fourth program in the series, Dawn- land, presented by Abnaki Reach, is yet to be rescheduled.