HOPE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MINUTES
July 16, 2024

Before calling the meeting to order, Juanita announced she had received a note from Anne True thanking the Society for displaying her grandfather's license plate collection - Elmer Laforest True, Anne's grandfather, had lived at 17 Hatchet Mountain Road. She also included with her note a $1,000.00 donation.

The meeting was called to order shortly after 6:30 PM by President, Juanita Hunt. There were 14 members present: Margaret Morse, Juanita Hunt, Gwen Brodis, Marie S. Berry, Bernice (Bunny) Gleason, Catherine Pease, Ann Leadbetter, Diane Sprowl, Linda Hillgrove, Bill Jones, Judith Jones, Donovan A. R. Bowley, Jim DellaPenna, and Cindy DellaPenna.

The secretary's report for our June 18th meeting was emailed to all members. Cindy stated two attendee's names had been corrected and that there were no other errors to her knowledge - the corrected minutes have been posted on our website. There was a motion to accept the Secretary's report, and the motion was seconded and approved.

Gwen provided the Treasurer's report. The Society's income for June was $2,324.67 of which $632.80 was from the lawn sale on the 22nd and $1,220.45 was from the sale of baked goods, crafts & raffle tickets from both the 12th and 22nd of June. Expenses for June totaled $403.53. At the end of June, there was $2,549.20 in checking and with Anne True's donation in memory of her parents, William & Sarah True, the balance in savings was $22,233.65. There was a motion to accept the Treasurer's report, and the motion was seconded and approved.

Old Business:
Marie discussed our open house on Fridays from 9 to 1, a few people have come in. Hope Days this Saturday, July 20th, the Society will have a table offering raffle tickets and a few items after 1 PM - Diane, Catherine & Marie are manning the table. HHS will be represented in the 3 PM parade by Wayne Luce driving his father, Alfred Luce, holder of the Boston Post Cane. The HHS home will be open on Saturday from 11 to 5 manned by Juanita & Cindy.

There was a lengthy discussion relative to the Mass Mutual Annuity which matures on the 22th of this month. Camden National has provided Gwen with renewal options, however, Jim & Cindy DellaPenna, among others do not believe this is an appropriate investment for our organization. CD's and money market accounts might be more viable; money market accounts allow quick access; Vanguard, for instance, is currently paying 5.28% with as little as $3000 invested and Camden National is paying 5% with $25,000 invested. The annuity was opened three years ago when interest rates were abysmal and Mass Mutual offered a better rate. There was a motion to let the executive board meet to review options - the motion was seconded and approved. The executive board will meet this week.

Bunny displayed the 1st prize choice ribbon that she, Juanita & Margaret won for their Homemakers of Yesteryear display at this year's Union Fair. They don't yet know the dollar amount of their prize. Congrats to all their hard work in the heat - it took over 6 hours to assemble, a lot less to disassemble.

New Business:
A thank you to Marie for an attractive rug for the garage. Bob & Diane Shaw donated a cross-cut saw for the garage display. Jim stated congratulations were in order for the excellent refurbishment of the garage - everyone agreed; thank you, Juanita and crew.

Catherine showed us a 12-month calendar produced by the Jefferson Maine Historical Society that had black & white pictures of historical buildings and artifacts with historical narratives, advertisements, and important town dates. She said the 28-page 8½ X 11 calendar sold for $10; advertisements cost $20/ad and if the advertiser paid $25, they received a copy of the calendar. A company in Augusta prints the calendar with a lead time of only 2 weeks at the cost of 250 for $356. She asked if HHS might have an interest in producing such a calendar as it has been some years since we had a calendar offered in Hope. She would appreciate contact by people interested in participating in the production of a calendar - she may be contacted by email at catherineapease@gmail.com or by phone at 827-5273.

Bunny has arranged for Peter Ogden of the Maine Military Museum in Augusta to speak at our August 20th HHS meeting.

Juanita asked about the inspection and cleaning of the indoor heat pump screens - Jim had checked them in the spring; Cindy will check later this month.

A motion to adjourn the meeting was seconded and approved at 7:10 PM.

Bunny, with very little notice after the original scheduled speaker canceled on short notice, kindly put together an interesting talk with slides on the Letters of Edward True that she transcribed. Edward True, born in Hope, served as a Colonel during the Civil War. He wrote many letters home to family and friends - he described his days in the South, named many men from Hope, described how they were doing, and repeatedly inquired as to how things were back home in Hope.

Interestingly, Edward was born on the 4th of July 1836, he served with distinction throughout the Civil War and was promoted to Lt. Colonel of the 8th Maine Regiment Infantry. He was among those present at Appomattox when General Grant accepted the surrender of General Lee.

At the close of the war, Edward engaged in business and established himself in Liverpool, England, where he resided from 1867 to 1890. While in England, he met and married his wife, Jane Milnes, in 1871. When the couple returned to the States, they lived in Massachusetts, as he was by then a senior partner of the firm of True & McClelland of Boston, a highly respected paper and cotton waste trade business.

Edward returned often to Hope; he died in 1919 and is interred at Hope Grove Cemetery. Bunny stated there are many references to Edward in the book entitled Imperative Duty to My Country: Three Civil War Journals of James Henry Hobbs Hewett" by Brian S. Heintzelman available at Thomaston Historical Society. Also, there are numerous entries for Edward in An Array of Hope: Social News of Hope, Maine 1888 to 1907 by Cynthia S. DellaPenna available at HHS.

Thank you, Bunny, for stepping up on such short notice.

Refreshments were provided by Linda & Bunny, thank you.

Respectfully submitted by Cindy DellaPenna