HOPE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 20, 2016
The meeting was called to order by President Donovan Bowley at 9:40 A.M. Those attending were Ann Leadbetter, Marie Berry, Mary Ireland, John Boeckeler, Bill Borch, Bill Jones, Ron Smith, Joe Berry, Barbara Mason, Renee Kimball and Linda Hillgrove and guest, Paula Sutton.
SECRETARY’S REPORT: Minutes were read and approved with some needed corrections to be done.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Ann Leadbetter shard the Treasurer’s Report. INCOME: Coastal Opportunities-$26.18; EXPENSES: Central Maine Power, $25.16; Maine Hosting Solutions, $19.95; Bowley Supplies, $12.42. TOTAL: $57.53. BALANCE ON HAND: Savings: $4,521.01; CHECKING: $507.91.
WEBMASTER’S REPORT: As our Webmaster, Bob Appleby, was unable to attend Donovan reported no changes at this time.
NEW BUSINESS: Gay Boggard has donated the sign from the “Universalist Church, South Hope, Maine; Establised 1880; Dedicated 1800”. The church was torn down as part of the Hazardous Waste Site Remediation in the 1990s. The church chimney was used by Union Chemical to burn chemicals.
OLD BUSINESS: Donovan is organizing the Hope Town Clerks Record Book, 1804-1848 for transcription by Mary Ireland, Cindy DellaPenna, Bill Jones, Bob Appleby, Donovan Bowley and Linda Hillgrove. Nominating Committee members Ann Leadbetter, Marie Berry and Mary Ireland met last Thursday and reported nominees: Donovan Bowley for President; Marie Berry, Vice President; Gwen Brodis, Treasurer’ and Linda Hillgrove as Secretary to serve for the upcoming year. Elections will be held at the October Annual Meeting.
The HHS home will be open every Friday in October from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M with Marie Berry. Marie will be selling pies to benefit the Hope Historical Society during those hours in the first week of October.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: Ann Leadbetter reported Henry Lunn as the speaker for the Annual Meeting on the 18th of October. Michael and Hannah Douglas will speak about Bishopwood at our November 15th meeting. December will be a Pot Luck Christmas Brunch with members bringing their own place settings starting at 6 P.M.
In the absence of our scheduled speaker, Donovan researched and spoke about the Hobbs family. Will and Micah set up Camden’s first water system. Cedar and hemlock were some of the woods used to build the pipes which were three to four inches in diameter. The water was captured from a natural spring on Mt. Batty. Camden Public Library has a piece of excavated pipe from that era. In 1811 Micah sold his land to Oliver Pendleton. Micah also opposed a petition to create a new town from parts of Hope and Appleton. In 1814 he was called into service in the war of 1812. Micah became known as Squire Hobbs. Micah married Nancy Smith and they had two sons, Henry and Josiah. There are descendants in the Hope area.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:37 A.M. followed by refreshments provided by Ann Leadbetter and Marie Berry. Gwen has the signup sheet to provide refreshments for future meetings.
The October 18th Annual Meeting will be a Pot Luck dinner held at the Hope Fire Station at 6 P.M. Please bring your own place setting. We will elect Officers for 2017.
Respectfully Submitted, Linda Hillgrove, Secretary