By Anne Miller
Special Contributor
The Raymond-Casco Historical Society met on June 19, 2006 at the Raymond Safety Building.
The featured speaker for the evening was Adam Grant, who shared reminisces about the history of the Watkins Family. They were among the early pioneers settling in South Casco on the north and west shores of Thomas Pond on Quaker Ridge Road in 1800.
Today one of the last remaining working farms in Casco, is the Watkins Farm on Route 302. Grant, himself a member of the Watkins family, showed an impressive collection of postcards showing scenes from Casco, Raymond and Naples dating back to late 1800s.
He talked about the Albert Watkins Farm and Charley Watkins Cabins and showed items saved from these past businesses. He has original racing cards from early 1900 when Casco had its own racecourse which was located corner of routes 11 and 121.
In addition, he passed around a collection of ladies dance card programs from the days when Casco and Raymond ladies wore gowns and white gloves. The gentlemen asked ladies at the beginning of the evening of dancing to pencil them in for a certain dance. It could be a Schottische or to make up a foursome for the Quadrille. Those were the days of good manners and respect. Members thanked Adam for taking us back into the past as showing us how life was lived in Casco-Raymond more than 100 years ago.
Everyone is invited to visit the 1849 Friends one-room schoolhouse, located behind the Casco Library, on Saturday, July 29 from 10 a.m. until noon or 1 until 4 p.m. This is the only time it is opened to the public. At other times it is by appointment only.
The school will once again be in session with local home school children in costumes of that period. Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Ihloff will be teaching the three R’s and rules of etiquette and acceptable behavior. On display will be clothing from 1800 to the 1920s and other interesting items from the RCHS collection. Outside the schoolhouse Philip Cole will have a display of machinery from the early Casco farms including his famous steam engine.
The month of July has been designated as Raymond-Casco Historical Society Fund Raising month. In 2004 the society recognized the need for a secure building to house the historical collections. Since that time the members started an endowment fund to begin a financial base for the day when a building becomes available.
At the June 19 meeting a check for $1,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Holmquist was generously presented to Joseph Webber, RCHS President, for the Endowment Fund.
Holmquist said “We are losing promised additions to our historical collection because we do not have a secure space where these items from local families can be safely housed and displayed for future generations.”
He went on to say that “Over the past two years, a great deal of work has been put into cataloging current holdings. In addition, regular educational meetings have been held and efforts are continuing to keep the historical one-room schoolhouse in good repair.”
Donations are encouraged from members, friends and citizens of the Raymond-Casco area to help build the endowment fund. Send checks to Raymond-Casco Historical Society, P.O. 1055, Raymond, ME 04071. Anyone sending a check for $100 or more will receive a slate paperweight with an art print of our Historical 1849 one-room schoolhouse in Casco.
The next meeting will be held on Monday, July 17 at 7 p.m. at the Raymond Safety Building. Joseph Webber will present a slide show on The Hartley Collection. One of the series of slides will show the 1914 fire at Sawyer’s Corner in Raymond. For more information please call Joseph Webber at 232-2392 or Anne Miller at 627-4989 or check out our Web site.
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