Business Meetings (Open to the public)
All business meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. at the Southwest Harbor Historical Society / Manset Meetinghouse, 192 Seawall Road, unless otherwise noted.
Public Presentations
All presentations, which might feature slides and audience discussion, occur at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month at the Southwest Harbor Historical Society / Manset Meetinghouse, 192 Seawall Road, unless otherwise noted.
2020 Events
Southwest Harbor Historical Society Annual Meeting, September 23 at 6:00 pm
The Southwest Harbor Historical Society will have a socially distanced, masked, Annual Meeting on Wednesday, September 23 at 6:00 pm at the Manset Union Meetinghouse, 192 Seawall Road in Southwest Harbor.
The agenda will include adoption of budget for the 2020/2021 fiscal year; election of Board Members and Officers; and a brief update of our happenings. There will be a screening of the past program “Ice Cutting” starring Jack Gilley and Wayne Gilley following the business meeting. The number of individuals at this gathering must not exceed 50 people (as established by the Governor's Executive Order). For this reason, preregistration will be necessary. If you plan to attend, call or email at the contacts below. We ask that members only attend (with guest) so we can have as many voting as possible.
For the safety of all, masks and social distancing will be required. To preregister or for more information, call 244-8063 or email southwestharborhistorical@gmail.com.
Link to the agenda: Agenda
2019 Events
| 2019 Presentations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time: 7 pm Date: |
Place | Subject |
| 28 June (Friday) |
Manset Meetinghouse 192 Seawall Road |
"Remembering Pemetic High School" Presented by Sharon Lawson, Phil Whitney, and Kathe Walton. Pemetic High School opened its doors in 1908, having separated from the Town of Tremont in 1905 and creating the Town of Southwest Harbor to support a high school. Sixty years later in 1968 the last high school class graduated. Join us for a night remembering the Pemetic High School of SWH, Tremont, the Cranberries, and Swans Island students, teachers, staff and antics! |
| 17 July (Wednesday) |
Manset Meetinghouse 192 Seawall Road |
"Lobstering 101, Plus" Presented by John Stanley and Holly Masterson. |
| 21 August (Wednesday) |
Manset Meetinghouse 192 Seawall Road |
" 'I Have Not Yet Begun to Fight,' John Paul Jones, Revolutionary War Hero" Presented by Cindy Robertson. John Brown, who is buried in the Manset burying ground behind the Manset Meetinghouse, crewed on John Paul Jones' Bonhomme Richard during its famous battle against the British vessel Serapis in the North Sea. |
| 18 September (Wednesday) |
Manset Meetinghouse 192 Seawall Road |
"The Evolution of the Claremont Hotel" Presented by Maurice “Joe” Marshall. In 1978 the Claremont Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Opened in 1884, it stands as one of the last reminders of Maine's early summer resort period of the 1870's and '80's. Presenter Joe Marshall has a personal connection to the hotel. |
| 16 October (Wednesday) |
Manset Meetinghouse 192 Seawall Road |
"Past Insults, Planned Restorations, and Preparing for an Uncertain Future in the Marshall Brook Watershed" Presented by Brian Henkel. The Marshall Brook watershed, including Bass Harbor Marsh, has been impacted by many activities. Friends of Acadia, along with Acadia National Park, are working to assess and hopefully repair some of these impacts. Brian Henkel will discuss some of the known impacts and potential improvements to promote ecological integrity. He'll then ask, “What do you see and what are your priorities?” |
| TBA = To be announced | ||
2018 Events
| 2018 Presentations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time: 7 pm Date: |
Place | Subject |
| 18 July | Harbor House | "Fishing at Mt. Desert Rock" See Fishing at Mt. Desert Rock, a film by Laurence Newman and his son Jarvis demonstrating handlining and trawling during the 40's and 50's. Cipperly Good of the Penobscot Marine Museum will provide background narration. |
| 22 August |
Manset Meetinghouse 192 Seawall Road |
"History of the Manset Union Church" Built in the early 1800's the church is the oldest one on the island. Located at 192 Seawall Road, it has recently been purchased by the Southwest Harbor Historical Society as its headquarters and museum. |
| 19 September |
Manset Meetinghouse 192 Seawall Road |
"Historic Cemeteries of SWH" The newly formed Southwest Harbor Historic Cemeteries Committee will give an overview of its work so far and its plans for the future. |
| TBA = To be announced | ||
2017 Events
| 2017 Presentations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time: 7 pm Date: |
Place | Subject |
| 16 August | Harbor House | "Past SWH Summers" A panel of summer residents and locals will share memories of personalities and goings-on in the area. Organized by Karen Craig |
| 20 September | Harbor House | "Memories of the 1947 Fire" Organized by Lynne Birlem |
| 12 October at 2:00 PM | Bass Harbor Library | As part of Celebrate SWH Week, The Southwest Harbor Historical Society and the Penobscot Maritime Museum present Fishing at Mt. Desert Rock, a film by Laurence Newman and his son, Jarvis. The film demonstrates handlining and trawling for cod, pollock, halibut, and tuna. There will also be a slide presentation on lobstering. |
| TBA = To be announced | ||
2016 Events
| 2016 Presentations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time: 7 pm Date: |
Place | Subject |
| 17 August | Harbor House | Acadia centennial program: A program on Southwest Harbor 100 years ago in 1916, Phil Whitney, Presenter |
| 14 September | Harbor House | Kathe Newman Walton presents films from her private collection. |
| TBA = To be announced | ||
2015 Events
| 2015 Presentations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time: 7 pm Date: |
Place | Subject |
| June | Harbor House | Fiddling Music: Ralph Stanley, violins; and Jim Vekasi, mandolin |
| July | Harbor House | Gilley Museum: Nina Gormley, Executive Director/Curator |
| August | Harbor House | Lobstering: John Stanley, Presenter |
| September | Harbor House | OUR NEIGHBORHOOD-MANSET SEAWALL. Book preview. John and Becky Burnham, Presenters |
| TBA = To be announced | ||
2014 Events
| 2014 Presentations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time: 7 pm Date: |
Place | Subject |
| 21 May | Harbor House | 100 Years of Men's and Women's Hats, Norma Spurling, Presenter |
| 18 June | Harbor House | Bob Quinn, Storyteller of Eagle Island |
| 16 July | Harbor House | Early Island Doctors, Joe Marshall, Presenter |
| 20 August | Harbor House | Rich and Grindle Boatbuilders, Laurie Schreiber, Presenter |
| 17 September | Harbor House | Southwest Harbor 100 Years Ago, Rich Viera, Presenter |
| 16 October | Harbor House | Willis Ballard, Local Photographer, Charlotte Morrill and Meredith Hutchins, Presenters |
| TBA = To be announced | ||
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