Historical Society Meetings
The next meeting of the Athens Historical Society is Thursday, September 11th, 7pm at the Athens Exhibition Hall.
For directions to the next meeting or to be added to the Historical Society Mailing list, and receive updates on meeting and events please email hlm@startmail.com
All are welcome to attend and learn about, share, and help preserve local history.
Old Home Days
Join us for Old Home Days 2025, happening Saturday & Sunday, September 13th & 14th.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact the Historical Society.
If you are interested in vending, please complete the vendor application online by clicking here.
Old Home Days Pie Auction Flyer
Old Home Days Pie Contest Flyer
Old Home Days Produce Contest Flyer
Old Home Days Baked Beans & Chili Contest Flyer
Schedule of Events
All Day Activities Saturday & Sunday
Rideable mini-railroad, petting zoo, cider pressing, general store, vendors, blacksmithing demonstrations, Historical Society exhibits, wood turning, saw mill, antique tractor show, silent auction, horseshoeing demonstrations, yarn spinning, and more!.
Saturday, September 13th, 9am to 9pm
9:00 Fairgrounds & Exhibition Hall Open
9-10:00 Registration for Produce Contest
9-12:00 Registration for Pie Contest
9-3:00 Registration for Baked Bean and Chili Contest
9:00-2:30 Free Face Painting for Kids with the Victory Club
10:00-3:00 Fabric Dying with Local Plants
11-12:00 Cookie Decorating for Kids with the Victory Club
1:00 Pie Contest Judging
2:00 Pie Auction
2:00 Rec Department Kids Games
3:00 Kids Arm Wrestling Competition
4:00 Baked Bean & Chili Contest Judging
5:00 Announcements of winners for the baked bean, chili, and produce contests
6:00 Potluck Supper: Bring food or drinks to share OR a $5 suggested donation
7:00 Music with Country Comfort Band
Sunday, September 14th, Noon to 5pm
12:00 Fairgrounds & Exhibition Hall Open
12:00 Tug of War
12-1:30 Family Tree History Project at the Historical Society Table
12:00-1:30 Auction & Raffle Tickets for Sale
12:30 Music with Paul McLardy & Friends
12:30-2:00 Learning Rural Living Skills with Old Books
1:00 Frying Pan Toss
1:30 Silent Auction & Raffle Entry Deadline
2:00 Quilts of Valor Veterans Presentation with the American Legion
3:00 Auction & Raffle Winner Announcements
4:00 Local Edible Plant Walk
Old Home Days 2024
The Athens Historical Society organized a two-day Old Home Days gathering at the Athens Wesserunsett Valley Fairgrounds and Exhibition Hall in September 2024. The event brought together people from all generations in the community for a great time. The free event featured games, crafts vendors, wool spinning, displays of historic photos and quilts, local basketmaker displays, kids crafts, tug of war, a kids art contest, a frying pan toss (which broke the pan), facepainting, blacksmithing demonstrations, pie, chili and bean contests, a potluck meal, live music, silent auction, arm wrestling competition, fire truck demonstration, a horseshoeing demonstration, agricultural displays, beano, local food vendors, a general store with the original sign and model delivery truck from the former Rowell’s Store, and a ridable model railroad.
ABOUT THE ATHENS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Athens Historical Society has been active and growing in the past year, with over a dozen new members, educational events, and regular meetings where we plan events and share local history with pictures and storytelling.
Volunteers have been working on cleaning and organizing the Historical Society museum so it can be open to visits on a regular basis.
If you are looking for information about your family, home, or history of the area, you can make an appointment to look through the Historical Society materials located upstairs at the Somerset Academy building.
DONATIONS
The Historical Society received several donations in 2024, including:
~ A crazy quilt made in the late 1800’s by Floyd French’s grandmother, donated by Bette Withers of Ontario. The quilt was owned by the Kincaid family, who ran a store and dancehall in West Athens.
~ A wooden mortar and pestle that were originally used at L.C. Williams donated by Sharon Wise.
~ A collection of articles on Athens births, events, and artists, written by Anna Freeman between the 1970’s and 90’s, donated by Anna Freeman.
If you have historic documents, art, or photos of life around Athens and the Wesserunsett Valley that you would like to donate, please be in touch!
SOMERSET ACADEMY REUNION
The Historical Society is working to bring together people who attended Somerset Academy for an all-class reunion. If you are interested please contact the Historical Society.
Call: (207) 654-3471
President: Jesse Huff
Secretary & Curator: Hillary Lister
Town Historian: Guy Anton
Treasurer: Sandy McLardy
Connecting with History Through Photographs and Postcards
Connecting with History Through the Archives
