HOPE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MINUTES
June 18, 2024

At 6:30 PM, the meeting was called to order by President, Juanita Hunt. There were 19 members and 5 non-members in attendance: members - Margaret Morse, Juanita Hunt, Gwen Brodis, Marie S. Berry, Bernice Gleason, Catherine Pease, Linda Hillgrove, Lee Craig, Leah Craig, Ron Smith, Bill Jones, Judith Jones, Donovan A. R. Bowley, Jim DellaPenna, Cindy DellaPenna, Bruce Linthicum, Linda Black, Emily Saladino, Mary Ireland; non-members - Dianne Emery, Janet Kelsey, Daniel Goodman, Terry Crabtree, and Sarah Kingsbury.

The secretary's report for our May 21st meeting had been emailed to all members and published 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 for May. Total income for the month was $272.00 of which $100 represented bottle redemption, which Gwen stated is still a good income producer, we had a $90 donation and $50.00 donation in Memory of Viola Richardson plus a net of 32.00 from the removal & sale of the old safe. Our expenses for May totaled $907.58; the two largest expenses were $260.84 for electricity and $250.00 for the raffle basket gift certificate. The balance in checking is $628.06 and $21,233.16 in savings. There was a motion to accept the report which was seconded and approved.

Old Business:

A brief discussion of the hot water tank - Juanita had been able to draw some hot water and thought the tank had either been replaced or repaired, however, that is not the case - the small 5-gal tank does produce a spurt of hot water before the tank is expended.

Juanita stated the large table in the garage had been removed and thanked Donovan for locating a new home for it.

Marie reported on voting day sales, which she felt had been very slow; however, a total of $852.45 was taken in - $512.95 from baked goods, $201.50 from crafts, and $138 in raffle tickets - this income will be reflected in the Treasurer's report next month. Marie informed the attendees that the yard sale would be Saturday, June 22, from 8 to 1; assistants have been lined up, and Gwen & Donovan will handle the open house.

Juanita stated a letter was received explaining the origin of the automobile license plates that are now on display in the garage - Elmer True had started the collection, which was carried to California and sent back to Maine by William True some years ago.

Juanita also wished to thank Jarvis Johnson and Pat McGrath for moving the heavy egg incubator plus some other heavy items in the garage. The updated garage display is coming along nicely.

New Business:

There was a brief discussion of where to invest the upcoming maturing funds in a Mass Mutual annuity. Gwen stated she has been in discussion with Camden National Bank Vice President, Brooks Stevens. There were some suggestions that this was not a general meeting discussion, a suggestion a committee be organized, and a couple of suggestions we look into a money market account rather than some fixed investment that locks up the funds such as CDs or annuities. There was no resolution to the discussion.

Bunny Gleason has lined up Bruce Gamage, auctioneer, to discuss the auctioneering business and the changes he has seen over the years for our September meeting. We still need a speaker for August, October, & November.

Bunny, Margaret, and Juanita are again organizing a booth at the Union Fair in July. Their theme is Hope Homemakers of Yesteryear.

Juanita stated the Society now has a mailbox; mail can now be received at our address: 479 Camden Rd., Hope, ME 04847.

HHS is the recipient of a number of items from Viola Richardson's estate. Juanita showed the group a couple of the items before the meeting began - a small scissor-type cigar cutter and a sharp-bladed corn or callus scraper. Both items had us guessing before she identified them. Another donation was received from David & Sidney Hall, a hot chocolate set - a pot with 3 cups & saucers. Thank you.

Marie discussed July's Hope Days, again asking for parade participants for the 3 PM parade on July 20th. She hopes someone will come forth with a vehicle and a banner, promoting Hope Historical Society. Juanita had an idea of a possible candidate and will inquire. Juanita & Cindy will have the Society home open that day.

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

The speaker for the evening was me, Cindy DellaPenna. I gave a slide presentation entitled Hope, the Beginning to About the 1830's - maps, spreadsheets, and pictures were utilized to provide an overview of the early settlers and their occupations enhanced with information from deeds, the 1814 Hope Tax Assessment, early indenture agreements found in a box at the Town Office, and information from the Town Clerk Records. A binder has been left at the HHS home with all of the research I conducted on the original lots, family bios (a work in progress that will be added to), a small copy of the 1799 Proprietors Map obtained from New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston where the original is located, and the transcript of the 1814 Hope Tax Assessment.

Refreshments were provided by Gwen and Marie - thank you.

Next month, we will have speaker Jan Eakins who has researched the Fairbanks family and has found old letters on file at the Maine Historical Society about Hope's Fairbanks family. The talk should be interesting.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy DellaPenna, Secretary