Friday, February 21, 2014

MARCH 2014 Update

At the end of 2013 the Union Meeting House sent out a mailing to all its members reminding them that the 2013-14 membership year was half done and urging all to renew for the current year. At the same time -- thanks to the kindness of Flo Drake and the Board of the Readfield Historical Society -- a mailing was sent to all members of the Society. It was undertaken since both the UMH and RHS have a shared interest of preserving Readfield's history. The response was encouraging and a number of new members were added to the UMH's rolls. Thank you all. Naturally, the UMH will make its membership list available to the RHS.

 A copy of the UMH newsletter that was mailed in November is available to all who request it. Write or call at the address below.

 The UMH has seventeen windows and during the past years the Board has been moving along in having them restored since they had not received much attention for several decades. In February the restorer, Joseph Caputo of East Pittston, who has done the restoration of all the windows to date, took out the two in the apse. They were in rough condition, with broken glass and severely eroded and weathered sashes. He will work on them this winter and have them back in place this spring.

This restoration is made possible by a most generous gift from Mrs. Nancy Durgin of Readfield. The Board of the Meeting House thanks Nancy for stepping forward to fund the complete rebuilding of these two windows. A memorial plaque will be placed on them this spring.

 Otherwise, the Meeting is buttoned up tight for the winter. At its February meeting next week the Board will review what income has been generated and discuss what projects it can afford to undertake this year. A report on what is decided will be forthcoming in the next Messenger column. In the meantime, think spring!

Contact the UMH at 685-4537 or 158 Thorp Shores, Readfield.