BY PATRICIA ESTABROOK
“Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear…”
The Lone Ranger’s opening line is equally appropriate for a visit to the Penobscot Historical Society Museum. Instead of a masked man riding through the desert, you’ll find artifacts of the hard-working men and women of the Blue Hill Peninsula. Spend an hour or two browsing through the general store, the one-room schoolhouse, and the farmhouse and barn. Imagine the joys and sorrows of the stalwart people who once lived in Penobscot and left their mark on their descendants and their community.
While some peninsula communities like Castine and Blue Hill relied on shipbuilding and seafaring, the people of Penobscot did not have a deep-water port. They relied on farming, cottage industry, and small businesses to provide for their families. The general store was the hub of the community, providing food, clothing, tools, penny candy, and a place to gather and share news.
Today, you can sit on the front porch of the museum’s general store and listen to the voices of the past or talk with the friendly docents who will explain the use of the mysterious goods that were commonplace to our ancestors. Or sit at a desk in the one-room schoolhouse and imagine lessons recited by scholars in all grades.
The museum was founded in 1977 with donated buildings. The farmhouse came from Surry, but the other buildings came from the town of Penobscot. Artifacts were donated to the museum from families around the Blue Hill Peninsula.
The museum is small but informative, and some of the exhibits can be handled.
“This museum helps young people understand a previous way of life before cars and computers,” said board member Sylvia Tapley.
For the full flavor of Penobscot, attend Penobscot Days on Saturday, July 13, featuring a parade and activities, including an open house at the museum. For the rest of the summer, the museum is open on Sundays from 1-4 p.m. during July and August. Admission is free but donations are accepted. For more information, call (207) 460-9380.
