PrintStaff Writer
NEW PORTLAND -- Go to the Maine Memory Network Web site, type in the words "New Portland," and see a photograph of the 1925 Central High School boys' basketball team.
Or a 1951 photo of people at the New Portland Fair. An elementary student's schoolwork from 1920 shows children taking a bath, with the words: "a full bath more than once a week."
New Portland, Farmington and six other Maine communities have historical collections on the inaugural edition of the Maine Community Heritage Project. Find it at www.mainememory.net . Through grants from the Institute of Museum & Library Services, community teams consisting of librarians, historians, teachers and students compiled the material.
According to Maine Memory Network, more than 18,000 visitors use the site each month to learn about Maine history.
Last June, the New Portland Historical Society, the library and Central School received a $10,000 grant to develop the Web site.
Petrina Bearor, a member of the library board, said that team members began work on the project soon after the grant was awarded. Librarian Jill Lattin, historical society director Marilyn Gorman, member Diane Pease, library board member Deb Clauge and Jamie Steward, technical director for SAD 74, all were involved.
Stephanie Philbrick and Kristie Littlefield are coordinators for the Maine Community Project. Katie Hall and Amanda Pingree are both teachers involved with writing and research.
They learned quickly that New Portland is about more than its famous Wire Bridge.
"I was amazed at how much information we do have at the historical society," Bearor said. "Marilyn's got a lot of stuff, and Jamie really got us going."
It was a lot of work.
Each team member conducted an inventory of local historical resources, then digitized 100 to 200 documents, photos, records and artifacts. They wrote an illustrated narrative essay of the town's history and created five online exhibits.
Kristie Littlefield, a school partnership coordinator for Maine Memory Network, said that the telling of local history is "a vital but often underutilized community resource.
"Most historical resources and information are dispersed throughout the community and are difficult to access," Littlefield said. "Creating a Web site through the MCHP will enable the team to take advantage of Maine's robust infrastructure."
The New Portland team invites townspeople to celebrate its accomplishments on May 30. Beginning at 10 a.m., town residents are invited to a tour of the historical society, the old Carrabassett Creamery site, the fire station, library and finally to Central School for a free luncheon. There, the new Web site will be available for viewing.
Bath, Hampden, Islesboro, Lubec, Presque Isle and Thomaston are the other towns on the inaugural Maine Community Heritage Project Web site.
Larry Grard -- 861-9239
lgrard@centralmaine.com