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Summertime in the BelgradesContentsfor Printing
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Welcome to West Waterville!
On Tuesday, July 12, when the ice cream flows and the sounds of the R.B. Hall Band filter through downtown Oakland, it's time to head to the 1815 Macartney House Museum — the town's oldest home — and enjoy an evening of sociability and simple pleasures. It's also time to appreciate the work of the Oakland Area Historical Society and to make plans for a Wednesday afternoon return visit to peruse the home and the historic exhibits that await in the Macartney House Museum — exhibits that reveal a unique history for this quiet, tree-lined town. Once part of Winslow and Waterville, Oakland — due to its impressive Messalonskee Stream waterfall power — was a major industrial center, was the axe and scythe capital of New England, was home to a major toothpick manufacturing facility, and was an important railroad junction.
The town was first settled in the late 1780's, initially for farming, and was called Coombs Mills. It was part of the town of Winslow until 1802, when the first Town Meeting was held and Waterville voted to separate from Winslow. During the 1800's, up to a hundred manufacturing facilities existed along the Messalonskee Stream. In 1873 the community separated again — from Waterville — to become West Waterville. In 1883 it became Oakland. Although much of this history is available through post cards, pamphlets, and other displays at the Macartney House Museum, what really documents the town's history and change is the house itself. Its location, for example, was in the woods, nearly a mile from the settlement of West Waterville, near Messalonskee Lake. As the settlement grew, it encompassed the house. The exterior is a good example of a Federal trimmed Cape Cod, without major alterations. The interior is to a large extent close to the original construction. The furnishings represent those actually in the house in the last century. The addition of clothes, mannequins, books, toys, whatever is appropriate for each individualized room adds to the reality — and the education.
Visiting the Macartney House Museum is like going home, like being invited into someone's house — where things are well arranged, and someone has taken great care to bleach and starch those long early-1900s skirts and petticoats. The Macartney House Museum at 110 Main Street in Oakland is open every Wednesday in July and August from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and at other time or for groups by calling There also is a monthly meeting schedule. The next one is Monday, August 1 at 7:00 p.m. The presentation will be "Central Maine Power" by Ramona Freeman. The Ice Cream Social on July 12 is at 6:30 p.m. | |||
