Exhibit Committee Chair Kevin Callahan shares plans for The Power of Music with representatives of local arts, cultural, educational and business organizations on January 19.

LEWISTON -   A group representing various aspects of the local music scene is gathering regularly at Museum L-A to help plan a three-year, six-series exhibit highlighting the rich history of music in the Twin Cities and how it has shaped the community – then and now. The series, titled “The Power of Music” will launch in late July with “The Power of Music: Photographic Portraits of Americans and their Musical Instruments, 1860-1915” and continue chronologically with five more exhibits through April 2015.

“Delving into our oral histories for inspiration, we have learned about the importance of music not only for individuals but for the whole community,” notes Rachel Desgrosseilliers, Museum L-A’s executive director. “Music is collective and communal.  It is a connector between generations as well as an industry that brings and binds people together,” she continued, “fitting right in with the Museum’s mission.”

On January 19, Desgrosseilliers and committee introduced the exhibit series to a group of music related organizations and individuals. “We are looking for partners to work with us to make this a community-wide celebration of our music history,” Desgrosseilliers said.

A Timeline building from 1860 to the present will unfold as the series moves forward. Research will highlight the various genres of each era, music-related technological developments, popular instruments, dance, food and current events to provide context. Plans are under way for students of the Bates College Music Department to begin work on researching material to be included.

The exhibit opening July features subjects with an amazing array of instruments and conveying a sense of pride and accomplishment – as well as a love for music. It is part of a national tour containing sixty-one photographic images reproduced from the original Card-mounted photos, Cabinet cards, Tintypes, Carte de visites and Photographic postcards. 

Period instruments and artifacts from local collections will be included in each exhibit, along with programming and events reflecting each time period and theme. “We are looking to partner with a variety of local performance venues, musicians and cultural organizations to make this a community-wide celebration,” Desgrosseilliers said. “This exhibit goes beyond music since Music is a universal language that reaches deep into the human spirit to create an esprit de corps, create a common bond and inspire creativity.  This is especially important at a time when both communities are focusing on continued revitalization.”

 In October, the series continues with “The Jazz Age 1916-1930” followed in March 2013 with “The Way We Worked” – a travelling exhibit from the Smithsonian.  “Echoes in Time 1930-1970” follows from May 2014 through January 2014 covering the Big Band Sound and Rock & Roll, “Instrument Manufacturing” from February to early May.   The exhibit will finish with the signature “Portraits and Voices: Music Makers 1971-2015” showcasing our present musical genius.   A Heritage Festival and Musical Flash Mob special events will celebrate the series and mark its finale.

Members of the committee include: Rachel Desgrosseilliers, Gina Catterson, Susan Beane, Diane Williams and Joan Beal of Museum L-A, Dale Chapman of the Bates College Music Department, Bill Low and Anthony Shostak of the Bates College Museum of Art, Bates College African-American Studies professor Myron Beasley, cultural anthropologist and documentary photographer Mark Silber of the University of Southern Maine, Ed Boucher of EAB International, local musician and music enthusiast Edward Walworth,  Jim Brown of  Heritage Radio Society, and Ray Michaud of Androscoggin Bank. Chairing the committee is Kevin Callahan, local art preparatory and member of the Museum’s Board of Directors.

The Museum welcomes donations of photographs related to the history of music in the Lewiston-Auburn area. For example: musicians, music groups, bands, organizations, performances, parades, music halls and other venues. Contact Susan Beane at sbeane@museumla.org or 207-333-3881. Look for future announcements and ways the community can get involved as planning for the series progresses.

One of the original Bates designs to be preserved by Museum L-A through a grant from Historical Records Collections Grant Program.

AUGUSTA – Maine State Archivist David Cheever today announced Museum L-A will receive $2,418.00 to preserve and provide better access to its historical collections as part of the Historical Records Collections Grant Program. The program is administered by the Maine Historical Records Advisory Board, with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The grant program is coordinated in Maine by the State Archives.

Through this grant, Museum L-A will inventory and preserve unique art designs created by Bates Manufacturing from 1950 through 1970. The project provides proper and safe archival storage for the Museum’s historically-important textile design collection. This collection preserves and celebrates the handiwork of the designs created from hand-sketch to hand-colored-art work, now replaced by computer-aided design technology used in today’s textiles.

Recent studies underscore that cultural resources are important in decisions to locate business or to choose a community in which to retire. These grants help sustain the basic infrastructure of this key element of our society.

“Grants such as this support community efforts to protect the stories of our birth, property rights, government, and how we lived our lives,” said Cheever. “People need to document their birth or naturalization to obtain a passport or to get medical care; others research their property boundaries; some seek long-lost relatives or to understand the history of the old mill down the road. Without these precious records, most questions like this would remain unanswered.”

A recent report to the Maine Legislature indicates that many of Maine’s historical collections (photographs, paintings, natural history collections, and letters) are in danger of being lost to fire, theft, mold, or misuse.

“Maine has an estimated 200 million such records, many in facilities with little or no security, fire protection, or environmental controls. Local governments, historical societies, and libraries are seeking help through grant programs such as this one to preserve our heritage,” Cheever said.

“Although financial support is important, recognition of local concerns and efforts through an award also generates a substantial amount of enthusiasm,” Cheever said.

The Maine State Archives is a Bureau within the Department of the Secretary of the State. For information about the Historical Records Collections Grant Program, call Janet Roberts at 287-5791 or email janet.roberts@maine.gov or visit www.maine.gov/sos/arc/mhrab/grants.html.

Children will give hand-sewing leather a try at one of Museum L-A’s December programs.

LEWISTON – Museum L-A will present three programs for youth during the last week of December featuring hands-on activities to complement the sessions’ historical themes. All programs take place at the Museum and run from 10:30 a.m. to 12 Noon.

Programs for “Vacation Creation Days” are for ages 8-12. On Wednesday, Dec. 28 children will create a small project by carding, spinning, and weaving by hand.  Participants will then tour Museum L-A’s textile exhibit and see how machinery changed the production of cloth. The following day, Thursday, Dec. 29, they will learn about the shoemaking industry in Lewiston-Auburn and create a small leather craft by hand sewing. The cost is $10 per day or $15 for both days. A family discount of $15 per day for 2 children or $25 for both days is also offered.

On Dec. 28 a program for the younger set – ages 5-7 – features the story “The Elves and the Shoemaker” and a special hand-on project. Cost is $5 per child. Museum L-A’s current special exhibit, “Portraits & Voices: Shoemaking Skills of Generations” highlights the local shoe industry – past and present.

All programs require pre-registration. Contact educator Joan Beal at 333-3881 or jbeal@museumla.org to register or for more information.

Museum L-A volunteer Roger Nadeau shares the benefits of making the switch to Electricity Maine.

LEWISTON – A new partnership between Museum L-A and Electricity Maine is a win-win for both the Museum and customers who switch over to this new supplier of electricity. Not only can customers save money on their electric bill, they can also support the Museum at no additional cost to them. For every 10 kilowatt hours of residential use, Electricity Maine will donate $.01 to Museum L-A.  “It may not sound like much, but when you add lots of people together, it can make a difference,” said Rachel Desgrosseilliers, Museum L-A’s executive director.

“Electricity Maine believes in supporting local non-profits and this is a great way to help further Museum L-A’s important mission while also helping local people save money on their electric bill,” said Emile Clavet, Electricity Maine’s co-owner.

Electricity Maine offers competitive electrical supply rates to residential users in the State of Maine.  It is a Maine company, run by Maine residents, that helps to strengthen Maine’s economy by keeping resources in Maine.  As of mid-November, more than 10,000 customers have signed up with Electricity Maine.

When Maine deregulated its energy market it opened the industry to competition and allowed companies like Electricity Maine to buy energy in the wholesale markets and pass the savings on to its customers. Current discounts for Central Maine Power customers are six percent and Bangor Hydro Electric customers are three percent. 

Electricity Maine sells power to CMP and Bangor Hydro and those companies distribute the power to households. Customers’ relationship with CMP or BHE will not change. The only difference will be a new electric rate on the supply portion of a resident’s CMP or BHE bill. The electricity will come from the same wires. Nothing needs to be installed and there is no interruption of service and no cost to switch over and no cost to switch back.

The donation to Museum L-A is not automatic.  For those choosing to sign up by mail, simply put “Museum LA” on the “How did you hear about us” line and Electricity Maine will donate $.01 per every kilowatt hour. Online applicants will select “Museum LA” from a drop-down list. In addition to supporting Museum L-A, businesses may also see savings by switching over to Electricity Maine.

Museum L-A is looking for volunteers to help spread the word about this opportunity.  To find out more about Electricity Maine and what it has to offer, follow this link  http://www.electricityme.com/enroll_now/default.aspx .  For Assistance in filling out the paperwork or online form, please contact Museum L-A at (207) 333-3881.

LEWISTON -   Museum L-A is offering a rare second chance to see the Lockheed “Super Star” reconstruction project at the Auburn-Lewiston Airport with behind-the-scenes tours on Saturday, November 12.  Participants will sign up for a tour that leaves the Museum at 9:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. Available spaces are limited due to a waiting list from the first tour that was sold out.  The $15 fee includes the tour and a round-trip bus ticket. Pre-registration is required.

Director of Operations Michael Austermeier leads a Museum-sponsored tour of the “Super Star” project in October. Museum L-A is offering a second opportunity to tour this exciting project under way at the Auburn-Lewiston Airport.

“We are pleased that the community is so interested in this project and this new type of programming we are doing,” notes Rachel Desgrosseilliers, Museum L-A’s executive director. “We will be announcing more ‘behind the scenes’ tours to showcase the traditions of  innovation and skilled craftsmanship that are still happening,” she continued. “People are so amazed at what they are seeing.”

Reconstruction of this historic airplane has captured the imagination of the L-A communities and has attracted aviation enthusiasts from far and wide.  Lufthansa’s non-profit foundation purchased three rare Lockheed L-1649A Starliner aircraft in a private sale in Auburn and is overseeing the restoration of one of these aircraft. The “Super Star” was the culmination of propeller driven transport aircraft. Lufthansa Technik began the challenging work in 2008 to restore a historic Lufthansa aircraft to airworthy condition.

 A Lockheed L1649A “Super Star,” which in 1958 became the first long-haul airliner operated by Lufthansa capable of crossing the Atlantic without refueling, will take to the air again when the reconstruction is finished. Heading up the reconstruction project is Lufthansa veteran Michael Austermeier. With the reconstruction nearing completion, this tour offers a unique opportunity to view the aircraft, learn about its aviation history and  learn about the reconstruction process.

For more information or to make reservations, call 207-333-3881 or email info@museumla.org. Museum L-A is located at 35 Canal Street, Bates Mill Complex, Lewiston.

Museum L-A and collaborators Katherine Besteman of Colby College and Anne Kemper of Lewiston Adult Education were nationally-recognized last month at the annual meeting of the American Association for State and Local History in Richmond, Virginia. On behalf of Museum L-A, Executive Director Rachel Desgrosseilliers, center, accepts an “Award of Merit” from Terry Davis, right, president and CEO of the American Association of State and Local History (AASLH)  and D. Stephen Elliott, AASLH Chair. The organization’s Leadership in History awards committee chose to honor Museum L-A’s  “Rivers of Immigration:  Peoples of the Androscoggin” exhibit which ran in 2009-10  and explored the history of immigration in Lewiston-Auburn from the mid-1800s to today with personal  stories, photographs and interactive components. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards is the nation’s most prestigious competition for recognition of achievement in state and local history. In commenting on the selection, judges noted: This exhibit and related programming is a fine example of a museum program that offers the general public a serious, accurate, and scholarly account of local history in a way that  is sensitive to community values. The exhibit and its associated lecture series connected the community with its story of immigration by building bridges between past and present. Based out of [Besteman’s] exhibit on Somali-Bantu immigration, a controversial topic in the community at the time, Museum L-A became a party in community reconciliation by expanding the exhibit to tie the topic of modern immigration.” Kemper and her students in the Lewiston Adult Education’s English Language Learner (ELL) Program contributed first-person histories and portraits. “Rivers of Immigration” is currently being updated and re-installed in the museum.   Photo by Dementi Studio

Museum L-A is offering a rare chance to see the Lockheed “Super Star” reconstruction project with a behind-the-scenes tour on Saturday, October 15. The tour begins at Museum L-A at 9 a.m. for a brief bus ride to the Lufthansa site at the Auburn-Lewiston Airport. The bus will return to Museum L-A around noontime.

Restoration work under way on the Lockheed L-1649A “Super Star” at the Auburn-Lewiston Airport.

Reconstruction of this historic airplane has captured the imagination of the L-A communities and has attracted aviation enthusiasts from far and wide.  Lufthansa’s non-profit foundation purchased three rare Lockheed L-1649A Starliner aircraft in a private sale in Auburn and is overseeing the restoration of one of these aircraft. The “Super Star” was the culmination of propeller driven transport aircraft. Lufthansa Technik began the challenging work in 2008 to restore a historic Lufthansa aircraft to airworthy condition.

 A Lockheed L1649A “Super Star,” which in 1958 became the first long-haul airliner operated by Lufthansa capable of crossing the Atlantic without refueling, will take to the air again when the reconstruction is finished. Heading up the reconstruction project is Lufthansa veteran Michael Austermeier. With the reconstruction nearing completion, this tour offers a unique opportunity to view the aircraft, learn about its aviation history and  learn about the reconstruction process.

This is the second in a series of “behind the scenes” tours offered by Museum L-A in an effort to showcase the skills and innovative spirit of local businesses and the people who work in them.  The third tour in the series will feature L.L.Bean manufacturing facilities in Lewiston and Brunswick.

Seating is limited. The $15 fee includes the tour and a round-trip bus ticket. For more information or to make reservations, call 207-333-3881 or email info@museumla.org.

Museum L-A Educator Joan Beal shows youngsters how the water wheels they made can do work.

Museum L-A is offering three “Science Saturdays” in October – fun and educational programs for children from ages 9 through 13. In these hands-on sessions, led by Museum Educator Joan Beal, participants will experiment with water wheels, magnets, and will construct a mini-generator. The $25 fee covers the cost of all three Saturdays – Oct. 15, 22, and 29 – all taking place at Museum L-A, 35 Canal Street, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Advance registration and a $5 deposit is required.

Schedule and program:
Oct. 15: Finding the connections between magnetism and electrical currents;
Oct. 22: Constructing model water wheels and experimenting with using the energy of moving water to move and lift small objects; 
Oct. 29: Constructing water wheels and mini-turbines with magnets and wire to produce electricity in a demonstration of hydropower.

For more information or to register contact Beal at 207-333-3881 or jbeal@museumla.org.

 LEWISTON  – In celebration of annual National Museum Day, scheduled this year for Saturday, September 24, Museum L-A along with hundreds of other museums across the nation is offering free admission. Through a nationwide partnership with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D. C., and hundreds of museums across the nation, Museum Day offers the opportunity to explore an unfamiliar museum and to uncover its unseen treasures. Or, you can tour a familiar museum to review a favorite collection, all at no cost. In order to gain admission, go to the Museum Day website at microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/ and print off the special ticket pass, which is good for free admission to one museum for the ticket holder and one guest. There is a limit of one ticket per household

 “Museum Day throws open the doors to culture and history and shouts, ‘Welcome, come on in,’” said Rachel Desgrosseilliers, Museum L-A’s Executive Director. “Museum L-A is pleased to be part of an event that makes our common heritage accessible to more people.”

Museum L-A’s current special exhibit “Portraits & Voices: Shoemaking Skills of Generations” focuses on the expertise and craftsmanship of the shoe industry through oral histories, documentary photographs, videos, and images from archival collections and from shoeworkers and their families. Additional exhibits focus on the lives and the work of local people in the textile and brick-making industries. Machinery, including a Jacquard loom, represents the process of textile production.