Program
The Town of Union will be celebrating the 235th anniversary of its founding this year during Founders Day Weekend, July 17th to July 19th. Once again, the people of Union are turning all out to celebrate the Town's founding. The program for the weekend follows.
| Program, publicity, and all else | John Gibbons | 542-9098 |
| Parade Coordinator | Bill Packard | 691-2659 |
| Parade & Float contest |
Greg Grotton Jeff McCormick |
785-2651 785.2305 |
| Bike Decorating Contest | Joyce Grotton | 785-2651 |
| Events on the Common | Buddy Savage | 785-5261 |
| Tables for vendors and crafters | Jon Powers | 975.1589 |
| Come Spring Bus Tour | Connie Day | 785-2293 |
| Golf tournament | Hank Aho | 845-2347 |
| Union Area Chamber of Commerce | Martha Johnston-Nash | 785-2500 |
| Union Historical Society | David Shaub | 785-6092 |
| Thompson Community Center | Kathy Packard | 785-6500 |
| Matthews Museum | Nick Santorineos | 542-2379 |
5:30 - 7:30 pm. - Pie Social and Music on the Common
The celebration begins with a pie social and music on the Union Common, sponsored by the Union Area Chamber of Commerce. Hot dogs, burgers, veggie burgers, and soda, plus pie and music, all on the Common. Bring a blanket or chair, and a pie to share if you wish. Benefits the Chamber's scholarship fund. In case of rain, the Thompson Community Center, in the spirit of Founders Day, graciously offered their gym free of charge to the chamber.
6:00 - 8:00 pm. - Canoe Trip on Seven Tree Pond
Union Historical Society member & Maine Guide Lyle Cramer (233-2979 & leave a message or 845-5115) will conduct his annual canoe trips on Friday, July 17 at 6 pm and Saturday, July 18 at 9:00 am. and 6:00 p.m.. Participants will see "Come Spring" sites and wildlife. Don't forget your camera! There are eagle chicks, fox kits, loons, ducks, deer all over Union. Lyle provides the canoes (or feel free to bring your own), and will lead the trip and point out the interesting landmarks and historic features along the way. Reservations are advised (call Lyle at 233.2979), but walk-ups are welcome as space allows. No charge. Begin and end at Ayer Park, Depot St.. The trip lasts about 2 hours.
8:00 pm. To Midnight: Dance at the Thompson Community Center
Dance to the music of Yankee Soul Revue. John McIntire calling. Good all American entertainment to start the weekend celebrations.
7:00
to 9:30 am. - Pancake Breakfast: Founders Day starts with a pancake breakfast at the People's United Methodist Church on Depot street, just off the Common (behind the Post Office). Hosted by the Youth Group.
9:00 to 11:00 am.
Canoe Trip on Seven Tree Pond
Guided by Lyle Cramer, canoe trip on Seven Tree Pond. See 6:00 pm. Friday for details.
9:00 am. to 2:00 pm.
- Vendors and Crafters on the Common:
Lots of tables and booths, mostly local but many come from a distance. Some of the participants would be the Thompson Community Center food wagon with dough-boys, hot-dogs, and their famous fried onions. The Matthews Museum of Maine Heritage is planning a demonstration of old-time ice cream making in the morning (the visitors get to eat the exhibits), and an antique tool usage demonstration at the museum in the afternoon. Kathy's Day Salon & Spa will be offering non-permanent tattoos. The Union Historical Society will be selling historic books and T-shirts. Many, many more will be there but have not told us what they're planning yet.
9:30 am. to 10:00 am. - Bike Decorating Contest
Bike decorating contest, at the Union Fire Station. Prizes in four age categories, from toddler through age 12. Special prize for most-creative entry. Kids and bikes will be in the parade afterward. Kids, decorate your bikes, bring a bike helmet (for the parade), and enter the contest! Pre-registration at the Town Office is encouraged (to help with head count), but last-minute entries are welcome.
9:30 to 11:00 am.: Come Spring Bus Tour. Sponsored by Union Historical Society, the annual Come Spring Bus Tour departs from the Old Town House on Town House Road off the Common at 9:30 a.m. on Founders Day, Saturday July 18, with tickets priced at $10.00. This popular narrated 2-hour bus tour follows the Georges River Scenic Byway and identifies sites where Union's early settlers built cabins and lived. The names of the settlers are documented in town records and their lives and stories are recounted by Ben Ames Williams in his 1940 historical novel Come Spring, recently reprinted by the Historical Society. Included in the tour are dismount stops at four historic sites, of which three are located on private property. and are not open to the public at other times.
10:00 am. to 10:30 am. - Community Parade
Starting from the Fire Station the parade will proceed to the Union Common. Fire Department, Ambulance Service, Veterans, Scouts, many other Union groups and businesses, plus floats and a Float Contest.
10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.-Book and Bake Sale.
Sponsored by the Vose Library, to benefit the new building on Common Road, almost across from the Robbins House where the library currently resides.
10:00 am. to 2:00 pm. Yellow School Museum Room Open.
The museum will be open at the Thompson Community Center. Yearbooks and many other memorabilia from the distant past, plus schoolroom settings and more.
10:30 am. - 3:00 pm. - Music and more on the Common.
Music groups . . . Downeast Brass Band, Harborside Harmony, Playin' 'Possum . . . plus Jody Wentworth and his forge, TCC's bouncy cage, demonstrations, group acts, and games for the kids.
10:30 am. to 2:00 pm. - Hay rides and Wagon Transportation
Hay rides around the Common, and tractor-drawn wagon transportation among event sites: Thompson Community Center, Union Common, and the Matthews Museum at the Union Fairgrounds.
11:00 am. to 1:00 pm.- Chicken Barbecue on the Common.
Chicken barbecue with side dishes, organized by the Union Masonic Hall and served on the Common, rain or shine. (Tent in case of rain.)
12:00 to 4:00 pm. - Open House at Matthews Museum of Maine Heritage.
Open house (no charge) at the Matthews Museum in the Union Fairgrounds. Many farm implements and elements of everyday life from the early days of Union. An old tool usage demonstration is planned during that time. The museum new extension will be ready with the Moxie Bottle Stand in it, and, hopefully, the one horse shay will be there too.
4:30 to 7:00 pm. Spaghetti Supper in the Union Town Hall.
Spaghetti supper, organized by the Union Fire Department and Ambulance Service.
6:00 to 8:00 pm. Canoe Trip on Seven Tree Pond.
Guided by Lyle Cramer, canoe trip on Seven Tree Pond. See 6:00 pm. Friday for details.
6:00 to 8:00 pm. Silent Movie at the Old Town House.
The past comes to life again with the screening of a classic silent movie at Union's Old Town House on Town House Road. The Union Historical Society will present CITY LIGHTS, filmed in 1931 and starring Charlie Chaplin alongside Virginia Cherrill and Harry Myers. Doug Protsik from the band called The Old Grey Goose, will play the non-stop piano accompaniment from Chaplin's original score. another great silent movie at the Old Town House in the evening. Doors open at 6:30. Tickets are $5 at the door
9:30 am. Golf Tournament.
18-hole scramble golf tournament at the Union Country Club on Barrett Hill
Road. Open to all, but limited to nine teams of four participants each. Proceeds
from entry fees to be donated to the Vose Library capital campaign. For more
information and reservations, contact Hank Aho, 845.2347 or visit
http://www.UnionCountryClub.com
10:30 - 11:30 am. - Outdoor Worship Service on the Common.
Conducted by the Reverend George Hodgkins of the People's United Methodist Church. In case of rain the worship will take place at the Church on Depot Street, behind the Post Office.
Many people worked hard to make this celebration possible. We apologize if we left anybody out.
|
Board of Selectmen Common Market Cramer Guide Service Crowning Touch Embroidery Down to Earth Hammond Tractor Kathy's Salon & Day Spa Matthews Museum of Maine Heritage People's United Methodist Church Santorineos Simple Solutions Sterling Ambulance Service Thompson Community Center Tripp Services Union Area Chamber of Commerce Union Ambulance Service Union Country Club Union Fair Union Farm Equipment Union Fire Department Union Historical Society Union Masonic Hall Union Pottery Union Town Office Vose Library Witch Mountain Services Yellow School Museum |