Friends of Westport Island History holds annual meeting
Portland artist Maizie Argondizza presents her painting of Westport Island’s historic North Chapel, now Westport Island Baptist Church, to History Committee and Westport Island Baptist Church member Anne Cole-Fairfield. Photo by Gaye Wagner
Portland artist Maizie Argondizza presents her painting of Westport Island’s historic North Chapel, now Westport Island Baptist Church, to History Committee and Westport Island Baptist Church member Anne Cole-Fairfield. Photo by Gaye Wagner
The Friends of Westport Island History (Friends) met with a couple of surprises at their annual meeting on Sunday, Aug. 17. Portland artist and descendant of Westport Island’s Colby family, Maizie Argondizza, attended the public program in advance of the annual meeting. She brought and generously donated a painting of the town’s historic North Chapel to the History Committee. Her family home was close to the church, and her parents, Violet and Lawrence Colby, attended it when she was a child. A second unexpected gift came from resident Joseph Ruzyckij who donated a handcrafted Westport Island sign with the town’s incorporation date of 1828.
Over 20 people attended the Friends’ presentation on the development of the Westport Island History Center. Friends’ board members Mary Ellen Barnes and Jeffery Tarbox outlined the development of the center that will open this fall in Wright Landing House at Westport Island’s historic Ferry Landing. The Friends have developed a wish list of major items needed to help outfit the center, including: window UV film to help protect historical items on display; cellular shades for insulation and light control; display lighting; and archival supplies.
The meeting also launched a membership program to help the Friends provide financial support for advancing the collection and preservation of Westport Island’s history and for meeting the center’s day-to-day operating costs. Annual membership dues range from the Student level at $10 to the Supporting level at $100. For more information, and to become a member and learn about volunteering, contact the Friends at FOWIH19@gmail.com or text 207-380-5926. Friends is an IRS-recognized 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, and donations are tax-deductible.
The final order of business was the election of a board of trustees: Barnes, Tarbox, Dennis Dunbar, Joan Mason-Bradford, Callie Connor, Paul Bonyun and Gaye Wagner.
There will be a “Celebration and Preview” of the center at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, on the lawn adjacent to Wright Landing House at Ferry Landing.
Event Date
Address
Westport Island Town Hall
Westport Island, ME 04578
United States
