On Thursday, Aug. 1 at 4:30 p.m. at Boothbay Region Historical Society, author and historian Peggy Konitzky will talk about the remarkable achievements of Midcoast Maine heroes who kept the home fires during World War II.  Doors open for the talk at 4:10.  Admission is free.

These stories were unearthed during the two years of research for Konitsky’s book “Midcoast Maine in World War II.”  Peggy interviewed many midcoast residents who lived through the war, including Calvin and Marjorie Dodge of Newcastle, William and Judith Sutter of Wiscasset, the late Joan Leslie of Wiscasset, Robert Brochard of St. John’s Church in Brunswick, and local author-historian Barbara Rumsey of Boothbay Region Historical Society.  

Peggy discovered that during World War II the shipyard at Bath Iron Works launched a new destroyer every 17 days. Bowdoin College had more military than civilian students and held three commencements per year. Boothbay Harbor, Bailey Island and Damariscotta all had military bases, and anyone who owned or sailed a boat was recruited for coastal defense. Women worked at machine shops, registered their neighbors for rationing, and volunteered for the Civil Defense and Red Cross.

Peggy Konitzky has been with Historic New England for over twelve years managing four historic sites; Castle Tucker, Nickels-Sortwell House, Marrett House, and the Bowman Estate.  She has a B.A. from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, an MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business, and a Museum Studies Certificate from Tufts University.

Boothbay Region Historical Society, 72 Oak Street in Boothbay Harbor, is open to the public throughout the year Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  For more information on this and other events check the website, www.boothbayhistorical.org, call the museum at 633-0820, or email brhs@gwi.net