Maytown may be tiny, but the town's past packs a powerful punch.
"For a smaller town, we have a tremendous amount of history," said Bob Lescallette, curator of the Maytown Historical Society's museum and one of the founders of the historical society. That history dates to May 1, 1760 (or 1762, depending on whom you ask ... but that's a story for another day), and it's the mission of the Maytown Historical Society to make sure it's not forgotten.
Lescallette and some friends started thinking about forming a historical society in the mid 1980s, about the time of Maytown's 225th birthday. In the beginning, the Maytown Historical Society met at a local church before acquiring the building of its current location, at 4 W. High St., in 2002.
"This building dates to about 1760, and it's one of the original, if not the oldest, structures in town," explained Gordon Nell, the museum director.
Volunteers put in extensive work to update the building, including replacing 75 feet of logs across the façade. Today, the location houses the museum, which features a variety of items from Maytown's history, as well as an archives area.
"Our main problem right now is storage and display space," Lescallette said, noting that the society hopes to be able to expand at its current location.
The organization is struggling in another way, as well, noted Linda Good, vice president and a member of the archives committee.
"People don't know we're here," she stated. "We want to get the word out that we're alive and well." Good, a former teacher, hosts programs for homeschoolers and presents history lessons at local schools, hoping to encourage young people to help preserve Maytown's past.
"We need to start with the young people, because when you get the kids involved, there's hope for the future," she shared.
Good has also been instrumental in setting up an ongoing display at the Maytown municipal building focused on the historical society to help spread the word about the group.
Fundraising for the society and museum includes special events throughout the year, such as Mayfest, which the group plans to host in May of 2022. The society will also host a speaker series beginning in November and a will hold a picnic for members and prospective members on Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m.
The museum is open on a flexible schedule, said Skip Nell, president of the society. "We are really available anytime," he noted. "If someone wants to come by, just call and we can meet you."
Gordon said the society's mission is not only to preserve history, but also to preserve the very organization created to fulfill that mission.
"An awful lot of work, time and effort went into creating the museum and starting the historical society," he stated. "We want to see both continue."
For more information, search for "Maytown Historical Society" on Facebook.
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