It never fails to happen. Plan too many things and something will go wrong. In my case last week, I planned to cover the office for our Sharon while she went to the doctors, and I also promised to give a program at the historical society that evening. Well, enter a case of stomach flu (as we used to call it). None of my plans came true – including the writing I was going to do that day. Spent the day under wraps drinking ginger ale and hoping that this horrid feeling would go away. Of course it did. Since tea is the cure-all in a case like this, I fumbled in the canisters and cupboard and could not find even one lonely stringless tea bag.

I really was looking forward to showing everyone who came to the historical society meeting all the neat items we’ve been given this summer. You cannot imagine the range of donations. I wish more people could stop in and see our collections. Remember, we’re open Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October and maybe later if it doesn’t get too cold.

Among the treasures the historical society has received this summer are a very old biscuit box with fancy label for Pilot crackers; a Jenney gasoline can; boxes of old photographs from local families (mostly unidentified – maybe your relatives are here); a silver butter container; log book for the North Windham fire department from the early days – amazing these handwritten reports show who went to which fire and how much they were paid. There were a lot of drownings, I notice, back in those days. Also a book of poetry written by a local resident, Harold Beal, and illustrated by one of his sons; a three-foot-long photo of Maine National Guardsmen with several Windham boys including my cousin, Robert Sawyer; a 1797 handmade (handmade paper, too) book full of various mathematical tables and equations; many new genealogical books, a large collection of Pleasant River Grange items and books; many newspaper clippings which have been arranged chronologically in notebooks; histories of houses to add to our Windham house books, and much more.

Thinking ahead to Christmas, the society has for sale many Windham-themed items including books, coverlets and commemorative coin sets.

Please stop and visit us. We are preserving your town’s history. Soon, one of our members will be guiding local third grade students on their Windham history tour. No need to go far afield to see what Americans used to be like – we’ve got it all right here in town.

Plan to attend the Antique Appraisal Day at Windham Public Library on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 1-4 p.m. The public is invited to bring up to three items to be appraised, at a cost of $5 each. Also a Silent Auction will provide lots of bargains. All proceeds benefit the Historical Society.

See you next week.