A memorable visit

John Branson, son of Windham’s popular and long time country doctor, Sydney R. Branson, visited the Windham Historical Society’s April 21, to see the new exhibit honoring his father’s long and distinguished medical practice in Windham and at Maine Medical Center, formerly Maine General Hospital.

The display has been established in the former Windham Center Library annex, built around 1820, of the historical society’s brick museum at Windham Center and includes Branson’s medical certificates and library, and several black physician’s bags used when making house calls.

The historical society’s board of directors heard that the younger Branson was visiting relatives in the area and invited him to preview the exhibit.

John Branson, who lives in Southwest Alaska, said he was honored and touched by the exhibit and described his father as the ultimate “people person” who had a good bedside manner and loved the town of Windham, its residents, and his patients.

Asked if he would ever consider relocating back to Maine, Branson, 61, said “I’m a Windham boy through and through, but Windham has changed too much. Perhaps if it was (still) like it was in the 1950s, I would.”

Sydney R. Branson, a veteran of World War II, kept an office in South Windham and practiced for over 30 years, into the 1970s. He helped establish the Windham Health Council and was the town’s school physician and health officer. He died several years ago.

The exhibit has now opened to the public.

Help on the Homefront

Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Cumberland, has agreed to join the Operation Homefront-Maine Advisory Board. The organization, led locally by Windham Town Councilor Donna Chapman, assists families that have a parent or spouse fighting overseas.

May birthdays

Windham residents celebrating their birthdays in May include Tim Gallagher, Maura Gallagher, Joan Tobin, Olivia Gilvey and Jason Gilvey. Happy birthday to all.

Attend Republican Convention

As the Maine Republican Convention in Augusta convenes this weekend, 23 delegates will represent the Windham Republican Party. Rep. Gary Plummer, R-Windham, is the chairman of the delegation.

There was a state committee dinner Thursday night and former presidential candidate and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will be the keynote speaker Friday, May 2.

Hancock Creamery Display

Visitors to the Windham Public Library will take a step back in time when seeing the display of memorabilia from the Hancock County Creamery collected by Steven Kane of Standish. His collection of items will be on display at the through May 30.

Kane got interested in collecting items from the Ellsworth dairy because his father managed the company for 30 years. Steven and his brothers all worked at the dairy during the summers when they were young. The display includes milk bottles from the 1950s, milk cartons, and ice cream cartons of various shapes and sizes. Stop by the library for a look at this interesting collection.

Call the library at 892-1908 for more information on the display or for directions. The Windham Public Library is located at 217 Windham Center Road, and is open 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday and Wednesday; 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday; and 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Rebekahs meet

The Rebekah Lodge 71 will meet Wednesday, May 7 in the Odd Fellows Hall at 7:30 p.m. This will be Brothers Night with all brothers invited. Josie Morrell is in charge of the refreshments and Shirley Atkinson has the program.

Yard sale feeds Windham

The Windham Food Pantry will hold its second annual yard sale Saturday, May 3 at the Human Resource Building from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Please attend and support our local food pantry.

Alumni Banquet Deadline

The reservation deadline for the May 17 Windham High School Alumni Banquet is Friday, May 9. Please be sure and notify Tammy Haskell, Twon Councilor Carol Waig or Kay Soldier if you are planning to attend. The good alumni cooks need to order food! Call 892-5381 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. or e-mail kso48@aol.com for reservations or more information.

Bells will ring

Marriage intentions on file in the Windham Town Clerks office:

Daniel B. Chojnowski and Catherine A. Ouellette, Pheasant Drive, Windham.

Thought of the week:

There are so many things that make you special.

Maine First Lady Karen Baldacci, left, with Windham Town Councilor Donna Chapman and Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Cumberland. Diamond has joined the advisory board for Operation Homefront, an organization headed locally by Chapman that assists families of veterans fighting overseas.