NEWFIELD — Nineteenth-century Willowbrook Village may be closing Oct. 10, but there are events on tap between now and then.

And a trustee of the Curran Homestead in Orrington, which will be gifted much of the vast collection of 19th-century artifacts and some of the property, said there are plans afoot to continue to provide some events at Willowbrook during the transition.

Willowbrook’s trustees announced the Oct. 10 closing last month after 47 seasons of providing a unique village museum experience to scores of schoolchildren and adults. Over the years, more than 430,000 people have toured Willowbrook to experience “the way life used to be,” as espoused in the village’s slogan.

The closing is due to financial woes that began in 2008 and continued, despite many fundraising efforts and donations. Douglas King, son of village founder Donald King and president of Willowbrook board of trustees, said when the season ends Oct. 10, it will be the last one.

Until then, planned events will take place, including the National Glidden Antique Car show on Sept. 13, a Painted Pond Party on Sept. 17, and more. Details are available at willowbrookmuseum.org.

Curran Homestead trustee and treasurer Irv Marsters on Thursday said the missions of Curran and Willowbrook are essentially the same – to show how rural Mainers lived in the 19th and early 20th century.

The Curran Homestead and Willowbrook have shared collections for events over the years and shared volunteers as well, Marsters said.

“We’ve talked about running some programs in Newfield to continue to utilize Willowbrook’s collections and to provide workshops, classes and event days,” Marsters said in a telephone interview Thursday. That proposal is still in the planning stages, he said.

Appraising the collection that will be gifted to the Curran Homestead will take time, he said.

“We are excited about the gifting of this Donald King legacy,” Marsters said.

Willowbrook Billage grew out of the collections of Donald King, the founder. He opened the museum in 1970.

In addition to the Curran Homestead, Douglas King said major gifts of the collection will be offered to Boothbay Railway Village and Skyline Farm in North Yarmouth. Smaller gifts will be offered to the Maine State Museum, the Newfield Historical Society, the Sanford Springvale Historical Society, the Brick Store Museum, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center and the Maine Antique Power Association.

“In making these gifts, Willowbrook’s collections will remain on view to the public, and the educational and historic awareness programming that has been central to Willowbrook’s mission will continue as part of its legacy,” King said.

In an email, King said some of the properties that comprise Willowbrook, including the bandstand and two buildings, will be gifted to the Newfield Historical Society, while other properties will be gifted to the Curran Homestead.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.