Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – In need of a special gift this holiday season for a family member, friend or co-worker? How about a gift that they’ll use and enjoy all 365 days of 2009 – and beyond?
To celebrate the city’s 150th birthday, the Presque Isle Historical Society has joined forces with Northeast Publishing Company, commemorating the city’s Sesquicentennial with a one-of-a-kind calendar featuring 25 artistic renditions of local scenes, from harvest to Main St. – two per month, with one image on the cover
“We (the Historical Society) were approached by Northeast Publishing with the idea to create a calendar to mark the anniversary of the city, like they’d done when Houlton celebrated theirs a few years ago,” said Richard Rand, recording secretary for the Historical Society and chairperson of the Calendar Committee.
The full-color calendar, which measures 9 inches by 12 inches, got its start earlier this year.
“We’ve (NEP and the Historical Society) been talking about it for about five months now. For the preliminary talk, we went to a meeting with Society members to discuss what they wanted,” said Lisa Nadeau, customer service coordinator for NEP.
Nadeau said it was a pleasure working with Society members on this memorable keepsake.
They were great to plan this with. They were very excited when we told them how we’d do the printing and marketing for them. They were ecstatic,” said Nadeau.
Stapled on the spine, it opens in traditional calendar format.
“We opted to go with a dull finish. It gives it more of an antique feel. With the water paintings, it’s much better quality paper to use (for reprinting images),” Nadeau said.
Rand said in the past, calendars had been created using reprints of actual photographs. For this one, paintings were used instead, including works from seven artists with local ties and one artist from Massachusetts.
“John Holub, who lived here for quite a while before moving downstate, is one of the featured artists, as is his daughter, Lisa Desjardins. So that’s a point of interest, having a father/daughter duo in the calendar,” said Rand. “We also have an image of Main St. by Mark Matson. Other local artists include: Mark Edgecomb, Tim Finnemore, Marguerite Foster and Bessy Higgins.”
Images depict a variety of scenes from Presque Isle’s past, including harvest images and local businesses.
“We’ve got some of the B&A and CP stations. Some painters created pieces just for the calendar. Some put life to their paintings, incorporating people into many of the scenes — scenes that were based on photographs that didn’t include people,” said Rand. “Lisa put Vincent Barresi in the barbershop cutting hair, for example.”
Three works that once adorned the walls at Northern National Bank, and now hang in the third-floor hallway at City Hall, are featured in the calendar.
“Richard Ellery, of Massachusetts, came up to do the paintings for Northern National Bank when they opened the new building in 1945. All three pieces – scenes of planting, harvest and packaging – are included in the calendar,” said Rand.
Images date back several decades, according to Rand.
“The Dudley House, constructed in 1860, is one building included in the calendar. The month of October features a farm – shows the importance of farming to the community – a house dating back to about 1896,” he said.
Rand said this is more than just a calendar for marking appointments and keeping track of birthdays.
“This calendar, I hope, will become a family keepsake – a way for families to share memories now and in years to come,” said Rand, noting how families made up of several generations could use the calendar as a discussion piece.
“The older generation can share their memories with their grandkids and so forth. It will help create memories of the Sesquicentennial,” said Rand. “I think the calendar is something, when we have our Bicentennial, people will pick it up and say, ‘look at what we did in 2008.’ It’ll become its own part of the community’s history – an artifact in its own right.”
With each month’s featured image, captions are included, featuring a description and information on where to purchase a reprints. Calendars are available for purchase locally.
“Calendars can be ordered through NEP or the Star-Herald or through the Historical Society,” said Nadeau.
“Calendars are $12 each, with all proceeds going to the Presque Isle Historical Society,” added Rand.
In addition to the calendar, the Historical Society also has a few other souvenirs, just in time for Christmas.
“We also have some items that would make unique Christmas gifts. We have an ornament for $10, a mug for $5 and a paperweight for $20. All feature a photo or drawing of the historic fire station,” said Kim Smith, the Society’s treasurer and corresponding secretary.
Nadeau said it’s been a pleasure working on the project.
“I really like printing these calendars. Coming together and doing a project – I really enjoy that,” said Nadeau.
Rand echoed the sentiment, noting how everyone worked together to create a one-of-a-kind treasure.
“People were very willing to have their works used. The owners of the paintings were very cooperative. We’ve included contact information in the calendar to help promote and support their work,” said Rand. “We’re also very grateful to Northeast Publishing for making this possible. Without their help and expertise, this would have been a difficult, if not impossible, venture.”
For more information or to order a calendar, contact: the Historical Society at 762-1151 or e-mail pihistoricalsociety@hotmail.com; NEP at 764-4471; or Star-Herald at 768-5431, fax 764-7585, visit 40 North St., Suite 2, Presque Isle, or e-mail starherald@nepublish.com.
“Calendars can also be obtained by contacting members of the Presque Isle Historical Society,” said Rand.
Image courtesy of NEP
A 2009 CALENDAR is now available, just in time for the Star City’s Sesquicentennial, featuring a variety of paintings depicting life through the years in Presque Isle. All proceeds go to the Presque Isle Historical Society.
