Open house at Estey Museum

    PRESQUE ISLE — History buffs and others interested in learning about one of the city’s landmarks and the lady who called it home will have the opportunity to do so when the Presque Isle Historical Society hosts an open house event later this month.

    “The Historical Society will be hosting a Fall Open House at the 1875 Vera Estey House Museum, 16 Third St., on Saturday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” said Kim Smith, secretary/treasurer of the Society.

    According to Smith, the Historical Society has been hard at work over the summer, with the help of their very first student intern, installing new exhibits, sprucing up existing exhibits and doing maintenance to the house.

    “The upstairs back bedroom, which served as the ‘grandparents’ bedroom during Vera Estey’s lifetime, has always been used as a storage room. It is now open to visitors with two new exhibits on display. In addition, the middle parlor has been rearranged to better showcase the artifacts. Lastly, there is now a gift shop,” said Smith.

    The open house will include free guided tours of the house at 10 and 11:30 a.m., as well as 1 and 2:30 p.m.

    “Those interested in tours are asked to call the Historical Society’s voicemail at 762-1151 and make a reservation by leaving their name, telephone number, number in their tour party and which tour time they would prefer, as tour slots are limited,” Smith said.

    There will be a bake sale and Phi Theta Kappa, Northern Maine Community College’s academic honor society, will be offering face painting for the children. Weather permitting, there will also be 19th century children’s games offered on the lawn.

    Smith said the home comes with a rich history.

    “This house is historically significant for a few reasons. The house was built around 1875 and has remained essentially unchanged over the years. In addition, it sits within the original land grant that established our community, then known as ‘Fairbanks Mills,’” said Smith.

    Smith said Estey was born in Canada in 1894 but spent most of her life in Presque Isle, primarily in the house on Third Street.

    “Her parents purchased the house in 1917. Vera was a most unusual lady for her era in that she consciously made the decision not to marry, which carried a fairly negative social stigma in those days, and she was an entrepreneur — raising and selling flowers to the Boston Flower Market. She was also very well known in the community for her flamboyant hats,” said Smith, noting upon her passing in 1992, “the house was left to the Historical Society in her will to operate as a museum.”

    For more information on the Historical Society, its programs and events, or to learn more about volunteering or membership, visit www.pihistory.org, call 762-1151 or e-mail pihistoricalsociety@hotmail.com.