Quilt raffle raises restoration funds

   PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – A raffle is under way to raise funds for the Presque Isle Historical Society’s restoration of the firehouse located on Church Street.
“We’re raffling a beautiful quilt with a balloon theme to raise money to continue work at the fire station. We’ve done a lot of work on the exterior this summer, taking advantage of the warmer weather. Come winter, will focus more on the interior of the building,” said Carol Bell, president of the Historical Society. Brick work was done first, followed by windows. The doors were scheduled to be installed after that.     “Alden Swanson has been busy working on the doors for us,” said Bell. “We’re hoping to have the exterior done before the end of summer.”
Bell said since people have been able to see the work being done outside the structure, support has been better. Ticket sales have gone well so far for the quilt raffle. The quilt measures approximately 64 inches by 104 inches and features a rainbow of hot-air balloons against a sky-blue background.
”It’s really quite pretty, with balloons in varying colors spread across the blue backing,” said Bell.
The quilt was handcrafted by Nancy Fay of Easton. Tickets are $5 each but only 300 were scheduled to be sold, with the drawing slated for Friday, August 24.
“The drawing will be held at the Presque Isle Historical Society’s barbecue booth at the Hot Air Balloon Festival,” said Bell.
Members of the Historical Society have been selling the tickets over the summer. Tickets were also available at the Silver Basket, a gift shop located at 404 Main Street.
The Presque Isle Historical Society is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation founded in 1963 whose mission is to study, preserve and promote the history, culture, local heritage and physical artifacts of Presque Isle for future generations. For more information on the society or the quilt, contact 762-1151; mail the society at PO Box 285, Presque Isle, ME 04769; by e-mail at pihistoricalsociety@hotmail.com; or visit online at www.pihistory.org.
Plans continue on the firehouse project, as summer draws to a close.
“We’ll (society members) be sitting down to see what steps to begin inside, as winter approaches,” said Bell. “We hope to hold a grand opening during the city’s 150th anniversary in the summer of 2009. We’d like to have the building ready for the Sesquicentennial.”