New historical society seeks support

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    SMYRNA — Several residents of Smyrna and Merrill have organized to form an historical society which will be housed in Smyrna’s former Methodist church. The United Methodist Church dates back to the late 19th century. Following a devastating fire, the church was rebuilt in 1933 and completed by 1935.
FOUNDING MEMBERS —  From left, Alberta McDonald, Gene Lawlor, Ralph Bartman, Marlene Lawlor, Perry Lilley and Cindy Bartman stand outside the new Smyrna-Merrill Historical Society.
   With its longstanding ties to the community, area residents expressed concern that after closing a year ago in April due to dwindling membership, it would fall into the wrong hands or misuse. “I’d hate to see a building like this fall down from neglect,” said Marlene Lawlor, a board member of the Smyrna-Merrill Historical Society.
    She was not alone. Perry Lilley, the society’s chairman, said: “I ran into a woman in Houlton who was  baptized in this church and wants to see the building stay here and be used.” Fellow board member Gene Lawlor says the group sees the church as a place to hold community meetings, town meetings even harvest suppers. “We had to go to Dyer Brook or Oakfield for town meetings,” says Lilley. This year that changed and both towns had their meetings in early March in the church basement “which made it nice that we could meet there,” said another board member, Ralph Bartman. But, the group maintains the town office will still be the area polling place for voters.
    The rustic beauty of the old church with an elegant bell tower, gothic-influenced window arches, interior tin ceilings and stained-glass windows is an ideal place for weddings, funerals and other special occasions. The church was deconsecrated at the closing ceremony on April 13, 2008. It’s future as a repository of historical documents lies in the hands of a committee that says they will attempt to relocate some historical items, photos, genealogies, newspaper articles, a painting and picture of the original church and church-related documents.
    “Very soon we’re going to mail out membership drive letters to people from a compiled list of area residents, families and friends,” says Cindy Bartman, a board member from Merrill. Anyone interested in joining or contributing historical artifacts can write to the Smyrna-Merrill Historical Society at P.O. Box 21, Smyrna, ME 04780.