We are pleased to announce that we have received funding from the Maine Humanities Council for an oral history and exhibition project titled “People Past and Present at the McLaughlin Garden & Homestead.”  Funds will be used for training in oral history methodology by Dr. Pauleena MacDougall  from the University of Maine at Orono, purchase of recording equipment, and partial funding of exhibitions based on the oral histories.

The project will begin by interviewing community members who knew Bernard McLaughlin–people in our local community as well as colleagues and friends throughout Maine who were members of garden clubs, horticultural societies, or garden enthusiasts.  We will all interview the founders of the Mclaughlin Foundation–visionaries who preserved this very special garden for the future.

The garden seeks volunteers who are interested in learning about oral histories and conducting interviews with members from our community.  We will train volunteers of all ages (including high school and college students) in July 2016–please contact us if you are interested in learning more about the project.  Please contact Donna Anderson at mclgardn@megalink.net for more information.

The ice storms of early 2015 affected us as well and we realize that it was time for a new roof on the McLaughlin Home and its porches to ensure that we remain dry in the future.  We are grateful for support from the Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust and the Belvedere Historic Preservation Grant Program for helping to support this important preservation project.