Maine History

Alna documentary 'portrait of a small town'

Wed, 02/12/2014 - 10:30am

Story Location:
1647 Alna Road
Alna, ME 04535
United States

Anyone interested in local history will have an opportunity for a guided tour of Alna’s past through a newly released documentary film, “Currents, Courses, and Streams, Alna, Maine, Histories of a Backwater Town.” The film will premier on Friday, Feb. 14, downstairs at the Alna Fire Station at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. Donations gratefully accepted.

Produced by Doreen Conboy of Alna, the 90-minute documentary is the portrait of a small town created through stories of Head Tide, Sheepscot, Puddle Dock, West Alna and Alna Center told by folks who grew up there. Poignant recollections form a simple narrative with grace and humor, and paired with remarkable archival photos give a sense of some of the structures, characters and events that shaped the town in earlier times, moving into the 21st century.

Early photos from the towns collection give a glimpse of how Alna looked in preceding decades and sometimes dissolve into recent views shot from the same vantage point to show the many changes over time.

“The archival photographs are wonderful in themselves,” Conboy said. “But hearing voices expand on the images from personal experience opens another rich pathway to better understanding (of) what the early photos truly represent.”

In addition, viewers are treated to a sound track featuring musician/composer Aaron Robinson, who also lives in Alna. Original piano compositions from his CD, “La Belle Epoche,” beautifully underscore the many vignettes. Guitar compositions by Jaime Oshima of Whitefield, from his CD, “The Singing Guitar,” further add to the ambiance.

Conboy, who works in paint restoration, is also volunteer archivist for the town. She began the film project several years ago as a fundraiser to help finance work in the town archives and maintenance of Alna’s historical buildings.

Copies of the DVD are $20 and may be purchased at Friday’s screening, or at The Alna Store and Alna Town Office.

The fire station is located at 1647 Alna Road in Alna.

For more information, call 207-586-5051.