The Lincoln County Historical Association invites you to join in the organization’s 61st annual observance of Memorial Day. The gathering begins at 11 a.m., Monday, May 25 at the flag pole on the parade ground of the (1761) Pownalborough Court House in Dresden.

Masonic Chaplain Bruce Alexander of Dresden, assisted by our local Revolutionary War Living History group, with camp followers and families, will lead our program of honor for our fallen soldiers.

After being called to order, the gathered will proceed up the woods road a few hundred yards to the court house cemetery. Here veteran soldiers of three wars will be remembered through spoken words and the placing of lilac blooms and white pine tassels upon the graves. Everyone will then return to the flag pole for the raising of colors to full staff in combination with a gun salute given by the living historians.

Please feel free to stay on after conclusion of the Memorial Day ceremonies to enjoy the grounds of the Pownalborough Court House. Take a walk on the nature trail following along the high bank of the Kennebec River through a beautiful old stand of white pine. Explore our well-marked trail system across Route 128. Bring a picnic lunch. Perhaps catch a glimpse of one of our resident bald eagles.

To celebrate the beginning of a new summer season, the court house will be open free to the public shortly after the ceremony for all who might like a tour of this magnificent building. We’ll be sure to point out our new paint, our new roof and our newly parged (stuccoed) chimney. You will marvel at the almost 1,000 sparkling pains of glass that have now been restored in their sash by the Lincoln County/Two Bridges Jail work crew. We invite you to join us in enjoying and preserving this unique property.

Normal summer hours for the Pownalborough Court House in Dresden are Memorial Day to Columbus Day: Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, 12-4 p.m.; and Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in July and August. Suggested donation is $5 per adult with all money going directly into building maintenance. Contact us at www.lincolncountyhistory.org, or call Jay Robbins at 207-737-2239.