Under the supervision of the Dresden Fire Department, huge piles of branches and debris from recent forestry work at the Pownalborough Court House in Dresden were set ablaze on Saturday. The bonfires made short work of the remains from the harvesting of trees that were marked for use as timber as well as dead standing trees that were a danger to ancient gravestones in the cemetery.

By mid-afternoon, most of the heavy work had been completed, but volunteers are still needed for the second scheduled cleanup day on Saturday, April 26. The lawns close to the building need to be raked, and the cemetery still needs to be cleared of branches. Willing helpers are asked to bring a rake and come to Pownalborough Court House in Dresden any time between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

For information or to let someone know you're coming, call Dave Probert at 207-737-4959. An indoor cleanup day will be held on Saturday, May 10 at 9 a.m.

Lincoln County Historical Association’s Pownalborough Court House is only pre-Revolutionary courthouse in Maine. The structure still stands on its original site on the banks of the Kennebec River in Dresden. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the courthouse is a remarkable example of colonial New England architecture.

For more information, visit www.lincolncountyhistory.org.