World events in the first half of the 20th century affected the lives of all Americans, whether they lived in cities or small towns. A special exhibit at Lincoln County Historical Association’s Old Jail Museum in Wiscasset highlights the effects of these events on the village. The museum, located at 133 Federal Street, is open to visitors on weekends from noon until 4 p.m. through the end of September. Admission is $5 for adults; free for children under 16.

The five decades from 1900 to 1950 saw two world wars, a crushing global depression, and an epidemic that claimed more lives than all military deaths in both wars combined. The period also witnessed the birth and development of air travel, the automobile, the telephone, electric power, radio, television, and the computer – all of which were non-existent or in their infancy in 1900. 

The exhibit presents a time line from 1900 to 1950 in the form of newspaper headlines and Wiscasset's response to their stories. Artifacts such as the uniforms, photos, and biographies of local soldiers demonstrate how world events affected life in Wiscasset — and also show that Wiscasset’s soldiers literally affected the world wars. Other items, such as ancient Maine license plates, a pre-electricity icebox, and local news items on topics ranging from residents’ health to their views on issues such as suffrage and prohibition help to illustrate the co-evolution of Wiscasset and the wide world during this time.

The Lincoln County Historical Association is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that provides stewardship for the 1754 Chapman-Hall House in Damariscotta, the 1761 Pownalborough Court House in Dresden, and the 1811 Old Jail and Museum in Wiscasset. For more information, visit www.lincolncountyhistory.org or Lincoln County Historical Association (Maine) on Facebook.