Featuring Diane Roesing O’Brien

Sun, 10/05/2025 - 8:05pm

Ed O’Brien

Jackie Watts, founder of the Lincolnville Historical Society. (Photo courtesy of the Watts Family)

Ma, aka Diane Roesing O’Brien, submitted a piece she wrote in honor of the Lincolnville Historical Society’s Fiftieth Anniversary this week.

Our Historical Society Turns 50

Jackie Watts never ran out of ideas to make Lincolnville, her hometown, a better place to live. When she saw the traditional teenage jobs disappearing as farming died out, she worked for a space where kids could gather.

The volunteer-built Community Building, which she worked on, and then organized teen dances and events, was the result. When Cub Scout Pack 244 was faltering with no one stepping up to lead it, Jackie took on the role of Cubmaster, maybe one of the first women to do so. She was always organizing some local effort or other. Founders’ Week-end, canoe races, and more than I can remember.

As a descendent of an early Lincolnville family – the Youngs – Jackie decided we needed a historical society to preserve all the photos and stories of the town’s early days. One day (actual date lost in the mists of time) she invited a handful of folks to her house in the Center and proposed that they start one.

And so, 50 years ago, the Lincolnville Historical Society was born. She collected old photos from people all over town, and stories that had been written down or told and re-told, solicited ads from local businesses and published a book: Lincolnville Early Days Volume 1. Jackie not only had the chutzpah to havehundreds of books printed, but called it Volume 1, proceeded to sell countless copies, and followed up with Volumes 2 and 3.

As bits and pieces came out of attics, closets, and barns around town – tools, framed portraits, letters, clippings, old clothing – a huge stash of 19th and early 20th Century stuff, things people had been saving: too good to throw away or too many memories attached, Jackie found herself swamped with boxes of this memorabilia.

Today, 50 years after one woman’s big idea the Lincolnville Historical Society is celebrating her achievement. We (and yes, I was there in that living room so long ago, but it would be many years before I stepped into Jackie’s shoes) will be holding an Open House for the town this coming Sunday, Oct. 12, 1-4 p.m. at 33 Beach Road.

There’ll be special displays, the live music of UkesRock, plenty of donut holes and Sewall Orchard cider, some games for children, a find-your-house project in the works, and of course, a tour of the place, upstairs and down, the home Jackie dreamed of for the collection she started.

Jackie passed away in the fall of 2013, but not before helping to pull the Center Schoolhouse across the road that memorable day a year earlier, the building that would become the Lincolnville Community Library. And not before seeing her name on the Jacqueline Young Watts Open Air Museum.

Library Happenings

Cribbage for Everyone will be on Thursday, October 9, at 3 p.m. All skill levels are welcome. Take your little ones on Friday at 10 a.m. for preschool story and playtime.

On Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to noon Sarah Kuhn and Sara Beth Casburn will host a visable mending workshop. Take items to mend by hand, preferably nothing too heavy for and stitching.

And from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. this coming Saturday will be a new session of the writing group.

Have a wonderful week Lincolnville. Thanks for providing the article this week Ma! Do good and be good, and reach out at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

Municipal Calendar

Monday, October 6

Historical Society Museum Open, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., 33 Beach Road

School Committee, 6 p.m., LCS

Tuesday, October 7

Library open 3-6 p.m. 208 Main Street

AA Meeting 12:15 p.m., Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road

Wednesday, October 8

Library Open, 2-5 p.m., 208 Main Street

Historical Society Museum Open, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., 33 Beach Road