Way back in that far away time of early Spring 2020, the Lincolnville Historical Society had planned a special event: Dollfest, a gathering of historical dolls, many owned by folks active in the LHS. Decorations were made, chains of paper dolls, homemade fliers for the event were posted. Then, well, we all remember what happened. Dollfest, along with so many other events, was canceled. 

For years, a flier Ma (Diane O’Brien), had made was taped to the egg fridge in the barn. A reminder perhaps, of what was lost, what had changed.

This past Saturday, only six years late, Dollfest finally happened. In the intervening years, the Beach Schoolhouse, which houses the LHS, was beautifully renovated, and the downstairs function room was lined with antique dolls of all shapes and sizes, with, of course, tea and cookies served from the kitchen.

Chains of paper dolls, crafted years ago by Julie Turkevitch, who has since moved from Lincolnville and is missed, hung between the support beams.

Dolls are among the oldest toys in existence, and can be documented as toys for children going back at least 4,000 years. That, of course, only includes dolls made of material that will not deteriorate, like clay or stone. Without a doubt, children have been playing with dolls for far longer.

I think of the so called “Venus figurines”, the voluptuous statuettes, found amongst the remains of Neolithic European settlements, with one carved from a mammoth tusk dating back at least 35,000 years. The “Frozen Charlotte” china dolls, popular over a century ago, do not seem to far removed from the ancient enigmas.

Truth be told, I am one of those people who find dolls to be a bit creepy, something which has always baffled my doll-loving Ma.

When anthropologists study ancient dolls, experts are often unsure which were playthings, and which had ritual, mystical symbolism. The so-called “Voodoo dolls” are likely a myth, but European “poppets” did exist, and were purported to have magical properties. Seems possible the European slave holders projected their own doll-based superstitions onto their African captives.
Like many things I find creepy, I am drawn to them, and the LHS display was incredibly cool.

The dolls on display, while all quite old, represented those manufactured from the late 19th- to mid 20th centuries, as well as several hand-carved dolls, which are likely much older. Made from china, fabric, plastic, and wood, they were cherished childhood dolls saved for decades, as well as being thrift store finds. 

Ma used to tell me about playing with her Ginny dolls with her friend growing up in the 1950s. Thanks to Cheryl Winges saving her doll, I finally got to see one. Predating Barbie by several years, Ginny shares with Barbie a love of fashion and dressing up, but Ginny is very clearly a little girl, with flat feet which allows her to stand on her own, unlike Barbie’s impossibly arched feet designed to fit a plastic stiletto heel. Barbie representing an impossible-to-achieve model of womanhood, Ginny just being an ordinary girl, like the one playing with her.

Who am I to judge? I also played with dolls as a child, but I called mine “action figures”, and all they wanted to do was kill. Maybe if we gave little boys baby dolls to take care of....

Pat Shannon lent the doll of her girlhood, Poor Pitiful Pearl. This is a doll with a backstory. Taken from the New Yorker cartoons of William Steig, who wrote and illustrated many of my favorite books, and was also the creator of Shrek, Poor Pitiful Pearl is a sad looking doll in a dress and kerchief meant to illicit empathy and compassion in her owner. The dolls also came with a second, fancy outfit, to mark her transformation from pitiful orphan to a well loved little girl. If you know Pat, you know that Pearl did her job.

I really wish I had known about this event in time to have announced it in last week’s column. Cool history, cool dolls, and so cool seeing all the little girls, who may have grown a bit older over the years, with their old friends. I hope the LHS will make this an annual event. Maybe I will dig out my old dolls — I mean action figures.

School Budget

The Budget Committee met last Tuesday for the final presentation of the Lincolnville School Budget. As I wrote previously, the school is facing significant cuts to offset a dramatic reduction in our state subsidy. 

All of us are facing increased costs in our personal budgets, and we are also faced with how to continue to fund our school without raising taxes any more than necessary.

Union 69 Superintendent Shawn Carlson, working with LCS Principal Justin Bennett, managed to put together a budget that is a one percent reduction from last year, in spite of all the growing costs. They did this by proposing the elimination of unfilled positions, including three ed techs and the school social worker, thus avoiding the need to lay off current employees.

When the reduction in state subsidy is factored in, this still means a taxpayer increase of just under 10 percent. It also means a budget with almost no wiggle room. Superintendent Carlson acknowledged that this is a tenuous place to be in. 

The school is also working to get the school audits completed for past years. While the superintendent’s office has all the required documents, it is a matter of getting the auditors to complete the work, a complex process which has left many schools across Maine in a similar situation, with not many firms available to complete this necessary task.

At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, the Budget Committee will meet to vote on its  recommendations for the school and municipal budgets which will be voted on by the town at the school town meeting, May 19; Election Day, June 9; and the annual Town Meeting, June 11. Be there, be part of small town democracy.

French Cemetery Clean Up

Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 3, for the annual French Cemetery Clean Up Day, from 1 to 4 p.m. Take gloves, rakes, wheelbarrows, and friends to help maintain this beautiful old resting spot overlooking Lincolnville Harbor, formally French Beach.

Our history exists among the stones, memorializing Lincolnville residents who came before, including Elenora French, that little girl from the Beach who is remembered with the cross on Maiden’s Cliff.

Library Happenings

Needleworkers will meet on Tuesday, April 21, from 3 to 5. All are welcome.

At 6:30 p.m on April 22 will be the Food Sovereignty meeting.

Thursday, April 23, will be Cribbage for Everyone at 3 p.m.

Mah-Jongg will be Friday at 12 p.m., all skill levels welcome.

Finally, on Saturday, April 25, at 10 a.m., the littlest Lincolnville residents and their parents are invited to meet children’s author/illustrator Kaitlyn Furge.

It is a cool and misty Spring morning here at Sleepy Hollow. The buds are not yet on the trees, but the flowers are starting to bloom, and the peepers serenade us each evening. Hoping it will still be a few weeks before the grass starts needing to be cut and the blackflies arrive.

It is school vacation week, so I offer sympathy to those with young children. These days for us, it just means we go about our business, while ensuring that lots of easily accessible food fills the pantry and fridge. Oh, and the 7 a.m. lacrosse practices. Dang it.

Be well, Lincolnville. Be present for yourself, be kind to your neighbor, even when you disagree with them. Always be aware that we are in this together. Reach out at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

Municipal Calendar

Monday, April 20

Patriot’s Day, Town Office closed

Tuesday, April 21

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

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

Wednesday, April 22

Library open 2-5

Thursday, April 23

Library open 2-5 p.m. 208 Main Street

AA Beginner’s Meeting, 7 p.m., Lincolnville Historical Society, 33 Beach Road

Board of Assessment review, 6 p.m., Town Office

Friday, April 24

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

Library open 9-2 p.m., 208 Main Street

Saturday, April 25

Library open 9-12, 208 Main Street

Sunday, April 26

United Christian Church, 9:30 a.m. Worship and Children’s Church, 18 Searsmont Road

Bayshore Baptist Church, 10 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages, 10:40 a.m. Coffee and Baked Goods, 11 a.m. worship, 2648 Atlantic Highway