Readfield Historical Society

Readfield Historical Society Readfield Historical Society exists to preserve the rich heritage of Readfield, Maine and its people. RHS is housed in what was an old schoolhouse.

Built in 1853, this two-story building accommodated a schoolroom on the first floor and a chapel upstairs. When the chapel moved to a building of its own, the older classes were moved upstairs, thus making a two-room schoolhouse. RHS has a small Library/Archives containing genealogical information, ledgers from Readfield businesses from the 1800's and early 1900's, Town Reports for Readfield, old

letters and photographs, town records from the early 1800's-1900's, church records from 1800's, as well as an assortment of Town Reports from surrounding communities. The bulk of RHS exhibits is located on the second floor, which is handicapped accessible, with a stair- chair lift and a wheelchair and walker available at the second floor landing. We have a Farm section, a Home and Family Life section, a transportation area, a section on Churches and Civic Organizations and a Grange corner. As we receive more items, exhibits change, so we are constantly improving. The center of our exhibit floor is taken up with flat exhibits hung on dividers and display cases filled with small items and documents.

Progress at the Readfield Union Meeting House is being made as the new/replacement spire is constructed and prepared for...
06/01/2026

Progress at the Readfield Union Meeting House is being made as the new/replacement spire is constructed and prepared for installation.

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT READFIELD RADIO 94.5FM is now streaming live and can be heard anywhere the internet is a...
05/31/2026

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT READFIELD RADIO 94.5FM is now streaming live and can be heard anywhere the internet is available. The Readfield History Hour airs tonight at 7:00 pm,

Digital Streaming - Listen LIVE!

Thank you to antique car enthusiast, Bill Adams for bringing this to our attention! This Skene is one of only a very few...
05/30/2026

Thank you to antique car enthusiast, Bill Adams for bringing this to our attention! This Skene is one of only a very few Maine built automobiles known to exist. It was originally owned by an American (?Readfield) soldier who fought in WWI in 1917 in Europe and was killed. The car was then locked up in a barn in READFIELD, Maine, and rested there for 53 years until 1973 when Leslie Maynard Leighton, a noted Maine steam car collector, was able to purchase it for an English friend who arranged for the Skene to go to a Mr. Reg Parsons, in England, for restoration. The four Readfield soldiers who were killed in WWI were Ronald W. Newton (Kents Hill Cemetery) and Edwin Abbott, Ralph Gorden and Oramel Huntoon (Readfield Corner Cemetery). If anyone is aware of what barn this auto was salvaged from in 1973 PLEASE let us know!

Mr. Parsons subsequently purchased the car and eventually sold it to a Mr. Hugh Mothersole. Under both Mr. Parsons and Mr. Mothershole, the car participated in several British steam car meets, including London to Brighton Runs, the longest-running motoring event in the world. The Skene was acquired by the Richard C. Paine Jr., Automobile Charitable Trust in 2010, and after undergoing complete restoration by M.S. Harmon & Company of Georgetown, CT., was placed on display in the Seal Cove Auto Museum on May 19, 2014.The 1900 Skene was a rare, Maine-built steam automobile. Produced from 1900 to 1901 by the Skene American Automobile Company in Lewiston, Maine, the twin-cylinder, 5-horsepower vehicle featured tiller steering and a single-chain drive. Only a handful of these historical cars are known to exist. Today there is a Seal Cove Auto Museum cars and coffee cruise on Mount Desert Island.

This week, as we continue to honor Memorial Day (remember the traditional was always May 31st?) the "Readfield History H...
05/30/2026

This week, as we continue to honor Memorial Day (remember the traditional was always May 31st?) the "Readfield History Hour" episode will be a repeat of episode #10, "The Hessian" about the Revolutionary War era. Readfield Radio is now live streaming so can be heard anywhere internet is available. https://sites.google.com/readfieldmaine.gov/readfield-radio/digital-streaming This episode will give some perspective from "the other side" of the war. The "Readfield History Hour" on Readfield Radio can be heard at 94.5 FM . on Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and next Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Random re-runs air at 4:00 p.m. on Monday-Wednesday-Friday which are always the same of one of the previous episodes from any given week and always a surprise

Hessian soldiers disembarking British ships in New York. )Au generated photo)

RHS members, your issue of the spring-summer 2026 newsletter will be arriving in your USPS boxes soon. If you are not a ...
05/28/2026

RHS members, your issue of the spring-summer 2026 newsletter will be arriving in your USPS boxes soon. If you are not a member and would like to receive our newsletters and annual reports via the US Mail, the membership form is attached. Page 1, which includes the table of contents for this issue is also attached.

Thank you to our fallen soldiers and to those who have or continue to serve. Thank you also to the families who support(...
05/25/2026

Thank you to our fallen soldiers and to those who have or continue to serve. Thank you also to the families who support(ed) them and also have made sacrifices!

In honor of Memorial Day this week's "Readfield History Hour" episode will be a repeat of episode #11, "The Morrill bro...
05/23/2026

In honor of Memorial Day this week's "Readfield History Hour" episode will be a repeat of episode #11, "The Morrill brothers and the Civil War impact on Readfield." The "Readfield History Hour" on Readfield Radio can be heard at 94.5 FM . on Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and next Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Random re-runs air at 4:00 p.m. on Monday-Wednesday-Friday which are always the same of one of the previous episodes from any given week and always a surprise The attached photos are of Readfield Civil War Veterans taken in Readfield Corner Cemetery in 1921.

You host has been under the weather the past few days so the "Readfield History Hour" episode this week will be a repeat...
05/16/2026

You host has been under the weather the past few days so the "Readfield History Hour" episode this week will be a repeat of episode #2, Early travel in and through Readfield. The "Readfield History Hour" on Readfield Radio can be heard at 94.5 FM . on Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and next Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Random re-runs air at 4:00 p.m. on Monday-Wednesday-Friday which are always the same of one of the previous episodes from any given week and always a surprise

Thank you to Jeanne Loughran Harris, Dale Potter Clark and Bob Harris for putting together a special 1770s Revolutionary...
05/13/2026

Thank you to Jeanne Loughran Harris, Dale Potter Clark and Bob Harris for putting together a special 1770s Revolutionary War era program for the RES 4th graders yesterday. More photos will be coming...

Address

759 Main Street
Readfield, ME
04355

Telephone

(207) 377-2299

Website

http://readfieldmaine.blogspot.com/, https://readfield1791.blogspot.com/

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