Maine State Building
37 Preservation Way Poland, Maine 04274
Hosted by Poland Spring Preservation Society
8:30-9:15 Registration
Event is $5 per person, which may be paid in advance online (preferred) or at the door.
Proceeds benefit Poland Spring Preservation Society and Maine Old Cemetery Association.
9:15-9:30 Welcome
Walter Guptil, MOCA President
Laura Brown - Director of Operations Poland Spring Preservation Society
9:30-10:30 Tour of Maine State Building
A visit to the Maine State Building begins with an overwhelming feeling of disbelief that a building of such design was built in the late 19th century! The Maine State Building was built for the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. At the end of the fair the Ricker family of Poland Spring bought the building, took it down piece by piece, put it on a 16-car freight train and brought it to Poland Spring! And here it stands 125 years later! Now a museum about the history of Poland Spring Resort, the Ricker Family, golf course, life after the Rickers, and the Nettie Ricker Art Gallery including artist Cyndi Robbins and the Robbins family 50+ years at Poland Spring Resort.
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-11:15 Arend Thibodeau
Author of Buried In Maine- A tour of Maine Cemeteries and the stories that accompany them. Arend will talk about his new book that explores Maine’s historic cemeteries, exploring eerie graves, legends, hauntings and infamous figures like Al Brady.
11:15-12:00 MOCA Business Meeting
All are welcome to attend to hear what is happening with MOCA.
12:00-1:00 Lunch
Lunch will be a boxed lunch provided by Poland Spring Resort to benefit PSPS - with a sandwich or wrap, fruit, chips, pasta salad, & brownie or cookie.
$15.00 Lunch reservation required by July 14. If you choose to buy lunch, reservations and payments can be made online with your registration(s).
1:00 Tour of Ricker Cemetery
John Ricker -- Descendant of Alvan Bolster Ricker
You'll learn about various members of the Ricker family including Poland Spring Water founder Hiram Ricker, World War I Distinguished Cross Recipient Jane Jeffery Ricker, and others. One mystery sure to surprise- How did a Confederate soldier end up buried in Poland Spring?
If inclement weather -- afternoon tour will be at the Poland Spring Bottling Museum
The original bottling facility and spring house is now the Poland Spring Bottling Museum. After a 3-year restoration project, which faithfully transformed into an informative museum open to the public. In 2021, new exhibits were introduced featuring, most notably, a locomotive and child sized bottling museum replica. The area also showcases water monitoring equipment, tells the story of a watershed, and offers an interactive stream grading game. Through scientific displays and vintage memorabilia, the museum offers a close up look at one of Maine’s oldest industries.
Parking for this event is located just beyond the Chapel on the right, a large parking lot is available.
