Bethel Historical Society receives major bequest

BETHEL — The Bethel Historical Society’s dream of proper collections storage space, as well as a restored rear wing at its Robinson House, is to come true, thanks to the benevolence of one of its long-time members. Mary E. Valentine, a dedicated volunteer who passed away in 2012, has bequeathed $200,000 to the society, which was founded in 1966 and operates year-round from two National Register properties facing onto the Bethel Hill common.

The Valentine bequest – the largest gift from an individual ever received by the society – will go toward a 1,600-square-foot reconstruction of the rear (kitchen) ell of the society’s 1821 Robinson House.

“The new wing will do much to return the Robinson House to its 19th century appearance, while allowing for 21st century state-of-the-art museum design and technology inside,” said Randall Bennett, the organization’s executive director. “The new wing,” he continued, “will provide space to properly store our collections, provide an area for staff and volunteers to sort and catalog items, and a comfortable place for scholars, students and visitors to examine them.”

While the bequest will allow for substantial work on the wing, additional funds will need to be raised to complete it.

Although not a Bethel native, Mary Valentine was descended from several of the town’s earliest settlers, including Deacon James Grover, for whom the Grover Hill area is named. In addition, her grandfather, Charles Valentine, managed a large farm and popular summer boarding place at Northwest Bethel, and her father grew up in Bethel and graduated from Gould Academy.

Valentine was born and grew up in Pennsylvania, but visited her relatives in Bethel frequently. After earning a master’s degree in library science from Columbia University, she worked as assistant library director at the Thayer Public Library in Braintree, MA. Eventually, her parents moved back to Bethel, and when their health declined she also moved there to care for them.

Valentine began volunteering at the Bethel Historical Society as a tour guide in the 1970s and served on several committees. In recent years, her attention was drawn to the many connections between the early families of the Bethel area and the Mormon movement. Eventually, her research was published by the society as part of a series entitled “Western Maine Saints.”

Her articles and those written subsequently by others are now available on the organization’s website (www.bethelhistorical.org).

For more information, call 824-2908 or 800-824-2910 or visit www.bethelhistorical.org.