The Limerick Historical Society, Inc., is organized for educational purposes; to collect information and artifacts relating to the history of Limerick, Maine and surrounding areas, and to provide guidance to the town regarding the preservation and restoration of its historic buildings.
The Limerick, Maine historical society was founded in 1981 and was reorganized as a non-profit corporation in 1998. Its collections are kept in the town-owned Moore Building, the law office of Luther Moore during the late 1800’s, and the society-owned Limerick Academy which served as a school from 1881 to 1925. Both are on Main Street.
An annual open house is held at the Limerick Academy, often featuring special exhibits. This building is undergoing restoration, and is an important focus of the society’s activities.
The Moore building contains information on area cemeteries, genealogical materials, and other records of town history. The two buildings are open by chance or by special appointment. Stop in when you see the flag.
Our NEWSLETTER is available as a pdf. Please click here.
The society is all-volunteer. Volunteers are needed and welcome. Please consider joining a committee, or help with one of our events. And, be sure to visit our table at elections, attend our events, and renew your membership.
A generalized listing of items in the Society’s collection is yet to be compiled. We have scrapbooks, binders of photos sorted into categories, store ledgers, town reports, and many other items. The society does not offer regular hours; the buildings are open when the flag is out, or by appointment. The Limerick Public Library keeps some items that can be accessed when the library is open.
Available at the Limerick library:
Here are some highlights of the information available at the library. For contact info and hours go to: http://limerickme.org/library.html To search the catalog online, go to the library site and enter Limerick in the search field.
Annual Report of the Town Officers of the Town of Limerick, 1909, 1910, 1929, 1937, 1938, 1948, and up to the present. This collection is incomplete.
The high school yearbook, The Sokokis, from 1936 to 1969, incomplete collection.
The Fire of 1947, a video on VHS.
An uncatalogued item, Souvenir of Limerick, Maine 1912, published by The Maine Map & Register Co., Brunswick, Maine gives some history with maps, of Limerick up to 1912.
Cemetery Listings: Many small cemeteries are documented and this listing is available at the library. An Eagle Scout undertook a comprehensive search throughout Limerick to seek out a more complete list of cemeteries, some of which are not in the list at the library. The finished document, accompanied by a map, was placed into the hands of the American Legion, and the original was lost to a computer crash. The Legion has retained what may be the only copy of this work.
As listed on the American Legion Dept. of Maine Posts: White-Tibbetts Post 55, P.O. Box 67 Limerick ME.
An interesting book of early lore that includes Limerick (the word, “Almuchicoitt” is Penobscot) (not available for check out):
Almuchicoitt: Land of the Little Dog, by William Teg, published in 1950
Vital Records of Limerick, Maine: “Reproduced by Ancient Landmarks Society of Parsonsfield 1988” This manuscript is said to have been “rescued from the town dump after 100 years,” and includes records dating back to 1779.
1790 Census of Maine. Entries for Limerick are listed under York county.
The public is invited to join us for all programs and events. All free of charge except for the Penny Auction fundraiser.
Photo Collection Identification
April 2019 (Actual date, time and location TBD). Join us to look through photos and help identify houses, people and places. Look for specifics on our Facebook page and in local newspapers.
Annual Penny & Silent Auction
Sat., May 25, 2019, 2 pm at Limerick Brick Town House. Doors open 2-6 pm. Purchase tickets and place bids on a large array of items including special children’s section for up to age 12. At 6 pm winning tickets will be drawn. You or your representative must be present for the drawing. Water, soda, sandwiches, snacks available for sale!
Funeral and Burial Customs in New England
Thurs., June 20, 2019, 7 pm at Limerick Brick Town House. Presented by Cara Kent. Learn about lost ways of funerary and burial traditions and the changes that have become our modern ways of burying the dead. You will be amazed at how customs have changed and evolved! Light refreshments.
Open House at the Academy
Sat., June 22, 2019, 9 am - noon at the Limerick Academy Building. Tour this school built in 1880, see the former Odd Fellows room upstairs, ring the bell that was purchased by students of the Limerick Academy. See some of the Historical Society's collections, learn about buildings forming the Limerick Historical District on the National Register of Historic Places. Check the Tree of Limerick families. Your name may be on a leaf!
Maine Old Cemetery Association Meeting
The public is cordially invited. Sat., July 13, 2019, 8:30 am - 1 pm at Limerick Brick Town House. Presentations by Shirley Keller, Cara Kent. We are hosting MOCA this year. Enjoy a light breakfast and learn about MOCA, Limerick history and cemeteries, take an afternoon self-guided tour of old Limerick cemeteries. Tour the Limerick Congregational Church on Main Street where lunch is available for purchase from the Women's Fellowship. Check our Facebook page and local newspapers for more details! Download the Brochure.
Nostalgic Movie Night
Thurs., August 15, 2019, 7 pm at Limerick Brick Town House. Return to yesteryear! Old receipts show that the Limerick Improvement Club of the 1920's showed movies weekly at the brick Town House. Watch Charlie Chaplin entertain and see a soap opera genre movie 1920 style. Plenty of popcorn available.
Academy Work Week
Mon., Sept. 16 - Sat., Sept 21, 2019 (Time each day: TBD) at the Limerick Academy Building. Donate a few hours any day during this week to help us clean, organize, go through Odd Fellows regalia, help with various projects. Please check our Facebook page and local newspapers for times, duties, etc. Bring cleaning supplies, water for washing and/or drinking!
Academia, Abolition, Women Authors, and a 20th Century Murder
Thurs., October 17, 2019, 7 pm at Limerick Brick Town House. Presented by Cara Kent. Tonight you will hear about a murder and other surprising little-known events. Learn about people who were connected to the village of Limerick and went on to change the lives of people around the world. Light refreshments.
Potluck Supper & Annual Meeting
Sun., November 10, 2019, 5-7 pm at Limerick Brick Town House. Bring a dish to share; beverages will be provided. Brief annual reports will be read and election of officers and directors for the upcoming year will be held. The event closes with a play reading selected from "The Limerick Slice of Life Series" written by our own Eleanor Watson.
We are providing these links for your interest and for research purposes.
National Register of Historic Places, FAQs
Limerick nomination papers for historical district
Maine Historical Societies
Maine Archives and Museums Organization
maineanencyclopedia.com
Resources available on the casinos in the United States of America
Wikipedia Entries
National Register of Historic Places, York County
Limerick Upper Village Historic District
Organizations Active in Limerick
The Research Club.
on facebook as GFWC Research Club of Limerick
Limerick-Newfield Lions Club
Masonic Lodge
on facebook as Freedom #42 Masonic Lodge Limerick Maine
American Legion
White-Tibbetts Post 55, P.O. Box 67 Limerick ME
