Events
Join us at the historic First Parish Meetinghouse, 7 Meetinghouse Road.
All events will take place at the First Parish Meetinghouse at 7 Meetinghouse Road in Biddeford, except the Saco River cruises. Admission is free, unless otherwise noted.
Any changes to the calendar will be made public on facebook and here.
Donations are very much appreciated to support the events and the work of Biddeford Historical Society, including preservation of our community's Meetinghouse-its oldest public building.
For more information, please send an email.
2025 Season Events
November 6 - Thursday - 7:00 pm: The Biddeford Historical Society will honor and celebrate our Veterans. Don Chretien will be our guest speaker.
Copies of Don's book, Hovering in Harm’s Way – A Marine Corps Pilot’s Journey to Vietnam and Back, will be available at the event for purchase at the suggested price of $20, all of it donated to Homes For Our Troops.
Visit our YouTube channel to view prior events.
Completed Events
June 4 – Wednesday - 7:00 pm: Board member Dan Lamontagne will present a lecture titled “A Brief History of Biddeford Schools.”
June 21 – Saturday - 10:00 am: Saco River Cruise - CANCELED.
June 27 – Friday - 10:00 am: Saco River Cruise. Click for more info.
July 9 – Wednesday - 10:00 am: Saco River Cruise. Click for more info.
July 9 – Wednesday - 7:00 pm: Biddeford High School Historical Essay Contest Winners will read their essays on local history at this annual event. Awards will be granted to the students.
July 18 – Friday - 10:00 am: Saco River Cruise. Click for more info.
August 7 – Thursday - 10:00 am: Saco River Cruise. Click for more info.
August 8 – Friday - 7:00 pm: Vivian Cunningham will present a lecture titled "King Cotton: Connections North and South Agriculture, Economics and Human Lives."
August 20 - Wednesday - 6:30 pm: THIS EVENT IS AT MCARTHUR LIBRARY. Richard Parsons will present a talk on his most recent book, Storm Warriors of the Maine Coast. Before there was the Coast Guard there was the United States Life Saving Service. From 1874 until 1915, the “Storm Warriors” of the Fletchers Neck Life Saving station and the residents of the Village of Biddeford Pool shared a common history. Local newspapers, station logbooks, official records from the National Archives along with papers and memories of involved families, are brought together in Dick's book to tell the tales of men at odds with the fury of nature.
August 21 – Thursday - 10:00 am: Saco River Cruise. Click for more info.
September 4 - Thursday - 7:00 pm: Diane Lefebvre will present Life at Hills Beach 1919 to 1945. In previous presentations, Diane presented on Hills Beach land ownership from 1629 to 1823 and life at Hills Beach from 1880 to 1918. Diane is a summer resident whose family has resided at Hills Beach since 1897.
October 3 - Friday - 7:00 pm: Highly accomplished professional musician, Katherine Rhoda will deliver a musical presentation incorporating historic events. See https://katherinerhoda.com/about/.
The movement to abolish slavery in the United States gave rise to a wealth of songs to support the cause. As with songs for women’s suffrage and those of other social movements, new lyrics were often set to familiar tunes. A number of songsters were created to share them. Some lyrics appeared in abolitionist periodicals, and sheet music was also published.
Maine folk musician Katherine Rhoda’s engagement with this music began with a gig at western Maine historical landmark Parsonsfield Seminary and her desire to highlight its role as a way station on the Underground Railroad. Her research into these songs continues. Though there is much more to learn, she’s eager to share what she’s found thus far, prioritizing Black voices first and pointing listeners to resources for learning more. https://katherinerhoda.com/offerings/abolitionist-songs/
