UPDATED LINKS August at Woodlawn

August 2025 e-Newsletter

A Message from the Co-Directors

We hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer. It is hard to believe we are half-way through another summer season here at Woodlawn! Check out our website to find an activity you would enjoy and join us!

The second croquet tournament of the summer will kick off on August 6. Come watch the experts play. You might love it and want to schedule a lesson or join the Woodlawn Croquet program.

Behind the scenes our summer intern is uncovering new connections between the Black family and the people from the community who worked for them. Her discoveries will guide some new museum interpretation coming in 2026.

Please take a minute to fill out the survey included in this newsletter. Your thoughts will help us create new and exciting Woodlawn experiences for you and your family.

Finally, show your support for Woodlawn by wearing our new t-shirt available in our gift shop!

We look forward to seeing you at Woodlawn!

Roz and Andy

From the Collection

Spot the Changes Inside Woodlawn

By Roz Rea, Trustee

As a child, I loved “spot the changes” pictures published in activity magazines as diverse as Highlights for Children and MAD magazine. I learned the importance of noticing details. Leafing through scores of historic photographs and post cards taken of Woodlawn’s interior reminds me of those exercises in observation.

Since it is summer, and you are probably very busy with gardening, hiking, entertaining, and summer reading, I thought it might be fun this month to share a couple of photo comparisons and let you ponder the differences. If you like these old views I would be happy to share more in future newsletters.

John Black's Office

The Library

We would like to hear from you!

We are looking for feedback on future programs and events. If you have a chance please fill out the short survey so we can know your thoughts.

Survey Link

Summer at Woodlawn

Upcoming Events

History Lecture Series

Recording History, One House at a Time

August 4th at 6PM

Recording History, One House at a Time is our History Lecture for August presented by Walter Smalling.

Walter Smalling is a photographer who, during a 50 year career, was the photographer for the National Park Service and has had his photography published in 26 books.

Walter will talk about his travels and his most recent book “At First Light”, the story of Maine artists and where they lived and worked.

RSVP for the August Lecture

Historic Apples of Downeast: The French Connection

September 29 at 6PM

In this talk historian Todd Little-Siebold will discuss the recent discovery through DNA testing that almost all early American apples have French ancestors. As researchers have researched the family tree of early American apples, again and again these French progenitors appear as parents or grandparents of some of the most famous fruit from North America.

The talk will explore this fascinating history by examining if this region, known by its French name Acadie until 1760s, is part of this story. We will discuss the recent discovery of a rare French apple on Verona Island to think through the parts of this mysterious puzzle.

RSVP for the September Lecture

Woodlawn's History Lecture Series is sponsored by:

Legacy Properties of Sotheby's International Realty.

Purchase Tickets for the Book Discussion and Tour

Local author Laura Freudig will read her book HALFWAY WILD as we walk along the story trail. We will then create a craft based on the book. This event is FREE, but please RSVP.

HAlfWAY WILD will be for sale for $15 cash or check only.

RSVP for Story Walk with Laura Freudig

Drop off stuffed animals: Friday, August 15th from 10-2PM.

Pick up your stuffed animal: see photos of their adventures and have some treats on Saturday, August 16th at 10AM.

Stuffed animals 12" tall or less are invited to spend the night at Woodlawn on Friday.

Then we will get together on Saturday morning and learn about the adventures that they had over night.

Space is limited to 20 participants.

RSVP for the Stuffed Animal Sleepover

Woodlawn's newsletter is created by

Kelly Lunt, Education and Community Engagement Director.

If you have any questions about the newsletter please email: kelly.lunt@woodlawnellsworth.org

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where history connects people to place

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Woodlawn

P.O. Box 1478

Ellsworth, Maine 04605

(207) 667-8671

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