The Future Living History Center
Society expansion:
Our Little Village Continues to Grow
The October House facing Gray Road/Route 202
In November 2010, the Society formed a separate corporation called October House LLC and with the generous help of members and friends providing the down payment, purchased one of the historic homes in Windham Center. The property was owned by the Reeves family for many years. It includes the house, a barn, a workshop, and a shed plus two acres of fields, all abutting the Historical Society grounds.
The rear of the October House property
In the ten years since then, the Society has
watched with pride as our dream of a living history center has begun to come true.
In 2012, the South Windham Library was moved from its location of close to 100 years on the Windham/Gorham town line to the Village Green. Today, it is on its permanent foundation and ready for renovations.
What was once Reeve’s Gun Shop is now The Village School, a genuine replica of a schoolhouse of the late 1890s. Living history classes for students in grades 3 and 5 have been very popular with local students who enjoy dressing up and experiencing a slice of life at the end of the 19th century.
In 2018 with the help of Society members and friends of the Society, a blacksmith shop was erected on the Green. This building is a work in progress that will open to the public on occasion until all renovations are complete.
A gazebo was added to the Green in 2019. It is hoped the Society will host concerts here or possibly, a bride and groom or two might choose to tie the knot in this charming setting.
In 2020, a major fundraising effort was undertaken to provide funds to remove the iconic Old Grocery store from the corner of Windham Center Road and Route 202 to the Green. The Society raised $41,000 in the effort and the building was transported to its permanent new location on October 30, 2020. Much cleanup and many renovations must be made before we can open its doors to the public, but it is wonderful to see it on our Village Green.
View of the Green
We’ve made huge strides in the past ten years and we hope to make many more in the future. A barn is a project for coming years and improvements to the Old Town House Museum and Windham Circulating Library are also in the plans.
To be part of the Village Green project, you may contribute cash or stock. All donations to the Windham Historical Society are tax deductible. For more information, contact the Society at 892-1433.
(The “October House” continues to be rented to cover its mortgage and maintenance costs.)
Aerial/Drone Photos of the Village Green
~ Fall 2021 ~
How You Can help
To be part of the wonderful Village Green project and help bring Windham’s history to life, you can contact the Windham Historical Society at 892-1433 or write to us at Windham Historical Society, PO Box 1475, Windham ME 04062. We can also be contacted by email at: info@windhamhistorical.org
SEptember 25, 2020
The Windham Historical Society made a little history of their own on Friday, September 25, 2020 when they moved the Old Grocery at the corner of Route 202 and Windham Center Road across the street to the Society’s Village Green.
The Old Grocery was placed on its permanent foundation on October 30, 2020. It is a welcome new addition to the Society's Village Green where it will become a living history museum that will replicate a grocery of the late 19th century..