Experience Western Maine Scenic  -   Historic  -  Rich in Culture      Enjoy a taste of western Maine folklore Thanks to and for their support of audio downloads. Audio taken from Oxford Hills Oral History Project conducted by Peter Lenz and folklore interviews conducted by Jo Radner
	What is Folklore? Folklore is a name for the traditional ways members of a group express their shared way of life. The World's Fair of North Waterford dates back to 1850. This annual event may be the world's smallest world's fair. Visit this site for Maine's Fairs and Festivals Isabelle Rolfe, North Waterford, recalls the early years of North Waterford World's Fair Read an essay about North Waterford's World Fair by folklorist Jo Radner
	What is Folklore? Planning and planting a garden, telling a story, decorating a house for a holiday, putting on a Church supper or a hunter's breakfast, are all examples of folk expression. Millie Gilbert's Bake Sale table Denmark Harvest Festival, 2002. Visit this site for a compendious collection of Maine recipes Beanmaster, Larry Farmer, Norway, talks about the creation of a Bean Hole Bean Festival Olga (Miikonen) Gallatly, West Paris, remembers walking a mile and a half to a music lesson
	What are Folk Arts? Folk arts are usually learned informally from family, friends, neighbors or co-workers rather than through formal education. Isabelle Rolfe and her handwork at the World's Fair of North Waterford, 2002. Visit this site for information about cultural arts for teachers and students Vieno (Havernin) Falk, Otisfield, shares early memories of a Finnish Christmas in Maine Miriam Monroe, Harrison & Waterford, remembers hanging May Baskets in early 20th Century Maine Doris Thurston, North Norway, remembers staging Plays in the Shed Chamber
	What is Folk Expression? Folk expression carries people's sense of beauty, identity and values. Angie Farnum, Princess Mollyockett Molly Ockett Day, Bethel, 2002. Visit the Maine Folklife Center Olga (Miikonen) Gallatly, West Paris, remembers growing up Finnish in early 20th Century Maine Olga (Miikonen) Gallatly, West Paris, tells the story of the first Finn in Oxford County, Maine Miriam Monroe, Harrison & Waterford, shares memories of her Grandfather, the Abolitionist who fought slavery Doris Thurston, North Norway, recalls how neighbors helped neighbors in rural Maine
	What is Folk Expression? Folk expression is the voice of a community's shared cultural traditions. Lady Liberty, Mollyockett Day, Bethel, 2002. Ruth Greenleaf, North Norway, remembers celebrating a community Christmas in early 20th Century Maine Miriam Monroe, Harrison & Waterford, shares memories of children's games in early 20th Century rural Maine Doris Thurston, North Norway, recalls strong community values in early 20th Century rural Maine Tina (Cumalininen) Kellerher, South Paris, shares memories of the first plane and the first phone in early 20th Century rural Maine
	Sharing Cultural Traditions If a community shares its cultural traditions, they can be pased along from person to person, even from generation to generation, linking present and past, newcomers and old timers. Lovell Old Home Days parade, 2002. Visit the Maine Memory Network Miriam Monroe, Harrison & Waterford, recalls her ancestors who came to America on the Mayflower Tina (Cumalininen) Kellerher, South Paris, remembers 'sociables'; social gatherings in early 20th Century rural Maine
	Sharing Cultural Expression Sharing cultural expression can be a means of sheer enjoyment. Andover Old Home Days, 2002 8 -11 year old boys about to engage in a pie eating contest... Learn about the Annual Waterford Fall Foliage Race Minnie (Coumont) Stone, South Paris, remembers making holidays special for children Doris Thurston, North Norway, remembers courting and Courting Cake Tina (Cumalininen) Kellerher, South Paris, remembers a 10 mile adventure to visit her cousins
	Sharing Cultural Expression ...and fully engaged. Miriam Monroe, Harrison & Waterford, remembers the mischief of children Doris Thurston, North Norway, recalls feeling rich without having much money Read an essay about the Joe Holden Picnic by folklorist Jo Radner
	How do we study the folk life of a community? A community can be defined in many ways; by geography, occupation, age or any number of shared characteristics. Lovell-Fryeburg VFW Hall, set up for a group supper. Visit this site to learn about the Veterans History Project Richard Box, Norway and South Paris, shares a memory of celebrating Christmas overseas during World War II Miriam Monroe, Harrison & Waterford, remembers her father; a country doctor in early 20th century rural Maine Miriam Monroe, Harrison & Waterford, remembers her mother; a country doctor's wife in early 20th century rural Maine
	Why do we study Folklore? Folklore presents a direct window into the life of a community. Trainer Lydia Boutot's first fair with her steers, Ben and Jerry. World's Fair of North Waterford, 2002. Visit this site to learn about Folk Life and Field Work Miriam Monroe, Harrison & Waterford, remembers 'Bum Weavers' Miriam Monroe, Harrison & Waterford, remembers how her father treated a lumberjack with a toothache Miriam Monroe, Harrison & Waterford, remembers how her father changed the law through the force of moral conviction
	Why do we study Folklore? Because it is the living expression of a group, folklore changes over time to adapt to changing conditions. Public Supper, Andover Old Home Days, 2002. Roberta Chandler, Lovell, shares her earliest memories of public suppers and how they developed Read an essay about the tradition of community suppers by folklorist Jo Radner
	Why do we study Folklore? When we study the folk expression of a group, we can see that community in the act of maintaining its own identity. Claire Walker and Betty Baker prepare food for a Lovell Supper. Tina (Cumalininen) Kellerher, South Paris, remembers how they created a meeting without a telephone Vieno (Havernin) Falk, Otisfield, shares memories of enjoying a Finnish Sauna Read an overview of annual community events in Western Oxford County by folklorist Jo Radner
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