Pejepscot Historical Society
A Maine historical society and museum organization preserving and interpreting the history of the Pejepscot region.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Pejepscot Historical Society, now also known as the Pejepscot History Center, is a regional historical organization based in Brunswick, Maine. Its work focuses on preserving, studying, and presenting the history of the Pejepscot region, particularly the communities of Brunswick, Harpswell, and Topsham. The society is recognized as the fourth-oldest historical society in Maine and has operated for more than a century as a custodian of local artifacts, buildings, documents, and community memory. The organization began during a period when Brunswick was experiencing significant industrial growth and approaching its sesquicentennial. Sixteen local residents first met on January 10, 1888, in the Brunswick Selectmen’s Room in the Odd Fellows building. They adopted bylaws, selected officers, established regular meetings, and set annual dues at one dollar. The group initially used the general name Local Historical Society and immediately began planning Brunswick’s 150th-anniversary observance, held on June 13, 1889. By 1889, its holdings had grown to approximately 500 artifacts. In December 1891, the organization was incorporated under the regional name Pejepscot Historical Society, reflecting an intention to document more than Brunswick alone. The society’s first permanent home was an 1827 First Congregational Church building on School Street in Brunswick, later called Varney Lecture Hall. Charter member John Furbish purchased the property in 1891 for the society, which then raised funds for the acquisition and repairs. The first objects were moved into the building in May 1893. Although the organization later experienced a prolonged period of inactivity, including a span from 1908 to 1922 during which only one meeting was held, it was reorganized in 1923. A lecture program featuring prominent speakers helped restore public engagement, and the society contributed to Brunswick’s bicentennial activities in 1939. As the collection expanded, the organization sought more suitable facilities. Problems with Varney Lecture Hall led to a search for larger and heated premises beginning in 1955. In 1974, the society acquired the McManus-Richardson House, a substantial Italianate brick building at 11 Lincoln Street, and began moving a collection that had grown to more than 1,500 artifacts. The organization’s museum program expanded substantially in the early 1980s. In March 1982, Alice Skolfield Whittier donated her half of a Park Row duplex and its contents. The Skolfield-Whittier House became a preserved domestic interior and a time capsule of Victorian life. The society subsequently acquired the adjoining property, sold the Lincoln Street building, and established its headquarters near the new house museum. Also in 1982, the society acquired the former home of Civil War officer and Maine governor Joshua L. Chamberlain after it was offered at auction following the death of its owner. The organization undertook extensive restoration, and the Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum opened to the public in July 1984. Together with its collections, archives, educational programming, lectures, and historic properties, the society functions as a local museum and heritage institution rather than a commercial product brand. Its public identity is built around stewardship, historical interpretation, preservation, and community access.
History
Pejepscot Historical Society was established in Brunswick, Maine, in 1888 by sixteen local citizens concerned that rapid industrialization and social change would cause local traditions and material history to disappear. The founding meeting took place on January 10, 1888, in the Brunswick Selectmen’s Room in the Odd Fellows building. The members created bylaws, elected officers, scheduled meetings, and established annual dues of one dollar. Their first major undertaking was planning Brunswick’s 150th-anniversary celebration, which took place on June 13, 1889. The organization initially operated under the name Local Historical Society. Its holdings increased quickly, reaching approximately 500 artifacts by 1889. In December 1891, the organization was legally incorporated as Pejepscot Historical Society, a name that connected its mission to the wider regional history of Brunswick, Harpswell, and Topsham. That same year, charter member John Furbish purchased an 1827 First Congregational Church building on School Street for the society. The organization raised funds to cover the $1,000 purchase price and an additional $500 in repairs. By the end of 1892, the society had its first permanent home, and the initial artifacts were transferred there on May 3, 1893. The building later became known as Varney Lecture Hall. The society’s activity declined sharply in the early twentieth century. Between 1908 and 1922, only one meeting was held, partly because many of the founding members and early participants had died. A reorganization meeting in May 1923 restarted the institution. Public lectures, including appearances by prominent speakers, helped rebuild interest and membership. The society also participated in Brunswick’s bicentennial observance in 1939. By the middle of the twentieth century, Varney Lecture Hall no longer met the society’s needs. In 1955, the organization began looking for a larger, heated facility. The search eventually led to the purchase in 1974 of the McManus-Richardson House at 11 Lincoln Street, a large Italianate brick building. The society transferred its growing collections there; by that point, the holdings included more than 1,500 artifacts. A major institutional transformation occurred in 1982. Alice Skolfield Whittier offered the society her half of a Park Row duplex together with its contents. The property, later known as the Skolfield-Whittier House, preserved a Victorian domestic environment and became one of the society’s principal museum properties. The owners of the adjoining building subsequently sold that property to the society, enabling it to create a headquarters and museum presence near the house. To help finance the acquisition, the society sold the McManus-Richardson House and relocated its operations to Park Row. The society expanded its museum program again in 1982 when it acquired the former home of Joshua L. Chamberlain after the property was sold at auction following the death of its owner. Local residents encouraged the society to take responsibility for the building. Following extensive restoration, the Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum opened to visitors in July 1984. The site commemorates Chamberlain’s public and military career while also presenting the domestic and civic history associated with the house. The organization’s modern identity combines the functions of historical society, museum, archive, preservation steward, and public educational institution. Under the Pejepscot History Center name, it continues to interpret the history of the Pejepscot region through historic buildings, collections, exhibitions, lectures, research resources, and community programming. Publicly available reference material does not provide a complete account of later leadership, budgets, collection totals, or current operational details.
- 1984
Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum opened
[1]After restoration, the Chamberlain house opened to the public in July as a museum operated by the society.
- 1982
Skolfield-Whittier House and Chamberlain property acquired
[1]The society received the Skolfield-Whittier House and its contents, acquired adjoining property for a headquarters, and purchased the former Joshua L. Chamberlain home.
- 1974
McManus-Richardson House acquired
[1]The society purchased the Italianate brick McManus-Richardson House at 11 Lincoln Street and moved its growing collection there.
- 1923
Reorganization after prolonged inactivity
[1]A May meeting revived the society after a largely inactive period from 1908 to 1922, with lectures helping to restore public participation.
- 1893
Collection moved to Varney Lecture Hall
[1]The society moved its first artifacts into the School Street building on May 3.
- 1891
Regional incorporation and first building acquired
[1]The organization adopted the Pejepscot Historical Society name when incorporated and secured the former First Congregational Church building on School Street for use as its first home.
- 1889
Early collection and Brunswick anniversary planning
[1]The society had assembled approximately 500 artifacts and organized Brunswick’s 150th-anniversary celebration.
- 1888
Society founded
[1]Sixteen local citizens met in Brunswick on January 10 and organized a historical society to preserve the region’s rapidly changing traditions and history.
Products and positioning
A community-based historical society and museum center dedicated to preserving and interpreting the shared history of Brunswick, Harpswell, and Topsham, Maine.
Historic house museum · 1982
Skolfield-Whittier House
A preserved Park Row duplex associated with Alice Skolfield Whittier and presented as a time capsule of Victorian life. The property and its contents entered the society’s care in 1982 and became one of its principal museum resources.
Historic house museum · 1984
Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum
The former home of Civil War hero Joshua L. Chamberlain, acquired by the society in 1982 after a local effort to preserve the property. Following restoration, it opened to the public in July 1984 and became a major site for interpreting Chamberlain and regional history.
Museum collection and archives · 1888
Pejepscot regional history collections
The society’s collections document the history of Brunswick, Harpswell, Topsham, and the surrounding Pejepscot region through artifacts and related historical materials. The collection had reached approximately 500 artifacts by 1889 and more than 1,500 artifacts by the time the society moved into the McManus-Richardson House in 1974.
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