Maytown Historical Society - Maytown, PA 17550 (Lancaster County)

Question: Will there be a big party that brings our community together the way the parties in 1910, 1960, and 1985 did?
Answer: Only if enough people who live in Maytown today want it to happen, and are willing to work together to make it so.

How about you Neighbor? If so, Read on…..

Question: What would such a party look like?
Answer: We don't know. That's the job of the people who work on the many committees to determine. A possible celebration might include 3 or 4 days of parades, a picnic, concerts, a drama, a video, dances, souvenir sales, ecumenical church services with community choirs, a French and Indian war battle reenactment, open houses, archival displays, sports events, decorating contests, fireworks, etc… One possible idea that has surfaced in preliminary discussion is a performance of the play "Our Town" on the town square; another is the production of an "Our Town: Maytown" video.

Question: How can I help?
Answer: Join a planning committee

Question: What committees are there to choose from?
Answer: There are 9 committees: Finance, Program, Historical, Souvenir, Food, Decorations, Publicity, Hospitality, and Arrangements

Question: How do I learn more about what these committees are to do?
Answer: Just call Bob Lescallette, at 426-1643, or write him at PO Box 473, Maytown, PA 17550. (Or simply talk to him on the street! He's the Pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and lives at 8 West High Street.

Question: How much time do I have to think about this?
Answer: Not much! The deadline for filling all the committees is the end of April, 2008. On May 1, 2008, the chairmen of the 9 committees will meet as an Executive Board for the first time to see if there is enough interest to go ahead with the event

Question: How do I volunteer?
Answer: Tell Bob Lescallette of your commitment and committee choice. He will then notify others that have indicated a willingness to serve on the same committee, and the committee will meet for the first time in late April, to elect a chairman and secretary

Question: Who may volunteer?
Answer: Any adult or youth with the interest to serve, be they a resident of Maytown, East Donegal Township, or anywhere!

Question: If the Executive Board determines that there is enough support to go ahead with the celebration in 2010, what's next?
Answer: Committees will begin to do preliminary work, with plans finalized at least in broad detail, by May 1, 2009. That leaves a year to work on details and carry out plans.

Question: Why begin so early?
Answer: Two years is NOT a lot of time to prepare a major event such as is envisioned. Funds need to be raised; material needs to be ordered; celebrities and groups need to put the event on their busy schedules; legal issues have to be dealt with; souvenirs have to be designed and ordered; etc….. There's plenty to do!

Thanks for reading this, Neighbor!

Now, all you have to do is pick up the phone and volunteer to lend a hand

We're hoping you do so…and speak up soon, so that we can all celebrate the special town that we call "HOME", Maytown U.S.A.

In case you haven't looked at the calendar much, and haven't done the arithmetic, we are fast approaching the centennial of Maytown's biggest party, 1910's Old Home Week, the celebration of our village's founding in 1760.

In 1910, nearly EVERYONE in town (all 800 of us) played a part in organizing, carrying out, and attending the party---as if it were their own---because it was!!! Wouldn't that be great (and a real challenge) to us, the Maytown of 2010, to be similarly involved---and to defy the common wisdom that people today don't care about community anymore---

What do you think?

Towards the end of 2007, or start of 2008, some of us, at the MHS, will try and get the "ball" rolling, by approaching many other groups and individuals in Maytown, to see if they are interested in helping to make the big "family reunion" possible. Concrete plans can, of course, not be finalized until a steering committee is in place to represent the wide variety of persons and groups that make up our town. (Of course, you can express your own support and willingess to help, dear reader, at any time.)

... more 2010 info here ...

In 1985, a group of citizens banded together to form the Maytown Historical Society. The immediate motivation for establishing the society was the celebration of the 225th anniversary of the town's founding.

With that accomplished in fine style, the society began a more routine, but ultimately more important life of collecting local artifacts, amassing, sharing, and recording historical data.

The society hosts a wide variety of events and fund raisers including the annual "Mayfest" celebrations, as well as monthly programs to raise the historical consciousness of our local population.

In 2002 the Society took a bold and significant step: we saw the realization of a 17-year dream, by purchasing a site for our museum. This log structure may be the oldest structure in the village, likely dating from 1760.

The purpose of the Maytown Historical Society is to develop and maintain a continuing, written history of Maytown and East Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

To seek, acquire/loan and preserve all documents, artifacts and other mementos which exemplify lifestyles and or events of historical significance.

To research, classify and document pertinent information on buildings and to promote the preservation, restoration and registry of such buildings.

To determine the role of Maytown and East Donegal Township in world, national, regional and adjoining area history.

To present programs and events which will be informational, educational and interesting to the members and general public.

To advocate for government policies, ordinances and laws that preserve our historic buildings, farmland and community character.