Buxton’s 250th birthday bash good to go

Dorcas Society is providing giraffes and other stuffed animals as door prizes for kids in the Brewster Barn during Buxton’s 250th birthday party. Volunteers pictured are, from left, Sharon House, Bette Robicheaw, and Beverly Atkinson. Robert Lowell / American Journal

Buxton is going all out next week for its 250th birthday party and everyone is invited.

Buxton history

Before Maine was a state, Buxton was a land grant from the Massachusetts General Court promised to soldiers, or their heirs, for fighting against Native Americans in Southern New England in the so-called King Philip’s War in 1675. The grants date back to 1733 and Buxton was known as Narragansett Number One with land granted to 120 individuals. But most never came, Brent Hill, past president of Buxton-Hollis Historical Society, said this week.

Between 1739 and 1742, 40 to 50 settlers had arrived in what was to become Buxton, Hill said, but settlement was abandoned during the French and Indian War.

Capt. Joseph Woodman and his wife, Mary, were among, if not the first, to return permanently in 1750, according to Hill.

Buxton was incorporated as a town on July 14, 1772.

The three-day party features the Mallett Brothers Band, “the town’s largest parade ever,” a history documentary, car show, lots of food, a lawn sale, children’s activities and fireworks.

Roxanne Ramsey, left, and Janessa Plummer cooked up an idea for a birthday cake using cardboard, a watermelon bin and a kiddie pool. Their creation will be used on the Plummer’s Ace Hardware float in the Aug. 6 parade. Contributed / Alex Violette

Events will be held Friday, Aug. 5, and Saturday, Aug. 6, at Tory Hill, the intersection of routes 202 and 112. Festivities wrap up Sunday, Aug. 7, at Pleasant Point Park on Simpson Road.

The town, the Dorcas Society of Hollis and Buxton, and Tory Hill Meetinghouse teamed up to throw the party. Select Board member Chad Poitras and Deputy Town Clerk Angela Michie co-chaired a committee that worked more than a year in planning the party.

“This is a wonderful and exciting event for our town and it’s truly a privilege to be part of,” Poitras said.

Michie said planning for the celebration was the biggest project she’s ever taken on.

“Planning Buxton’s 250th has been a lot of work and quite the challenge at times,” she said. “In the end, it will all be worth it. I’m excited about the whole thing.”

Resident Cheryl Emery created the logo for the celebration, officially called a sestercentennial, and the town will have souvenirs available at a merchandise table.

The party kicks off at Tory Hill’s Weymouth Park at 5 p.m. Friday with food trucks and children’s activities. The Time Pilots band will perform a variety of classic hits at a free concert from 6-9 p.m. that is expected to draw a crowd.

A highlight of Saturday’s slate of events is the parade, starting at 11 a.m. at Depot and Main streets, proceeding to River Road and winding up at Woodman Road.

Town clerk and parade organizer John Myers said his email and mailbox have been “flooded” with parade entry forms.

“I can safely say that this will be the town’s largest parade ever, well exceeding last year’s parade. This year’s parade is sure to be a humdinger for all ages,” Myers said.

The lineup includes public safety units, horses and carriages, bands, Girl Scouts, school floats and even Santa Claus. Among the business floats will be Plummer’s Ace Hardware, topped with a giant, 250th birthday cake that Roxanne Ramsey and Janessa Plummer created.

Brewster Mansion hosts the Dorcas Society’s car show and Mallett Brothers Band concert Aug. 6. Robert Lowell / American Journal

The Dorcas Society, a woman’s charitable group, sponsors a 5K road race and also a classic car show at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Brewster Mansion. A hundred cars are expected, according to the mansion’s owner Richard “Sandy” Atkinson.

The mansion’s barn will be open with stuffed giraffes, bunnies, zebra, and two bicycles as door prizes for children. Beverly Atkinson will hand out free cookies and candy for the kids. Tory Hill Meetinghouse is hosting a lawn sale with vendors 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

The Mallett Brothers Band will perform Americana rock at 6 p.m. on the mansion grounds. Tickets, $25, are available at eventbrite.com and at the gates that open at 4:30 p.m. The concert will be held rain or shine.

Fireworks, sponsored by the Narragansett Number One Foundation, will follow the
concert.

The party concludes from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Aug. 7, at Pleasant Point Park with coffee, a talk about bald eagles and a history handout provided by Brent Hill of the Buxton-Hollis Historical Society.

In addition to on-street parking, parking will be available at Town Farm Park and at the Town hall, 185 Portland Road, with free shuttle service to Tory Hill from 5-9:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, and from 10 a.m. to after the fireworks Saturday, Aug. 6.

For more information and a complete three-day schedule of events, go to Buxton 250 on Facebook.