SKOWHEGAN — To honor the river drives and those who worked them since 1835 the Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center will host a round table discussion with river drivers — folks who have had the experience of driving logs down the Kennebec River.

The discussion will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Skowhegan Free Public Library, Elm Street. “Ice Out” was the call used by river drivers each spring when the ice was out of the large lakes and rivers indicating it was time for another river drive. Participants can learn what it was like to work a river drive from those who know it best.

The program will include music composed and performed by David Calder, a former river driver, and a short video which reflects on the river driver’s work and life style will help to focus the round table discussion lead by Melvin Burnham, director of the History House.

The “Ice Out” program is the first of several that will focus on the Kennebec River and Skowhegan History House’s new exhibit room and featured exhibit which relates the history of the river and the role it played in the early settlements and industrialization of Skowhegan. The new exhibit, “Kennebec River- Skowhegan’s First Highway,” opening May 28, will share the history through the lens of the river drives.

This program is free and open to the public and refreshments will be provided.


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