Revolutionary War era re-enactors will appear in period dress at the Pownalborough Court House in Dresden on September 16 from 10 am until 2 pm to accompany a workshop on shape note singing. The Maine Shape Note Singers will demonstrate how this teaching device facilitates social singing.
Shape notes originated in New England in the early 1800s and they have been used for over two centuries in a variety of music traditions.The shape notes help singers find pitches within major and minor scales.
Anyone interested in shape note singing or in historic re-enacting is invited to join in the workshop or to simply enjoy the event in the Court Room of the historic court house at 23 Courthouse Road. The event is free, although donations are always welcome. The Pownalborough Court House is maintained by Lincoln County Historical Association.Lincoln County Historical Association is a non-profit organization that provides stewardship for the 1754 Chapman-Hall House in Damariscotta, the 1761 Pownalborough Court House in Dresden, and the 1811 Old Jail and Museum in Wiscasset. For more information, please visit www.lincolncountyhistory.org or Facebook at Lincoln County Historical Association (Maine).
(Photo captions)
Peter Morrissey makes shingles on a shaving horse. Re-enactors will accompany the shape note singing workshop.
Jack Fourier demonstrates 18th century physicians’s instruments. Fourier is a member of the 1777 re-enactors.
