Many roads lead to the beautiful town of Union and over the July 19-21 weekend, people came together from close by and far away to help celebrate Union’s history, the Sestercentennial – 250 years. Looking Back to Look Ahead was the theme selected by the planning committee, appointed by the town, 23 months ago. The planning committee partnered with the Union Historical Society to organize a long list of activities for all ages.

The planners listened carefully to ideas and generated many more than it was possible to include. The Facebook page Celebrating Unions 250 Years continues to grow and became an important avenue to communicate, along with a newsletter and press releases. I am so grateful to all of the local outlets who documented our progress and plans.  We invited and welcomed everyone who wanted to participate to do so. 

From the beginning it was all about community and it was clear how important community is to residents — children and adults, town leaders, and business owners.

Special attention was given to the Union Common since it is referred to as the oldest public town common in Maine and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2007.

The word Sestercentennial, meaning 250 years, started rolling off tongues as it became familiar. In fact, all of the Union Elementary students learned Sestercentennial since it was included in the musical history created by artist and educator Scott Dyer and performed by students. Many learned that the ‘bandstand’ on the Common is not called a ‘gazebo’ because it was built by the Union Cornet Band who needed a place to practice and perform in 1895.

Over 100 people helped make the celebration possible; it’s impossible to list all of them for fear of leaving some out. They collaborated, negotiated, and donated generously.

A huge thank you to 70 businesses and individuals who sponsored activities, along with the town budget. Special thanks to our first donation that came from an anonymous donor. I was shocked when this person quietly handed me $1,350 in cash, which started it all. 

My heartfelt gratitude goes to the Sestercentennial committee who gave generously of their time. They stepped up and did what needed to be done: Tracy Weed, Ruth Ann Senff-Wiemer, Holly Savage, Sonja Burns, Norma Hunt, Keith Siegel, Ashley Brown, Martha L. Johnston-Nash, Cindy Wright and Henry Umstead.

Thank you also to the Union Historical Society: Jeff and Betty Nims, Mary Thompson, Frank Cassidy, Jack Green, Bruce Cobb, Karin Larson, and Gordon Meeks and Robyn Tierney.

Marge Piercy in her poem To Be of Use captures my gratefulness: 

The work of the world is common as mud. 

Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust. 

But the thing worth doing well done has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident. 

Clear and spectacular evidence was this weekend in Union of Looking Back to Look Ahead at Union’s Sestercentennial! I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to my town. 

Argy Nestor lives in Union