Maine Heritage Village?

[Bill Reidy]

Does anybody know any details on the "Maine Heritage Village" being built on Route 1 across from the Wiscasset Motor Lodge?  I see in this article:

http://www.wiscassetnewspaper.com/03_05_09_Heritage_Village_To_WISC.htm

that the Maine Maritime Museum among other non-profits will have an exhibit at this site.

[Dave Buczkowski]

As Bill and I have discussed on our rides up from Massachusetts, the Maine Heritage Village is offering free space to non profits to exhibit their particular Maine historical area of interest. It would be an excellent way for us to get our name out. I believe a static (non staffed) exhibit would be allowed. Of course this falls under Great Idea But Who is Going to Follow Through. Discuss amongst yourselves.
KD

[Jock Ellis]

Hey, I notice you Wiscassetians (?) are getting a McDonald's. Maybe you should try to get Mickey D to have some WWF flavor on the walls with directions to the railroad.
Jock Ellis

[John Kokas]

This sounds like a good opportunity to get some reasonably priced advertising space.  Far cheaper than a billboard and a spot where some of the museums articles could be displayed.

Is this location near or adjacent to the former ROW?  Could a future link be established?

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

The planned Heritage Village area is not near the WW&F right of way but it does have a good location along Route 1 as you get close to the historic part of Wiscasset.  The best exhibit for the museum would be a piece of rolling stock on panel track, that would get attention.  Of course everything the museum has is rare or is needed at Sheepscot so there is nothing to spare.  There's also the cost of transport and site maintenance to consider.  Maybe a small roofed kiosk with photos and maps would work, there would be a mailbox with museum brochures.  The key is as Dave said, who has the time to do a project like this when there's so much to be done at the railroad.

[Wayne Laepple]

Dare I suggest that developing a small display here may reap major benefits? It need be no more than an attractive, well-designed weather-resistant kiosk with some photos of then and now, a limited amount of verbiage -- a couple of short paragraphs at most -- a few lines of history, a few more about the WW&F Ry. Museum, open hours and days, a simple map and a box holding brochures. This seems like a fairly straightforward project that someone (or a few someones working together) from away could accomplish -- with Board approval, of course. In this day and age, we cannot afford to pass up any kind of free or very inexpensive advertising. I'm ready to write a check to get the ball rolling.

[John Kokas]

Agreed Wayne,

maybe this could be something an "away" group could put together, bring in during a long weekend in kit-form and assemble / set-up and be done.  The only "full-time" job would be keeping the brochure box filled and checking on the display.

[Mike Fox]

OK. Instead of a Kiosk, why not a replica flag stop? None were very large. It would give the visitor a chance to step in and view what we have to offer.  It would be easy to build another Sheepscot Station.

[John Kokas]

Nice Mike, the only thing I would add is that it should "look" like a flagstop from the outside, but the construction should be modular so that it can be easily broken-down and transported.  Hey that gives me another idea - couldn't this also work for train shows, fairs, etc?

[Bill Reidy]

Mike,

I like to idea of a replica flag stop.  If we go to the time and effort of building it and the heritage village does not succeed, it would give us the option to move the building back to the museum and reuse it, perhaps as a section house or a station once we reach Route 218.

Lots of ifs to work through here.  I understand back channel that a member of the board is looking into this project.  If he finds it's a workable situation that could benefit the museum and if the board supports the project (given the many other important priorities to operate, maintain and grow the museum), I'd be very interested in helping with displays, etc. for this project.  As discussed in this thread, I'd like to see as much of this project as possible done through the efforts of us "away" folks, as the regulars have plenty to do on the everyday tasks and existing projects to keep the museum going.

[Vincent "Lightning" LeRow]

Perhaps IF we do go with this flagstop idea , which i really really like, we could lay 1 to 3 sticks worth of rail in front of the building just for looks.  do we have any light rail left laying arround?

[Wayne Laepple]

While a replica flag station would be nice, a kiosk would probably be more cost efficient. An actual building requires more maintenance, such as painting every few years, as well as someone to show up daily to open and close it, even if it is completely unmanned. Perhaps we could start with a free-standing kiosk for a year or two and see if it provides a bump in visitation to Sheepscot, and if so, then evaluate the viability of a full building. Regardless, I don't think I'd want to lay any track in front of a building, since it would present a tripping hazard.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

A couple of sticks of rail in front of the building would look good, giving folks the scale of a Maine Two Footer.  We could cover the rail up to the railhead so people can see it but its not a tripping hazard.  Two 30 foot lengths would do.

[Mike Fox]

do we have any light rail left laying around?

I'm sure we could scratch up a rail or 2, if that is what is desired.

There is a lot of traffic that goes through Wiscasset on Route 1 that don't even know the museum exists. A little project like that could change it.

[Wayne Laepple]

A fairly simple, straightforward kiosk like this one would do the trick at minimal cost.

http://www.hingham-ma.gov/barecove/Gallery/photogallery2.html