Dorcas Society of
Hollis & Buxton, Maine
The 2009
Dorcas calendar is offered as a Celebration of Life to the survivors among us and the strong, loving spirits of Dorcas women
and all women. The proceeds from the sale of these calendars
will make possible the increase of charitable giving by the Dorcas Society. A
portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society in
honor of the group's *cancer survivors.
The Dorcas Society is an historic non-denominational
charitable, literary, social, non-profit organization founded on November 23,
1897 by Kate Douglas Wiggin, its first honorary president and well-known
author of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. The Dorcas Society is named
after Dorcas of the Bible who, after being raised from the dead by Peter, sewed
coats and garments for the poor and did other charitable work.
Much of the Dorcas Society’s on-going
work is associated with the preservation and maintenance of the historic Bar
Mills Parish House, which continues to be frequently used as a gathering
place for various community groups, organizations and events. Originally a
train station, the building was purchased and moved with the financial
assistance of Kate Douglas Wiggin to its present location in Bar Mills
Village, Maine in 1911, the same year Wiggin opened the Salmon Falls Village
Library.
Kate Douglas Wiggin’s philanthropic
vision and spirit live on in the Society’s charitable contributions which
include scholarships to Bonny Eagle High School students; Christmas baskets
and donations to families in need; donations to various organizations,
including the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Opportunity Farm, York
County Shelter for Abused Women, the Ronald McDonald House, the Buxton Rescue
Unit, Day One, and the Visiting Nurse Service, as well as local churches and
libraries.
This calendar represents much of the
Society’s history. Most of the photos were taken at Quilcote, the summer home
of Kate Douglas Wiggin on Salmon Falls Rd. in Hollis, Maine. Two photos
(March and December) were taken at the Brewster Mansion, a National Historic
Register site, located on Brewster Place near “Tory Hill” Church (First
Congregational Church of Buxton), where the Old Peabody Pew, a play written
by Wiggin, is performed annually. The caption of each photo is the title of
one of the many Wiggin books and the quotes under the calendars are snippets
of her writings. It is of interest that many photos contain a framed picture
of Wiggin.
The Dorcas Society is a
multi-generational group which always welcomes new members. Meetings are held
the second Wednesday of each month. For membership information or to order
calendars, please contact the Dorcas Society of Hollis & Buxton at:
www.dorcassocietymaine.org.
