AUGUSTA — Old Fort Western, 16 Cony St., has announced the schedule of its 25th annual Winter Lecture Series.

This year’s theme is The Howard Store: Early Entrepreneurship along the Kennebec. The series will focus around the Howard Store Account Books — the records of the first store in the area — operated at Old Fort Western and serving as a bank, repair service, blacksmith shop and tavern.

Lectures will begin at 2 p.m. and most will take place at Augusta City Center, 16 Cony St.

* The Howard Account Books, 1767-1804, with Linda J. Novak, the fort’s director/curator, on Feb. 26.

* Early Hallowell and The Howard Account Books with Sumner Webber, Hallowell historian, March 4.

* Shipping and Trade along the Kennebec: Rum, Molasses and Sugar, with Bill Bunting, an author specializing in historic maritime Maine, on March 11.

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* Store or Tavern: Licensed to Sell Spirits, with Jay Robbins, historian, Lincoln County Historical Association, March 18.

* Sugaring and Blacksmithing at the Howard Store and Maple Syrup Sunday, with speaker Jeff Miller of Flintlock Forge, at the Fort on March 25.

* Barrels of Shoes, with barrel maker Ron Raiselis, and a guest speaker who will talk about shoe making, April 1.

* Early Entrepreneurship along the Kennebec River with Mike Duguay, economic development director, City of Augusta, on April 15.

* And on April 21, at the Fort, Bartering Services: Craftsmen of the 18th Century, with Fort staff Peter Morrissey, who will demonstrate as a surveyor; Doug Mock, as a lawyer; Judy Sample, as a seamstress; and Donna Porter, as a storekeeper.

All lectures are free of charge and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Donations will be accepted. For more information, call 626-2385, email oldfort@oldfortwestern.org or visit www.oldfortwestern.org.


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