Owls Head, Maine
The Mussel Ridge Learning Center
Preserving Owl's Head History Today
_edited_edited_edited_edited_edited_edited.png)
Preserving Owl's Head History Today
Owl's Head has a rich maritime and boat building history, which inspired the inclusion of a sloop in the logo. This particular sloop is taken from a drawing of a 25' sloop designed by Alvin Hurd (1861-1956) of Ash Point, Owl's Head. Alvin is a descendant of one of the first settlers of Owl's Head, William and Abigail Crockett Heard, who purchased a vast amount of land in Ash Point from Henry Knox in the 1700s. Many of Alvin's descendants still reside in town today.
​
​Special thanks to Tayler Philbrook for creating the Mussel Ridge Learning Center logo for us.
​
Proposed Mussel Ridge Learning Center
For many years, members of the MRHS have desired a safe place to store sensitive historical
items requiring climate control, a central spot to house collections so that interested residents and
visitors can view and appreciate them. In 2019, the town voted to approve the construction of a
learning center on town property, adjacent to the community building. After fundraising for
several years, a process protracted by the Covid pandemic, the MRHS had amassed a
considerable sum. In 2023, the MRHS approached area residents again to ask them to bridge the
gap between the funds they had raised and the cost of constructing a facility. The measure
passed, the bidding process successfully produced a builder, and the MRHS is about to break
ground. After construction, the building, offering a climate-controlled environment for sensitive
artefacts, will be owned by the town and leased to the society. All residents and visitors will be
welcome to do research, attend presentations, and peruse permanent and rotating displays about
local history and culture. School groups can come to learn about their town and its past. Our
hopes for a safe space are about to be realized, but we continue to fundraise for furniture and
equipment.
Testimonials
Word on the Street
"Local history is a grounding for future generations. Artifacts being preserved illustrate the stories passed down and make them more meaningful and memorable!"
Ann Walker McCann
We are all making history here in Owl's Head, though some of us have been at it a little longer than others. I feel fortunate to be part of a family that has been actively involved in our community since the early 1800s. This was accomplished through concern for our neighbors’ chosen livelihoods, participation in our town's government, and various activities. The Mussel Ridge Learning Center will give us all a long anticipated “place" where we can archive, teach, learn and share more about this special area and its people.
Kay Ross Dodge
I love local history and think that preservation is important. It gives us a sense of what has been done in the past to make this a community we want to live in and strengthens our commitment to being good stewards in the present so we can pass along a better town for the future.
John Hufnagel
Mussel Ridge Learning Center Timeline
Funding for constructing the MRHS Learning Center has been secured through a combination of
years of MRHS fundraising and a generous, onetime supplement from the Town of Owls Head.
In conjunction with the Town, the MRHS has selected a contractor, and breaking ground on the
project is imminent, with completion of the facility projected for early 2025.
However, the MRHS is still raising funds to furnish, outfit, and equip the Learning Center.
Critical items—for example, a fireproof safe, museum-quality display cases, and the technology
to conduct research and facilitate presentations—has yet to be financed.
BE A PART OF HISTORY. HELP BUILD THE FUTURE BY PRESERVING THE PAST.
By supporting the MRHS in this final phase, you ensure that we can open the doors of the
Learning Center as a fully functional operation. Please help us cross the finish line!
THANK YOU!