On Saturday, July 18, the Ladies Public Improvement Society of South Blue Hill hosted a public celebration of the 125th anniversary of Central Hall, the iconic yellow meeting hall that has graced 306 Falls Bridge Road for a century and a quarter.
LPIS President Ruth Miller reported that around 145 people came out to enjoy a tented barbecue supper. The silent auction, full of items generously donated by local businesses and neighbors, brought in over $7,500 for improvements to the Hall kitchen. Traditional music during the auction, a contra dance in the evening, and a moving performance by Noel Paul Stookey kept attendees entertained throughout the event. Senator Nicole Grohoski presented the organization with an official expression of sentiment from the State of Maine to the Ladies Public Improvement Society for the 125th anniversary of their incorporation and the construction of Central Hall.
LPIS would like to thank all the businesses who donated to the silent auction, the wonderful musicians, everyone who came to support the Hall, and the many volunteers who made the event possible. “It was a collective effort, and we couldn’t have done it without them”, Miller said.
The first “Ladies Public Improvement Society of South Blue Hill” was organized in 1886. In 1899, the group was re-formed under the same name for the purpose of building a Hall “for social and religious purposes.” Many women’s clubs were being organized across America during the Progressive Era, often with a focus on public interest: charity, politics, and social reform. LPIS members met regularly throughout the group’s early years, documenting the many sewing projects (mainly quilts and aprons) that they worked on to raise money for the construction of the Hall. Their minutes reflect that they held sales, dances, and dinners, bringing in funds cents at a time until they were able to construct Central Hall in 1901, when they also incorporated as a formal organization. Central Hall has been used as a community gathering place ever since, and today all South Blue Hill residents are automatically considered members of the Ladies Public Improvement Society.
