Hastings Homestead Museum

08/28/2026

Thank you all for the condolence messages that have been received in the past week. The Hastings Homestead Museum board of trustees will be meeting to discuss our plan moving forward as we continue to honor the work of founding trustees Stan Howe and Randy Bennett. If you would like to make a donation to the Hastings Homestead Museum in Randy's memory, it may be sent to PO Box 1642, Bethel, ME 04217. As a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, donations to the Hastings Homestead Museum are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law and are greatly appreciated during this time of transition.

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07/22/2026

The Hastings Homestead not only has servants' quarters but an interior 7 ft square by 10 ft high interior icehouse. Back before electricity arrived, families cut ice on the Androscoggin and stored it away for use during the warmer months. The ice-cutting photo was taken near the Cutting Bennett/Josiah Heath farm in Gilead and is courtesy of Lin Chapman.

07/21/2026

The latest donor to our Annual Fund is Gregory Dumas of Roslindale, Massachusetts. Thanks so much for your support!

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07/17/2026

What is it about "Courtesy Associates" that makes them important to our communities? They provide essential services, sustain overall business in our towns, and support non-profits, such as the Hastings Homestead Museum, Inc. We couldn't do without them. Please patronize them when in our area!

Bethel Village Motel and Ruthie's Boutique
https://www.bethelvillagemotel.com/index.html

Community Energy/ Brooks Brothers
https://www.yelp.com/biz/community-energy-rumford

Mainely Provisions
https://mainelyprovisions.com/bethel/

Julia Gilmore Art Studio
https://www.juliagilmore.com/

Northeast Bank
https://www.northeastbank.com/about

Gemini Cafe & Bakery
https://www.thegeminicafe.com/

Philbrook Place
https://www.facebook.com/ThePhilbrookPlace/

More coming soon!

07/01/2026

What happened to the original Dr. Moses Mason private library after he passed? The replica on the grounds of the Mason House on Broad Street gives a good idea of what it looked like, but did you know that Daniel Straw Hastings (1840-1925), Dr. Mason's nephew, purchased the original building in the 1870s and moved it to the now-empty lot at the corner of Mason and Broad streets next to the Hastings Homestead? There it stood for a few years (see left side of "from the street" photos) until Daniel Hastings took it apart and added the materials to the righthand side of the Hastings barn as a carriage house (see two barn photos). Today you can observe all five original six-over-six Mason library windows inserted in the barn and carriage house on two levels.

06/07/2026

We want to thank all who attended Stanley Howe's "Celebration of Life" this afternoon at Bethel's "Lower Meetinghouse" (East Bethel Church). It was a wonderful gathering of family and friends in remembrance of someone who was dedicated to local, regional, and State history, and -- especially -- to the Town of Bethel.

06/05/2026

I am sorry that I am unable to attend tomorrow's celebration of life for Stan Howe. I first met Stan when he and Randy Bennett visited my hometown, Ottawa, Canada in 1983. Beginning in 1986, I made several car trips to Bethel with my friends Tom Mitchell and Tim Crook and my wife Ivanna. I got a chance to meet Ned Hastings the year before his death in 1987.
During many subsequent visits, I stayed at the Hastings Homestead. We had many lively and spirited conversations (I think especially of Charles Horne) at the breakfast table over coffee, corn and bran muffins, and in the afternoons or evenings with other friends who dropped in. As I always went in August, we would celebrate Stan's birthday at barbecues or at Kowloon Village. Stan doted on his cats Chester and Garfield.
Ivanna and I last saw Stan for his 80th birthday party in 2023. My condolences to the Howe family and to Randy Bennett. Stan was a wonderful friend and I miss him.

-- Robert Albota, Ottawa

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