The Summer in Maine Auction, featuring some of the best that Maine has to offer, is now open for bidding at the South Portland Historical Society’s museum at Bug Light Park. Bids will be accepted every day until the auction closes on the Fourth of July.

We hope you’ll come down and check out the great items that have been donated for the auction, the historical society’s signature fundraiser. All items have been donated by the service providers, allowing auction proceeds to go directly to benefit the historical society and its museum, helping to keep admission to the museum free for the public.

Living in Vacationland means that we have terrific opportunities for fun things to do all around us. Be the winning bidder and you could enjoy any of a wide variety of outings – take your family and friends to a Portland Sea Dogs game and enjoy a skybox with seating for 22 people (donated by Portland Tugboat); cruise on a lobster boat in Casco Bay with Lucky Catch; head to Bath to tour the Maine Maritime Museum; get a behind-the-scenes “Cellar to Tower” tour of the Victoria Mansion with Executive Director Tim Brosnihan as your personal guide; take a private tour of the Longfellow House with Maine Historical Society’s Visitor Services Manager John Babin; or enjoy a golf cart tour for two from Peaks Island Tours.

A sampling of other donors includes a one-day boat rental from Port Harbor Marine, a gift card from Lighthouse Bikes, and some great food from local spots like Cia Cafe and SoPo Seafood. If you have friends or family coming to visit, put them up in style at the Hill House (on the corner of Broadway and Preble Street). There are auction items in all price ranges.

In addition to fun summertime experiences, the auction also includes some physical items for you to bid on – like original paintings by local artist Julie Bernier, a gift basket donated by Nonesuch Books, and a copy of  “A History of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Including South Portland Prior to 1895,” signed by the author, William B. Jordan Jr.

Now that the donors have generously given these and other great auction items, the fundraiser is now in the hands of auction goers. In addition to in-person bidding, bids will also be accepted via email. To see the list of auction items and send an email bid, go to the South Portland Historical Society page on Facebook.

Independence Day Classic Car Show

We are excited for the upcoming Independence Day Classic Car Show, presented by Yankee Ford. Antique and classic cars will be on display at Bug Light Park, on the field across from the museum, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food trucks will be on site. The Nor’Easters Kite Club will have their own patriotic fun fly during the car show, so expect to see some great kite flying (kites, and kite wands for young children, are always available for sale in the museum gift shop).

We will have the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence from the front porch of the museum at noon; this year’s reading will be performed by society board member Chuck Igo. The Summer in Maine Auction will also be set up during the car show; the auction will close shortly after the reading of the Declaration of Independence (estimated closing time around 12:30 p.m.). You don’t need to be present to be the winning bidder, but any winning bidders who are present can pay for and pick up their items at the show. Most gift certificates can be mailed to the winning bidder for an additional $1. Physical items will need to be either picked up or shipped at the winning bidder’s expense.

Our thanks to the title sponsor of the car show, Yankee Ford. We’d also like to thank our additional supporting sponsor, Saco and Biddeford Savings Institution. Our show sponsors help to keep the museum open to the public with free admission throughout the season.

Come place your bids in person at the museum at Bug Light Park. For more information, visit the South Portland Historical Society page on Facebook or call or email us with questions at 767-7299 or sphistory04106@gmail.com. Our thanks to the community for your continuing support of our historical society.

Kathryn Onos DiPhilippo is the executive director of the South Portland Historical Society.

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