March 24th, 2016

The 2016 Originality Award was presented to the Castine Historical Society by Governor Paul LePage and Carolann Ouellette, Director of the Maine Office of Tourism, at Sunday River in Newry, Maine on March 22, 2016. The award was  accepted on behalf of the CHS by Helen Miller and Marcia Mason, members of the Hermione Committee, which also included David Adams and Jack Macdonald.

“The extraordinary achievement of the Castine Historical Society in bringing the replica of Lafayette’s tall-masted frigate “Hermione” to Castine in July 2015 resulted in an exceptional event that helped tell Maine’s story to a world-wide audience. The “Hermione” visit captured an essential aspect of the Maine experience, shining light on our maritime heritage, our history of Franco-American friendship, the extraordinary beauty of our coast, and the value of cultural tourism to our state”, said Carolann Ouellette, Director of the Maine Office of Tourism.

The Society spent two years in preparation for the vessel’s visit after having persuaded Miles Young, President of the Friends of Hermione-Lafayette in America, Inc. to include Castine as a port-of-call on her North American voyage this past summer. A Parade of Ships, consisting of more than 150 boats, escorted Hermione up Penobscot Bay and into Castine Harbor. Sarah Cox, Harbor Master, Maine Maritime Academy, U.S. Coast Guard, Town of Castine, and thousands of people, welcomed Hermione to the historic village on Bastille Day. During her two-day stay, over 15,000 people visited Castine.

Katie Bergin of Community Arts Resources in Los Angeles, CA(CARSLA) produced the event, which included climate-change and history symposia, entertainment, Maine-made products, and the hosting of dignitaries, including the Counsel General of France, representatives of the Penobscot Nation, Maine’s Governor, the Vice–Regent from Maine and the CEO of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and members of the Knox Museum.

Helen Miller thanked the Governor and Carolann Ouellette for the Award, which she said affirmed the hard work and financial support of so many who made the Hermione visit a success. She also acknowledged that 2016 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Castine Historical Society, and to celebrate the Anniversary CHS has planned several special summer events, including an exhibit, “Castine and Hermione – Celebrating History and Friendship”, a House and Garden Tour on the eve of Bastille Day on July 13, and a Bastille Day celebration on July 14.