Welcome to Finding Friendship

Finding Friendship is a collaborative Oral History project of the Friendship Museum and Friendship Village School in Friendship, Maine.  It seeks to preserve the history of Friendship, a traditional seafaring community on the coast of Maine, by recording and preserving the voices of the past and present as they recall everyday life and the traditions that have shaped and nourished the community.  Sixth grade students, under the co-direction of language arts teacher, Gaylea Hynd, and Friendship Museum volunteer, Sally Merrick, interviewed friends, family and neighbors to create this year's project.

Lobstering and Friendship are almost synonymous here in Friendship.  The lobstering industry has been a part of this community for as long as anyone can remember.  In our project this year we have interviewed both the students themselves and various community members to find out about lobstering and related businesses.  We have asked about the process of going lobstering and what those who fish for lobsters feel about the industry. Included in our interviewing process are three generations of lobster fishermen and women.  We also interviewed a lobster trap builder, a boat builder, and a former wharf owner.  Our sixth grade students at the school have also included essays on topics related to this theme.