Mike Rozos Comes Home to the Opera House

Mike Rozos was the first director of the Norway/Paris Recreation Program, which was formed in 1966.  A special event was held at the historical society on June 25, 2022, when the Norway Opera House held a homecoming celebration for Mike. Among Mike’s many accomplishments as recreation director was the establishment of a teen recreation center in the Opera House. Ask anyone who was in junior high or high school in the late 1960s and they will have a fond recollection of the recreation center.

Listen as Mike shares his memories of the town, the kids and the times and then takes a tour of the space in the Opera House that used to be the recreation center, now in the midst of being restored.  Time: 1:15:27.

Video created by and provided courtesy of Annie Somers, Jim Detert & Diane Wilkenfeld Rozos.

An Art History Perspective of Six Local Artists

Melanie Tornberg of the Western Maine Art Group discusses some of Norway’s best-known and most accomplished artists such as Vivian Akers, Minnie Libby, Lajos Matolcsy, Lee Bean and Duncan Slade from the perspective of art history.  This is the pre-recorded portion of our August 17, 2021 Zoom program.  Time: 26:03.

Joe Quinn’s Radio Programs

Jim Phillips tells some history of Norway resident Joe Quinn and his Big Band and Jazz radio programs that aired on Maine Public Radio in the 1980s and 1990s.  The original program tapes are in our collection. This is the pre-recorded portion of our July 13, 2021 Zoom program.  Time: 22:37.

The full playlist of Joe’s radio programs that Jim has digitized and uploaded to YouTube is here: Joe Quinn Presents

Shavey Noyes

Bruce Watts takes a look at the life of Norway son George Lorenzo “Shavey” Noyes, a naturalist, philosopher and artist. This is the pre-recorded portion of our Zoom program that aired on June 15, 2021.  Time: 31:35

An Old Fashioned Christmas – For Third Graders

Our annual program for third grade students, modified for remote learning.  Provided courtesy of Norway-Paris Community Television.

Historic Preservation – Belfry Removal, First Universalist Church of Norway

The First Universalist Church of Norway is beginning a campaign to restore the tower and belfry of their 1829 building, which have been damaged by 190 years of wind and weather.  The first step of the restoration involved dismantling the belfry and placing it on the ground so repairs can be made.  On May 16, 2019, the belfry was removed in an amazing demonstration of skill and coordination, shown in these two videos.  Videos courtesy of Norway-Paris Community Television.

These videos condense about 6 hours of work into a few minutes.
Belfry preparation and removal time: 17:01
Bell removal time: 4:38

Norway Moments – The Norway Fire Department
Time: 5:56
A short vignette of Norway history.  “Norway Moments” is written and produced by Peter Hammond for Norway Paris Community TV and the video is provided courtesy of NPCTV.

Norway Moments – The Norway-Paris Street Railway
Time: 4:40
A short vignette of Norway history.  “Norway Moments” is written and produced by Peter Hammond for Norway Paris Community TV and the video is provided courtesy of NPCTV.

Peter Hammond – Trouble on the Oxford Central Electric Railroad
Time: 1:05:28
Video courtesy of Norway-Paris Community Television
In 1896, an electric railway was proposed from Norway to Waterford and beyond.  The idea was a disaster.

Susan Denison – Norway’s Rural One-Room Schools
Time: 1:07:31
Video courtesy of Norway-Paris Community Television The history of Norway’s 14 one-room rural schools.

Larry Glatz – The War of 1812
Time:1:28:27
Video courtesy of Norway-Paris Community Television
To commemorate its bicentennial, historian Larry Glatz presents Norway’s view of the often-misunderstood War of 1812.

Under the Dress – Victorian Secrets
Time: 1:11:20
Video courtesy of Norway-Paris Community Television
Civil War re-enactors from Company A, 3rd Maine Regiment Volunteer Infantry present a very entertaining program highlighting ladies’ fashion customs and necessities during the Civil War.  For more information on this re-enactment group,  click here.

Herb Adams – The Two Lives of Madame Scalar
Time: 55:23
Minnie Plummer Scalar of South Paris was an internationally acclaimed opera singer, prior to becoming author C.A. Stephens’s wife.

Chris & Dennis Yates – Scuba Diving in Norway Lake
Time: 54:03    Video courtesy of Norway-Paris Community Television

Wini Mott – Zilpha Anne Plummer
Time: 39:27
Video courtesy of Norway-Paris Community Television
Zilpha Plummer was the mother of opera star Minnie Scalar and mother in law of author C.A. Stephens.