The Branch Lake Association (BLA) will present a special exhibition titled “Life on Branch Lake Over the Decades”, to be held on the Main Floor at the Ellsworth Public Library from Wednesday, July 31 to Saturday, August 31, 2024. This exhibition will celebrate the rich history and vibrant community of Branch Lake, showcasing a collection of photographs, and stories from the lake community and local businesses dating back as early as the 1900s. The exhibition will be open to the public during regular library hours.

The exhibition which contains about 20 photographs will be accompanied by a copy of a historical 45-page scrapbook created by a then-local resident, Mrs. Hanson, (provided by her daughter Audrey Hanscom), covering events from 1944 to the 1950s, including fishing derbies and sports columns about Branch Lake with newspaper pictures of 'the biggest fish caught.

This project was inspired by a well-attended "Longtime Residents Conversation" event held on Labor Day weekend 2023, where speakers shared their cherished memories and stories. The positive response to that event highlighted the community's desire to preserve and share their collective history.

Featured locations and businesses include Hanson’s Landing, Branch Lake Lodge, Branch Lake Camping, Hurd's Store, Oseychek's, Mark and Beth Hardison's Vegetable Stand, Camp Jordan (a YMCA camp) Whitcomb's Hunting and Fishing Camp, a boat house at the Boulders. 

About Branch Lake Association Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to the protection and preservation of the Branch Lake Watershed in Ellsworth, Maine. Founded in 1981, the Association has been dedicated to maintaining the water quality of Branch Lake through various initiatives, volunteer efforts, and community engagement. The BLA continues to work towards its vision of "Clean clear water in Branch Lake" for future generations. Accomplishments of its 43-year-long run include maintaining the longest continuous-running invasive plant patrol in the state of Maine, participation in Maine Audubon's Annual Loon Count, promotion of an active social live around the lake through community events, partnerships with other organizations to conduct the watershed survey but also sponsoring a road grant program to reduce phosphorus runoff into the lake. branchlakeme.org