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There might be people in the Bangor area who aren't familiar with the Bangor Area Historical Society, but there are at least a few people in the area who are well aware it's alive and kicking.

The society began in 1982 and its members include Della Berg, Alice Piske, Lorraine Fiet, Jean Tucker and Carol Stekel.

The museum can be found at 1525 Commercial Street. The Bangor Baptist Church, which closed about 5 years ago, also belongs to the society.

Money has been donated to the society for preservation of the church which was constructed between 1861 and 1865.

It runs completely on donations.

Berg said she'd like to see people appreciative of the society for the service it provides to the Bangor area.

"It's history," Berg said. "It's Bangor history."

"If we hadn't preserved this, how are our future generations going to know what Bangor was?" Stekel added.

She said people who have moved away from the area and have come back and learned about Bangor through the society have become good benefactors.

"People who move away and come back are glad to see the history of Bangor preserved," Stekel said.

Tucker said one of the most popular reasons people stop by the historical society is to search genealogical records, not only out of curiosity about family history, but also to trace hereditary diseases.

Besides providing genealogy information, the society also has pictures from high school yearbooks, records of local authors, service medals, china and clothing.

Furthermore, it has old phones, and typewriters which society members said sometimes provoke curiosity from children.

"Some of the kids are like, ‘what's that?'" Stekel said.

Members said they're hoping for item and monetary donations, as well as more society members.

Donations they're seeking include vacuums, a dehumidifier, hall trees, and large area rugs.

Anyone interested in becoming a member can attend one of the society's monthly meetings, which are the third Monday of every month at 7 p.m. in the museum.

The museum is open Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon and by appointment.

The Bangor Area Historical Society is holding a Home and Garden crafts fundraiser Oct. 23, with all proceeds going to the society. There will also be a used book, cassette and magazine sale. The fundraiser will be at the Bangor Baptist Church from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The society welcomes monetary donations.