The Little Meeting House in North Windham will be decorated in a Victorian style setting for a special High Tea at High Noon on Saturday, May 31. This event is being held in honor of the passing of the Windham Historical Society’s Secretary Karen Lougee in January.
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| A special 'High Tea at High Noon' event will be held on Saturday, May 31 at the Little Meeting House in North Windham to remember Windham Historical Society member Karen Lougee, who died in January. COURTESY PHOTO |
“This is the first time we are doing a tea,” says Pal. “It was inspired by the passing of our Secretary Karen Lougee in January. Lougee loved all things British, was an avid reader and Steward of the Windham Center Library on the Society's Village Green. Her favorite flowers were lilacs, so we decided to host an event in her memory during lilac season.”
Lougee’s love of books and history came together when she joined the Windham Historical Society after retiring from Unum. She joined the Society’s Board and served as Secretary and on the Programs Committee. Lougee enthusiastically helped and led in the restoration of the original Windham Center Library building for the Society’s Village Green, proudly completing this large and complex project in the fall of 2024.
She also worked hard to restore the library and has left this piece of Windham history as her lasting gift to the community.
“Lougee’s first exposure to Windham Historical Society was at a fundraiser held in 2017,” says Susan Simonson, President of the Windham Historical Society. “As a way to encourage more membership and exposure of the society, we held a History Tour around Windham, highlighting the historical sites and building while providing local Windham history. Lougee and her husband, Gerry, were on that tour. It was not long afterward Lougee showed interest in becoming an active member of the society. She ran and was elected Secretary the following year. It did not take long for her to blend into the fabric of the historical society, helping in any way she could. Lougee was retired from Unum’s legal department, and her administrative and professional skills were much welcomed by the organization. She was able to juggle many hats, and most importantly her love for her family.”
High Tea at High Noon will start at noon on May 31 and run about two hours long. It will open with a greeting from Simonson. Then, a buffet luncheon will be served with the meal consisting of quiche, tea sandwiches, hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, mini muffins, scones, and a large assortment of delicate desserts.
“During lunch, Ray Marcotte and Elle Kanner of Teafarers will do a talk about the history of tea and talk about some of the teas that guests will be sampling with their lunch,” says Pal. “Dessert will be served by Society members and be delivered to each table. Desserts range from cupcakes to mini cheesecakes, to tea breads to cream puffs, plus cookies and mini lemon tarts.”
Tickets are $25 per person with 60 seats available. People can purchase tickets by emailing Haley Pal at haleypal@aol.com.
“Lougee was the steward of the Windham Center Library which had not been open for several years” says Simonson. “She has put a lot of time, energy, and research into getting the library open to the public as part of the society’s Village Green. The building had a major structural issue and took a year or two to get it addressed. Once those repairs were completed, the roof was re-shingled, windows were puttied, the exterior painted. The next step is to get electricity brought over to the building. The funds raised by the tea will help to offset the electrical costs, remaining interior painting, and other small miscellaneous projects.”
If you are looking to enjoy a high tea in an historic old building, you are highly encouraged to join this event.
“The Little Meeting House will be decked in Victorian style using china teacups and porcelain and glass plates,” says Pal. “Tablecloths will be color-coordinated, and it should make for an elegant, but fairly inexpensive way to spend a couple of hours.”
This event is also an opportunity to meet Society members and learn about some of the things that they do for the community.
“It is also a wonderful way showing those who attend that the Windham Historical Society truly does know how to ‘have fun with history’ which is our slogan,” says Pal.
Lougee’s unexpected passing had a major effect on the society board members. She was very much a part of their team, always lending a hand where needed.
“The fundraiser in her memory is a way for us to heal and let the community know how much she meant to the society,” says Simonson. “The society has been fortunate to have Becky (Plummer) Delaware step in as the new steward of the Windham Center Library. Becky is a retired schoolteacher and grew up in Windham. Her knowledge of Windham and as an avid history buff will provide the tolls needed to continue Lougee’s vision while adding her own touch to displays on Windham’s organizations of the past.” <
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