Hundreds turn out for Livermore Falls History Night on Friday, May 19, to enjoy good food, live music, comedy and vintage cars. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

LIVERMORE FALLS — History Night took over the Livermore Falls Gazebo as the Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce [JLLFCOC] sponsored the annual History Night & Cruise In on Friday, May 19.

Normally held in the parking lot of Androscoggin Valley Medical Arts Center, the event was moved across the street to the parking lot behind Weber’s Insurances and the Livermore Falls Town Office.

“There has been a really positive response to the move,” Christine Fournier, the administrative assistant for the JLLFCOC, said.

Fournier, along with many of the patrons, commented that this was the biggest turnout they had ever seen.

“It’s even bigger than last year’s History Night,” Fournier said.

Hundreds of vintage cars make an appearance at History Night in Livermore Falls on Friday, May 19. Car owners from Peru, Lisbon Falls and Rumford made a trip to the event to show off their vintage wheels. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

Matt and the Barn Burners appeared at the event, performing their blend of rock ’n’ roll for the crowd as hundreds of antique cars made their way into the parking lot.

A 1923 Ford T-Bucket is at History Night in Livermore Falls on Friday, May 19. The owner said he has only had it for a year and hasn’t had a chance to out any work in it yet. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

Local antique cars from the Franklin County area made their way to the event as well as antique cars from Peru, Winthrop, Buckfield, Hartford and Lisbon Falls. The oldest car at the event was a canary yellow 1923 Ford T-Bucket, which the owner stated was a kit car and he had only owned it for a year.

“I haven’t put any work into it yet, but it looks like I will need to soon,” he remarked, pointing to a liquid pooling under the wheel.

In the gazebo, Mt. Blue High School’s own FIRST Robotics Competition team 6153, The Blue Crew, served up water, nachos, and root beer floats while Richard Wilde, instructor of computer technology at the Foster Career and Technical Education Center, showed off the team’s mascot, R2-Blue2.

A replica of R2-D2 from Star Wars, R2-Blue2 was 3D printed and assembled by members of the Blue Crew. Senior Nathan Hall said he filed down several panels so that they would fit into the frame of the robot. The result is a replica that beeps just like its movie counterpart as well as playing “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees.

R2-Blue2, the mascot for Mt. Blue High School’s FIRST Robotics Competition team The Blue Crew, shows off his programming at the Livermore Falls Gazebo on Friday, May 19. R2-Blue2 serenaded the crowd with “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

Stevie J’s Burgers and Burritos remained open with a limited menu and had a packed line throughout most of the evening. Also serving food was Ace’s Hot Spot, which also had a long line most of the evening as well.

Also open was Chuck Wagon Restaurant, where Improv group Teacher’s Lounge Mafia had dinner before performing to a crowd of 50 people at the American Legion Post 10 Hall on Reynolds Avenue.

Several businesses remained open to serve the patrons, including Weber Insurance, Pearls in the Pines, Berry Fruit Farm, Treat Memorial Library, and the Maine Paper & Heritage Museum on Church Street.

Foss Jewelry, which has been in Livermore Falls for over 100 years, opens its doors one last time for History Night & Drive In on Friday, May 19, and again on Saturday, May 20. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

Foss Jewelry, which has been a mainstay in Livermore Falls since 1919, opened its doors for a final sale on Friday, May 19, and Saturday, May 20.

“That’s it,” owner Katy Botka-Quirrion stated at the sale. Botka-Quirrion stated she closed the store in 2019 and only opened it in December during the Christmas season.

“That is not enough to pay the bills,” she said. The storefront was opened by Lester Foss, her great-grand uncle in 1919 and has been passed down through four generations. Botka-Quirrion felt it was appropriate to open the store one last time during History Night to commemorate the years Foss Jewelry served the community.