Three years from now, in 2010, Wiscasset and surrounding towns may be having a huge birthday bash - a 200 th anniversary celebration.

The last time Wiscasset celebrated its founding was in 1960, when a Bicentennial Committee was given a whopping $1,500 for the week-long celebration, according to Town Clerk Sandra Johnson's records.

The 1960 town report shows members of that committee, which included Priscilla Campbell, Emily Sherman, Ava Barton, Patricia Brackett, Harry Bradford, Lester Pickering, Richard Barker and Harold Campbell, who was also the First Selectman at the time.

The first activity in the 1960 celebration was a costume ball in February, the month the town was incorporated, attended by 800 people (there's no mention of where it was held).

Lincoln County will also be celebrating its 250 th anniversary in 2010, and, as in the 1960 celebration, many of their activities will be held in connection with events planned in Wiscasset and nearby towns.

Lincoln County Historical Association's Jay Robbins says he has already touched base with county officials about planning the county's activities. As in Wiscasset, no committee has been formed yet, nor has any commitment of funds been made.

Robbins says that Pownalborough, the predecessor of Wiscasset, was incorporated on Feb. 12, 1760 by the Massachusetts legislature, when Maine was still part of Massachusetts. Pownalborough included the present towns of Wiscasset, Alna, Dresden and Swan's Island. In 1794, the towns of Dresden and New Milford (now called Alna) split off, and in June of 1802, the name Pownalborough was change to Wiscasset. New Milford changed its name to Alna in 1811, and Swans Island split off in 1847, becoming part of the town of Perkins, according to Robbins.

Pownalborough's first town meeting was held at the Garrison House on Fort Hill Road in Wiscasset on June 25, 1760. Originally built as a home, it was later fortified to serve as a garrison. Robbins said he believes that site is now occupied by the former American Legion building, now converted to the James Patrick Art Gallery.

Wiscasset's 1960 town report notes that "very elaborate plans are in the making for a week's celebration in August. Some of these events will be held in conjunction with the celebration of Lincoln County, which is also celebrating their 200 th anniversary."

Wiscasset administrative assistant Becky Applin alerted Wiscasset selectmen at their meeting two weeks ago that the celebration will need a committee and money. Applin is presently working with Wiscasset's 2008 Fourth of July committee, whose members suggested the town start planning now for the celebration.

In a note to the selectmen, the committee wrote, "We would like to encourage the board of selectmen to invite people to volunteer their time and energy for creating a memorable celebration. We would also like to encourage the board to budget funds in the upcoming budgets to add to this celebration."

Just to put everything into perspective, although $1,500 for a celebration wouldn't go too far today, the 1960 town report also includes some numbers that don't begin to approach what the town spends now: the cost for the dump was $900 a year; the tax collector was paid $1,000 a year; the town clerk, $200 a year; and the school budget was about $101,000.