LISBON — Founded in 1799, the town of Lisbon celebrated its 225th birthday Saturday with residents learning about the town’s history.

Many local businesses hosted open houses and there was plenty to do, indoors and outdoors, despite the day’s rainy forecast.

Local historian Dr. Charles Plummer, 90, gave a lecture on more than two centuries of Lisbon’s history at Olive Pit Brewing Co.

Afterward, locals Jo-Jean Keller and Marianne O’Connor led attendees on a walking tour of Lisbon Falls, which included brief stops at landmarks to hear the stories of what makes each place special.

Emily Leonard, 32, has been happy to find Lisbon “very community-based” after a few months of taking up residence. What brought her back to Maine from North Carolina was family ties.

“I wanted to get closer to family, and my family is in New England,” Leonard said.

Leonard said she wanted to learn more about Lisbon’s history. A walking tour on the town’s 225th anniversary presented an opportunity.

“I want to be considerate as a new resident. I want to see what people who have lived here for a long time care about and what they’re looking at. I want to become a part of (the community) and contribute what I can, when I can,” Leonard said.

Another new resident, Shannon Godin, 26, formerly of Scarborough, similarly sought knowledge.

“My husband and I walk here all the time but sometimes, we miss things. We hadn’t noticed the murals before,” Godin said.

While new residents like Leonard and Godin were soaking up the experience, longtime residents were happy to see the changes happening in Lisbon.

“Lisbon used to just be a pass-through town, like you had to go through it to get somewhere else. But now people stop, because they like what they’re seeing, they like all the work they’ve done to make it more relevant and current,” said resident Hannah Dickinson. “Lisbon is ‘very Maine’ without it being alienating.”

While Dickinson has lived in Lisbon since 2017, her ties to Lisbon go far back. She said her parents moved to Lisbon in 1992, and her father’s side has lived in the area for a long time.

“Lisbon still has a lot of Maine heart to it. It’s very welcoming. That’s what I’ve liked about living here,” said Margaret Dickinson, 25, a third grade teacher at Lisbon Elementary School.

“I love seeing all the businesses that are run by people in town. I’m a regular at Little River. I have the kids in my classroom. It’s still a small town. Everyone’s connected in a way,” Dickinson said.

Looking forward, Margaret Dickinson is excited for Lisbon’s future.

“Lisbon is growing into its own and building upon its roots, but it’s also expanding to get different inputs and welcoming more people,” she said.

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