AUGUSTA -- The Kennebec Historical Society will show off its new headquarters to members and to the public in a special program from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

"The 1836 Fuller-Johnson-Fisher House is open for business, and it's time for a little 'show and tell,'" said Anne Cough, a member of the Society's board of directors.

Generally, the Society offers lectures to the public. This time, the Society will offer the background on its new home.

The 21/2-story brick building was purchased last year, and the Society occupies the entire building. Formerly, it shared another historic building at 61 Winthrop St., where quarters were so tight the photocopier on the second floor bumped the bathroom sink.

The new location has a research room and expanded archives space.

The Society's archivist and vice president, Ernie Plummer, will give tours of the new archives suite during Wednesday's open house.

Board members will ask visitors about their vision for the historical society's new home, and Larry Bacon, executive director will speak informally about the building's architecture and the former occupants of 107 Winthrop St.

Members of the Kennebec Historical Society are admitted free. Nonmembers will be asked for a $2 donation. More information is available by calling the society at 622-7718.

The Society opened its new home last month and has had a number of compliments from visitors.

"They're impressed with the renovations," Bacon said.

The society is still finishing improvements to its handicap-accessible parking area and continues to raise funds for the new building.

"We've raised the money for the first phase to do the archives, to get ourselves open and do all the life-safety improvements required by code," Bacon said.

So far, about $600,000 has come in, Plummer said.

Now, donations will go toward a second phase to get an endowment fund to continue operating and to improve other rooms in the house.

"People can come in and do their own research," Bacon said. "We have staffing available to help them navigate the collections. Most people are interested in their family trees, and Augusta residents are interested in looking up information about their houses."

The Kennebec Historical Society has the "Augusta Historical Buildings Survey," which captured in photographs all the homes in Augusta in 1938. It was a Works Progress Administration project designed to provide employment.

The society's library is open by appointment, and staff is in the building from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Bacon said the Society has 459 members.

Two other events are also slated:

* On Aug. 27, from 5 to 7 p.m., the Society will host the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours function.

* At 7 p.m. on Aug. 28 the society will host a concert featuring Oakland's Harry Vayo. He will perform Celtic reels and jigs, Beatles tunes and a mix of favorites on a hammered dulcimer. Tickets are $7.50 for nonmembers, $6.50 for members, and are available by advance sale only.

Call the Society for more information.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com