This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the Lopez Island Historical Museum. When you enter the museum—as we hope you do, often—you’ll see a stone dated “August, 1973” next to the front door.

To commemorate our 40th year, the Lopez Island Historical Society will stage its third edition of a very popular series called Lopez Legends, Myths and Yarns at Port Stanley School on Saturday evening, July 20 at 7:00. This fund raising event will feature readings from both the 1870s and 1970s, reenacted by Mary Wondra and Gary Alexander.

The contrast of music from the 1870s and 1970s promises to be dramatic, as you can imagine. The 1970s will be handled by the DJ skills of Bill Johnson, while the 1870s will be covered by Mary and Gary, singing some a cappella duets. These songs all stretch back to the late 1800s and were likely sung at regular Sunday evening gatherings at the Davis home in Richardson long ago.

Readings from the 1870s will include short passages from diaries and writings by (or about) Lopez pioneers like Amelia Davis, Grace Wood Priest, Wesley Warner, Willie Cousins, early teacher Rachel Hyland Ross, educator J.C. Lawrence, Addie Chadwick, Mary Eaton and many others, while the 1970s will offer stories by Charlotte Paul, Robert Reese, and others. There will be a slide show from the museum’s archives to illustrate each reading.

There will be complimentary after-dinner delectables, including desserts and drinks to add to your enjoyment while listening to Bill Johnson spin hits from the 1970s, when the museum first opened its doors.

Stories from the first two Lopez Legends, Myths & Yarns programs in 2012 are still available (on CD from the museum.) We heard tales from early Lopez settlers—like Wesley Warner trying to convince his wife and daughters to leave the comfort of their New York home to move here in 1876, and the Cantine family establishing a farm on Fisherman Bay. From more recent times, we heard of Dort & Louie’s adventures building Sea Ranch, and Susie Gallanger’s mother trying to convince Susie to come home. The first LLMY concluded with Mary Wondra’s reading of the lovely poem, If Ever You’ve Lived on an island.

Tickets are $35, and may be purchased from the Lopez Island Historical Museum. The museum is open noon to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, from May through September, and also open year-round for research projects by appointment. Please call 360-468-2049 or send email to lopezmuseum@rockisland.com for more information.