Take a historic setting, add some architectural expertise, stir in some exotic food and spirits, season with some mellow music, and there you have it: the Boothbay Region Historical Society's recipe for the major celebration event of its 40th anniversary year.

The historic setting consists of the house, barn and grounds of the 1768 Nicholas Knight house at the Boothbay Common where the celebration will be held Sunday, Sept. 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. Melinda Browne, a former historical society trustee, and her husband, Jeff, the present owners of this carefully restored and decorated home, have offered to allow a limited number of guests to mingle on the grounds, in the barn and will lead small-group guided tours of the house.

Architectural expert Les Fossel, whose specialty is old house restoration, will be on hand to discuss the details of the colonial house and barn, and Barbara Rumsey, BRHS director, will welcome guests and say a few words to put the celebration in context. The Nicholas Knight house was the first home of the society shortly after it was founded in 1967.

Musicians Arthur Webster and his sister, June Rose, whose aunt and uncle, Birdene and P. Wentworth Shackleton, owned the property in the 1950s and 1960s, restoring the house to its original 18th century appearance, will provide music. There will be wine, sparkling cider and sparkling water. Hors d'oeuvres will be catered by The Gallery plus specialties contributed by some of the BRHS members and served in the barn where special exhibits will be set up. Tents will be set up on the lawn.

The Nicholas Knight house was built in 1768 by John Beath on land owned by Boothbay's first settled minister. Originally called 'the session house,' the building served as an adjunct to the meetinghouse next door. Builder John Beath was one of the founding church elders, and that group of men ordinarily held their meetings, or sessions, in the session house.

Tickets for the event, at $40 each, went on sale at the museum this week, and are limited to the first 100 people who sign up. Museum hours are Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets can be reserved by telephone, 633-0820.

Doreen Dun, BRHS president, said the society is deeply grateful to the Brownes for opening their house and grounds.

"There could be no more appropriate place for this special celebration than being able to come home to where the society started," she said. Serving on a committee planning the event are Dun and Rumsey, joined by Holly Fulmer, Laurie Green, BRHS administrator, Faith Meyer, Cathy Sherrill, Marcia Soler and Bea Walker. Proceeds from the event will benefit the society's ongoing work in preserving the region's history.

This is the second in a series of anniversary events. The first, July 27, was an all-day celebration at the society's museum, 72 Oak St. in Boothbay Harbor that included a bake sale, a nautical knot-tying demonstration and a talk by popular Maine author Colin Woodard.

Further information on the historical society is available on its Web site,

www.boothbayhistorical. org.