Did you know the first integrated basketball game in Maine took place in Sanford in 1913? This groundbreaking event occurred when Bucky Lew, described by the Sanford Tribune as the “famous colored dribbler,” brought his Lowell Five to the old Town Hall in Springvale village to face the local team.

That Town Hall still stands today and is the current home of the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society. It’s one of the few places where Lew played, and you can walk the same floor he traversed on his way into history.

On Thursday, September 12 at 7:00 PM, Chris Boucher, author of The Original Bucky Lew: Basketball’s First Black Professional, will share photos and stories from Lew’s career at the site of that historic game.

OVERVIEW
The sport of basketball was segregated along color lines before Lew set about changing things. He first signed with the New England League in 1902, and, in a career that spanned 25 years, he ultimately became the first Black player, coach, manager, head referee, and franchise owner in otherwise white leagues.

Despite the rise of Jim Crow laws and a revival of the KKK, Lew built a roster of men from a variety of ethnicities, including Franco-American, Irish, Greek, German, and Jewish players. Players typically earned $7 per game, about $200 today.

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024
Doors Open: 6:15 PM
Event Starts: 7:00 PM
Address: Historical Museum, 505 Main Street, Springvale, ME
The museum is handicapped accessible.

TICKETS
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public. For questions, please call 207‑651‑1980 or email lfurbish@sanfordhistory.org.