KINGSTON — “I brought an old wine bottle,” Kingston Historical Society president Bill Reynolds said to the group’s members Thursday at the Kingston Community Center.

“Is it full?” Hap DeCoteau replied in jest.

That wine bottle, an old glass Coke bottle, an unused, still-packaged bar of soap, an old mason jar and a telephone pole glass wire insulator were this month’s new additions to the society’s growing collection of antique items that were once common in the area.

KHS members met Jan. 28 during their regular monthly meeting to discuss the recent discoveries of historical artifacts as well as the society’s goals for 2004.

Reynolds pulled out articles and pictures he collected during the past month to add to the non-profit’s growing files.

“I look at things today that tomorrow will be historical,” he said.

Items ranged from a 1934 picture of an 11-year-old Reynolds and a friend on the Newellhurst Farm to the recent obituary of Kingston resident Sammy Quinn.

As Reynolds explained his findings, the other dozen or so members started discussing who was who in the photos or who lived on what farm property at the time.

Since the group attained its 501(c)3 non-profit status in September 2002, dedicated locals have moved forward in getting the society on its feet.

Members have been collecting pictures, articles and artifacts and storing them in a room dedicated to the society at the Kingston Community Center.

Reynolds said the group has come a long way in the past year.

“We have accomplished what you see today,” he said. “We have come far in the last year. But we want to get bigger — more people.”

The organization’s primary goal this year is to reprint copies of Harold Osborn’s book on Kingston’s history, “The Little City By The Sea” — as a fund-raiser for the group and to produce more copies of the hard-to-find tome. Kingston Printing has the original layouts, however, they need some touch ups because they have yellowed over time, said KHS secretary Harriet Muhrlein.

Members suggested pre-selling copies in local gift, decorating and antique stores as well as through the Kingston Library’s book club and at the Kingston Farmers Market to help raise money.

The book covers Kingston’s history from 1890 to 1990. While it was published several times in the early 1990s, it’s still hard to find copies today.

“It’s a good history,” Reynolds said.

“It’s the best thing available but if we’re going to redo it, we need to make it better,” added society member Robert Johnson about possible updates to the book.

The group also hopes to have an informational stand set up at the Kingston Town Meeting Feb. 28 at Kingston Junior High School.

Cecil Vankeuren, Kingston’s oldest native in town, was quiet during the meeting, but his eyes lit up when he started talking about why he joined the group.

“I like a lot of background but I forget a lot of it, too,” he said with a laugh.

However, Vankeuren did recall the ballfield and the outdoor dancing platform that were located in an open field near Barber Cut Off Road.

While most of the town’s residents attended grade school in the Kingston Schoolhouse at Kola Kole Park, Vankeuren’s school years took place in a one-room schoolhouse at the end of Highland Road, near the present-day David Wolfle Elementary.

“The teacher taught up to ninth grade — all in one room,” Vankeuren recalled.