The Magic Lantern Innovation Center in Bridgton Continues to Serve the Community

Orono, Maine — In 2021, the Maine 4-H Foundation completed a fund development campaign to purchase the Magic Lantern, a theater and restaurant on Depot Street in Bridgton, and expand the community engagement it offers with the development and creation of a Maine 4-H Foundation Innovation Center for youth. On Oct. 14, 2021, the Magic Lantern/Snapdragon transferred ownership to the Maine 4-H Foundation to become a new  Learning Center. The donation of the Magic Lantern is a $2.97 million donation from Frank Howell and his family, snapdragon LLC and a part of the major fund development work to create the new 4-H Learning Center.

The center, which has been successful with community support is well into its’ third year. Offering new and traditional movies, a self-serve restaurant, special events and dinners, a home for community events, and youth programs in the visual and performing arts, science, technology, engineering and more.

Under Maine 4-H Foundation ownership, the Magic Lantern will continue to offer a three-auditorium theater, a restaurant with movie projection capabilities and a venue for community engagement.

In addition, high school and college-age students have opportunities to gain experience in theater, engineering, small business management, marketing and culinary arts, and make connections with local nonprofit and for-profit entities.

The goal is to have revenue from the Magic Lantern theater and restaurant support the building and provide the space for local youth education, and community programs, making the facility as self-sustaining as possible.

“Our intention has always been to promote entertainment, culture and education through the Magic Lantern. We lit the torch; the Maine 4-H Foundation will continue to run with it. We couldn’t be happier,” says Magic Lantern co-owner Frank Howell.

Snapdragon LLC owned the facility, which opened in February 2008 as a community center with state-of-the-art technology, including high-definition projection and sound systems. Both Snapdragon and the Howell family have made a tremendous donation in making this new project a reality, noted Susan Jennings, Maine 4-H Foundation Executive Director.

In addition to Howell and Jennings, the planning team behind the project included a team of community volunteers and input from school superintendents, headmasters, and nonprofit and foundation leaders and educators.

Support for the 4-million-dollar fundraising campaign came from community members and businesses, the Kendal C. and Anna Ham Charitable Foundation, Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary, Web Granger Family, Chalmers Insurance Group, Norway Savings Bank, Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, Stifler Family Foundation, community and dedicated 4-H donors.

Additionally, earlier this year, Senator Angus King and Representative Chellie Pingree both advanced congressional earmark funding requests to support the Magic Lantern redevelopment project.

Fundraising will continue in support of community education and internship opportunities for youth.

“This new 4-H learning center will grow to offer new and exciting programs for youth in the Lakes Region and connect with our statewide network of learning centers and county Extension offices,” says Maine 4-H Foundation president Carla Lafayette. “It is an incredible opportunity for the entire community and one we will continue to raise funds for as we expand programming.”

For programming focused on math, design and engineering, the center will partner with area businesses, such as Down East Innovation, RLC Engineering, UMaine, the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, Educate Maine, 4-H STEM Hubs and local schools — all of which are current participants in 4-H Youth Development programs statewide.

The overarching goal is to increase affordable educational opportunities for rural youth in western Maine, Jenni Ricci says as the new Assistant Director.

“Young people growing up in rural Maine do not have the same opportunities and resources that other youth have in the urban areas of Maine,” says Jennings. “4-H has been engaged in experiential education pilot school programs for over 15 years and have successfully increased test scores, raised aspirations, increased attendance and engaged students in career-based learning. We look forward to partnering with this community and the region to offer programming that can make a difference in the lives of children, youth and their families.”

For more information or to contribute to the project, contact the Maine 4-H Foundation, 207.615.7300;  A video about the initiative is on the Maine 4-H Foundation’s Magic Lantern page.