Museum

The Pelham Historical Society Museum has been created to display documents and other historical artifacts that tell the story of Pelham’s history. Society volunteers are currently hand crafting display cases, cabinets and bookcases to enable the public to enjoy the viewing of the society’s growing collection of old things.

There is no limit to the variety of objects that we hope to display. We have the fireplace mantel from General Joshua Atwood’s best parlor and the door to his master bedroom. We have a collection of Street Trolley artifacts including railroad spikes, sections of track, model trolley cars, track layout plans, time-tables and photos. Other collections include early kitchen utensils and wood working tools. Flags, uniforms and military items make up still another collection.

You can help make the Pelham Historical Society Museum a truly unique enjoyable educational viewing experience. Do you have any old town reports, books, photos, diaries, letters, newspaper articles, account books, voting lists, posters, tools, military items, family histories, clothing, embossed glass milk bottles from Pelham’s old farms, foot warmers, furniture, children’s toys, doll collections, antiques, family genealogies, or other items that you would like to donate to the Pelham museum?

If so, please contact William T. Hayes, Museum Curator, of the Pelham Historical Society Museum at william.t.hayes@pelhamnhhistory.org.

Plaques will identify the donor of items on display.
 

May 21, 2006

Hello All:

As you may have read in the newspapers, Filene's has left the Rockingham Mall. A liquidator was hired to dispose of all of the store fixtures in the old Macy's store. Macy's moved into the Filene's location.

Barbara Everhard suggested that I check out the availability of display cases for the proposed Historical Society Museum. Many cases were available, ranging in length from 43 inches to 84 inches. New, they must have cost between $1,600.00 and $4,000.00 each. The liquidator had priced them at between $450.00 and $600.00 each.

Fortunately, I arrived towards the end of the sale. It was equally fortunate that the liquidator was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, now the Oldest Historical Society in America, first established as a Militia Company in 1638.

He sold us 22 display cabinets at an average price of $50.00 per cabinet for a total cost of $1,100.00. I borrowed the Sunlite Realty Courtesy Truck from Cindy Ronan and used my own truck and trailer and Phil Blanchette's truck to move the cabinets. I hired the Macy's laborers who loaded the truck and trailer in the day to come to Pelham at night to unload the truck and trailer. The display cases are very heavy. In addition to the hired laborers, Phil Blanchette, my son Bill, my son-in-law Ron Strout, my cousin Arthur, and his grandson Justin, helped in the move. The laborers came to Pelham on two separate evenings.

In addition to paying the laborers, I refueled the Sunlite courtesy truck.

The average cost of moving the cases from Salem and into the building was $22.00. The cases, with delivery, cost $74.00 each. This cost will be paid for from donations recently received from Judge J. Albert Lynch, a founding member of the Pelham Historical Society, and John Hardy of Long Island New York.

Each case has a glass top and front, and at least two mirrored sliding rear access doors (with locks), two plate glass shelves, four shelf supports and two drawers (with locks). At least 11 individual pieces were removed from each case to reduce the weight. The larger cases had more shelves, supports and drawers. As a consequence, about three hundred separate pieces are spread out on the first floor of our building. The cases will have to be reassembled and some moved to the basement, before we can hold our next meeting.

Since our secretary has moved out of town, only those with email are receiving this message. Please pass it on to those members without email that you may run in to.

Spike (William T. Hayes)