November, 2025
For the first time ever, we have a real Certificate of Occupancy, which means that we can open our doors as a museum once all the exhibits have been assembled. The shed between the museum house and barn on Main Road has been transformed, with skillful attention to period architectural detail, into a handicapped-accessible bathroom, using materials from the former Memorial Hall and the Methodist Church. That's historical recycling.
Next up: re-structuring and insulating the space above the kitchen for use as climate-controlled storage for much of the CHS collection. These artifacts, photographs, textiles and documents donated by Colrain residents over more than 50 years tell Colrain's story, from its beginning on the 18 century frontier to the present.
Meanwhile, the Curatorial Committee is organizing walls, lighting and exhibits
for a first-floor opening, we hope, in 2026. There, you'll see an exploration of the historic villages of Colrain, a children's room exhibit, perhaps a country store and a 1950s kitchen.
We're writing now, as we do each fall, to ask for your continuing support for this work and to meet ongoing expenses such as heating, insurance, and maintenance of our collection.
Important! Mark your calendar for "A Colrain Christmas Potluck and Auction," December 6, 5-9 p.m., at the Shelburne-Buckland Community Center. You can donate items for the auction by contacting Debby Wheeler (deborahjeanwheeler@gmail.com; 413-624-8800).
We also hope you'll consider joining the Helen Stacy Legacy Circle by including the historical society in your estate planning as a steward of Colrain's history into the future.
Please fill out the form below and return it in the enclosed envelope with your
generous donation.
Thank you,
CHS Board of Directors
Belden Merims, Bill Cole, Joan McQuade, Phil Sherburne, Debby Wheeler, Sarah Hollister, Casey Ryan, Cynthia Herbert and Joyce Root.
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**Non-member friends who contribute $50 or more will become life members.
Name:
Address:
email:
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Please accept my donation of ( ) $50 ( ) $100 ( )$250 ( ) $500 Other:$
Please make check payable to The Colrain Historical Society. Thank you!
Note: The CHS is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization, so all donations are deductible to the extent of the State and Federal tax regulations.
