COLRAIN
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY, INC.
P. O. BOX 45
COLRAIN, MA 01340
November 2018
Dear Members and Friends,
2018 – 2019 will mark the end of an era for the Colrain Historical Society and
the beginning – exciting and a little daunting – of another. Since 1976, When Bill
Pitt left the Pitt House property to the town for the use of the Historical Society and
the town’s citizens, we have operated as a partnership. The town paid for needed
repairs and upgrades such as new windows, and the society maintained the grounds and buildings.
In May, 2018, at a special town meeting, the town voted to “dispose of” the
property with the intention of selling it to the Historical Society at a nominal fee.
Meanwhile, due to lack of a certificate of occupancy on the buildings, we have had
limited access to them.
We expect that following approval of Probate Court, hopefully in 2019, ownership of the property
will pass to the Historical Society. With this change comes the
opportunity to restore these buildings to use as museum, meeting place and collection
storage. With it also comes the challenge to raise the necessary funds and to increase
the active membership to pursue these projects.
While we await full access to the Pitt property, we have been busy creatively
fundraising. In October an exuberantly successful benefit concert of Irish music by
Ikeys Crossing filled the house.
Even now we are selling raffle tickets for a drawing November 23. The winner
will take home a handsome reproduction of the 18th century Connecticut Valley
style tavern table in the Pitt Collection crafted by Ken Noyes.
Plans are nearing completion for a benefit showing of paintings of Colrain
scenes by local and visiting artists, past and present, at the Buckland-Shelburne Community Center April 13 – 14, 2019
Having temporarily lost the use of the Stacy Barn for our meetings and programs,
we moved into Joan McQuade’s barn across the street to continue our series of popular programs, among them:
- Ross Purrington’s red covered meat wagon and its story
- The Hollister Collection, pre-Revolution to the present
- Those Griswolds, founding father and descendants
As iconic buildings disappear from Coleraine Village (most recently the Blue
Block), the Colrain Historical Society remains a historic presence and a bright spot
of activity As we embark on some long-term heavy lifting, won’t you help us with a
generous donation? We are grateful for gifts of any size for the support and encouragement
they represent.
Further, we entreat your active participation in our activities as we head into
the new era.
Thank you,
CHS Board of Directors
Belden Merims, Joan McQuade, Ken Noyes, Ken Shearer, Debby Wheeler, Phil Sherburne, and Janet Umphress
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I support the efforts of the Colrain Historical Society!
Non-member friends who contribute $50.00 or more will become life members.
Name:
____________________
Address:
____________________
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E-mail: ____________________
Phone:
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Please accept my donation of ( ) $50 ( ) $100 ( ) $250 ( ) $500 Other: $
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Please make check payable to The Colrain Historical Society. Thank you!
Note: The CHS is a 501 (3) (C) charitable organization, so all your donations are deductible to the extent of state and federal tax regulations.
Open a PDF copy of the letter in Google Drive to print the donation form:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_gYDsph5V0IMHg3Yy03MWt0N1E5Z1FkeDVHVXg1OFpyX2R3