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Dear Members and Friends,
Flushed with pride in the success of our art exhibition, “Colrain on Canvas II,” we approach 2022 with hopes for the return of in-person programs in an accessible Stacy Barn, the certification of the Pitt House for use as a museum, and a fresh Colrain on Canvas III.
Beyond their appeal as fundraisers, these popular “Colrain on Canvas” exhibitions of regional art serve to build community in Colrain. We invite your participation as volunteers in these and other Historical Society events. It’s fun.
Plans for the coming year—Covid permitting—include a Woodland Garden tour and Christmas house tour fundraisers, and a free, on-site program on the Dude Ranch.
Why all this fundraising? Simply put, when we assumed trusteeship of the Pitt House property last year, we assumed the expense of maintaining, heating and insuring five buildings on the property. The material history of Colrain lives here in the collection of artifacts, photographs, textiles and documents donated by Colrain residents for more than 50 years. They tell Colrain’s story. We curate the collection to preserve it and to uncover and display forgotten or little-known bits of town history in exhibits and in free programs. We hope to use the collection as a portal into Colrain’s unique history for school children as well.
As we plan for the re-opening of a refreshed museum in the Pitt House, once required repairs earn a certificate of occupancy, our focus is on relevancy: what did Colrain look like historically, who were its residents and what did they do? We welcome your input.
Those repairs, largely foundational in the house and barn, will require capital funds beyond our annual operational budget. For that purpose we will be launching a capital campaign which you will hear about shortly. We will also be building a legacy circle of folks who include the Historical Society in their estate planning. Please consider joining that circle 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, Joan McQuade, Ken Noyes, Phil Sherburne, Debby Wheeler, Janet Umphress, Casey Ryan, Bill Cole and Sarah Hollister
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I support the efforts of the Colrain Historical Society!
**Non-member friends who contribute $50 or more will become life members.
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Please make check payable to The Colrain Historical Society. Thank you!
Note: The CHS is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, so all your donations are deductible to the extent of the State and Federal tax regulations.