NEWTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Minutes of October 8, 2012
Merrimac Savings Bank
Members present: |
Bill Landry |
Mary Riordan |
Karen O’Malley |
Marilyn Landry |
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Diane Morin |
John Meserve |
Kathy Meserve |
Barb DiBartolomeo |
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Sally Woodman |
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Bill Landry called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM.
Secretary’s Report – Mary Riordan
Marilyn Landry made a motion to accept the minutes of September 10, 2012. John Meserve seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 yea, 0 nay, 3 abstentions.
Treasurer’s Report – Bill Landry
Marilyn Landry made a motion to accept the Treasurers’ Reports. Karen O’Malley seconded the motion. The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
Old Business:
Fall Festival Update: Kathy Meserve reported the committee has chosen the wine. We will have wine from Flag Hill Winery, Jewell Towne Winery and some purchased at Market Basket. A press release was sent to the newspapers. The posters are up. Kathy Meserve reported we are in need of door prizes. Marilyn Landry, Sally Woodman and Cheryl Saunders volunteered to do the food platters. Karen O’Malley will bring her Tartan blazer. Karen O’Malley suggested the items taken from the Schoolhouse for display are marked with which table they were on. Several of the members will bring tables. Kathy Meserve will get Bill Landry descriptions of the wine. Bill Landry sent two complementary tickets to Richard Stevens for mowing the lawn. Marilyn Landry asked about how
many books we’d be displaying. Diane Morin suggested playing the 250th VCR tape this year.
Curtains without Borders: Bill Landry will go the Selectman’s meeting to see if they will turn the curtains over to us so we can keep them in town. Bill found a VCR tape in the schoolhouse about the Stage Curtains. It is a tape of a presentation by Myrtle Rogers on the curtains. The son of the man who sold the advertisements was on the tape and thought the curtains were painted by Robert Knaves. This is the person that Chris Hadsell from Curtains without Borders thought might have painted the curtains. Bill will try to contact the guy to get more information about the curtains before doing the grant. Diane Morin suggested showing the tape on Channel 20 if the quality is good enough.
New Business:
Removal of branches etc… at Primary School: Bill Landry met with John Owens about the limbs around the schoolhouse. John suggested taking down all the limbs overhanging the building, remove a tree on the right and clear out the brush and poison ivy on the left side of the building. Bill received a bid from Sunrise Tree Sve. for $560 for the work. Bill Landry made a motion to accept the bid from Sunrise Tree Service for $560 to do the work. Sally Woodman seconded the motion. The motion passed on a unanimous vote. Bill will call them to give them the go ahead to start. John Owens also suggested removing a tree on the left of the building. The tree is on the Gallant’s property. There was discussion on how to proceed. Bill Landry will check with our insurance
agent on what would be covered if the tree should fall on our building. John Meserve suggested talking to the Gallants explaining the situation before sending a letter.
Other:
September Museum Open House: The turnout was disappointing. Only 2 people came to the Marshall House and 4 people came to the Primary Schoolhouse. Bill Landry was talking to Trish McCarthy who suggested having the Open House in conjunction with another event in town.
Reports of Curators & Committee Chairpersons:
Curators: No report
Historian: Status of storage supplies – Courtney send an email to Bill reporting she would begin work on the Marshall House when all the supplies arrived. Bill told her he and Ron will open the display case in the Schoolhouse so we can work on the jacket.
Archivist: Accessioning – Karen O’Malley reported no progress this past month. Karen and Barb DiBartolomeo will meet to take more pictures. Karen said the new laptop is working well.
Programs: Sally Woodman reported Mr. Knoblock, who gives the Covered Bridge presentation is in the hospital and will get back to Sally when he’s out. She is shooting for June, July or August for this presentation. Sally will schedule the Lizzie Borden presentation for September 25th. Sally reported the Irish minstrel charges $200. He is not through the NHCC. There was discussion on whether to pursue him. The consensus was not to pursue it at this time.
Correspondence: None
Next Meeting: Monday November 12, 2012 at the Merrimac Savings Bank
Marilyn Landry made a motion to adjourn. Kathy Meserve seconded the motion. The motion passed on a unanimous vote. Bill Landry adjourned the meeting at 7:50PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Riordan, Secretary
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