Small Town America Framingham our museum

Having trouble viewing this email?Click here  +Anne Murphy is doing a great job with our museum on the common in Framingham.  If you have been away for years, you will enjoy seeing what is happening in our little museum.  Make a point to visit when you come back to Framingham for a visit.

Greetings: Dave Waller tests the neon Let there be light! In order to truly bring you back to the original Shoppers World, we're lighting up the old neon sign so we can display it along with many other images and artifacts in our Shoppers World 1951-1994 exhibition. Thanks to Dave Waller, the person who dismantled the sign in 1999 along with members of the then Framingham Historical Society, we are hoping to have it ready by February 15th - opening night of the exhibit for members and donors. In addition to being a professional visual effects artist, Dave is a sign collector and member of the Society of Commercial Archaeologists. (Who knew?) He and his son stopped by last Sunday to test the neon bulbs that haven't been moved since he carefully placed them on a table in the basement of the Edgell Memorial Library 13 years ago. With a few exceptions - the letters are intact and the neon still works! Stay tuned. Annie Murphy Executive Director Dennison Roundtable- New Discoveries! Crafts made from Dennison crepe paper Thursday January 24th 7:00 - 8:00 pm Edgell Memorial Library When the Dennison Manufacturing Company's corporate archives were shipped back to "Tag Town" and donated to the Framingham History Center, a group of trained volunteers under the guidance of our Curator began the painstaking yet enthralling task of combing through cabinet after cabinet of samples, letters, collections and records. It's a process that has taken months, yet has been so worthwhile - revealing artifacts and fascinating documents never before seen, even by those who consider themselves "Dennison experts". Join our Curator and volunteers as we show several of these "finds" and discuss the new light they shine on one of Framingham's longest-running business enterprises. A suggested donation of $5 will help us conserve the many artifacts we are discovering. Let us know if you can come by emailing charlene@framinghamhistory.org. Shoppers World 1951-1994 Exhibit to open February 15, 2013 "Ask Me" Girls, Shoppers World opening day 1951 We are looking forward to this exciting museum experience that promises to draw thousands of visitors anxious to revisit this beloved shopping mall. Our "kinder, gentler, shopping center" including the iconic Jordan Marsh dome, provided a distinctive sense of place for 43 years that is missed by many. Friday, Feb. 15th 6:00-8:00pm A member donor '50s cocktail party. Please dress in period attire - ladies, see "Ask Me Girls" for ideas... A Special "SW" Sign Lighting Ceremony will take place at 6:30 pm in front of the Edgell Memorial Library. Saturday, February 16th from 12:00-4:00pm Exhibit opens to the public. Special activities throughout the day to be announced. See you there! Teachers' Training Workshop Funded! We recently received a $10,000 grant from the Foundation For MetroWest to help fund our upcoming Civil War Teacher Training Workshop at the Edgell Memorial Library this summer from July 9-11. We are very excited by the prospect of sharing discoveries from two years of exhaustive research, as well as original programming created to commemorate Framingham's Civil War history with up 20 high school teachers. Full article here... History Biography Book Group Wednesday January 16th 7:30 pm Barnes & Noble Shoppers World, Framingham This month, Judge Elbert Tuttle (Ret.) will lead the discussion of Civilization: The West and the Rest, written by Niall Ferguson. The History/Biography Book Group, a partnership effort of the FHC and Barnes & Noble is now in its 11th year! Free and open to the public, the group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month except December (November's meeting is one day earlier due to holiday) with selections chosen by group members. Not just for Framingham Students... Over the holiday break, Stoneham high school students Kayla Walsh (r) and Arianna Sarro (l) visited the FHC to learn more about Shoppers World as part of their National History Day project. Click here to read more... In This Issue Dennison Roundtable Getting Ready for Shoppers World Teachers Training Workshop History Book Group Not just for Framingham Students Caroling Recap Catherine goes Crazy Annual Appeal Caroling On The Common... A Successful Community Celebration! FHC Board Member Jennifer Toth and volunteer Jeanne Walker keep the baked good flowing. Photo by: FraminghamPatch/SusanPetroni Over 200 people attended our free community event, Caroling on the Common, at Village Hall on December 9th. Voices of MetroWest led the sing-a-long while guests enjoyed hot cocoa and delicious home-baked treats. Children visited with Santa, and used an instant photo taken by Denise Coulson to craft a memento frame. Vintage holiday decorations from the Dennison Manaufacturing Company were also on display. Our door prize raffle, a $50 gift certificate to John Harvards Brew House, was won by Michelle Easton. Click here to see Framingham Patch's video coverage of the event! Inspired Intern's work continues.... Crazy quilt before repair In a previous enewsletter we featured a profile on Catherine Murphy, a textiles intern and student at URI. In that article, Catherine was eager to begin restoratoin work on a heavily damaged crazy quilt in the FHC's collection, a project she would tackle as she resumed classes. Click here to view the "after" photo and read the full story! Annual Appeal A big THANK YOU to all who have donated so generously to our Annual Appeal. The Framingham History Center is a non profit 501c3 organization (not a town agency or department, contrary to tenacious myth), and our ability to "preserve and share Framingham's history" in new, exciting, far-reaching ways depends on support from individual members and donors like you! If you appreciate what we do here to save and promote Framingham's history, please consider a financial donation by clicking here or mailing a check payable to the FHC to PO BOX 2032, Framingham, MA 01703.

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