A New Year is Upon Us
Beginning with the Annual Meeting in October, many new efforts and activities will be seen during the 2009 operating year and you can have a role in their effectiveness.
Check out our web site! Thanks to Nick Santorineos the web site has a whole new look about it It is easier to locate what you need and has eliminated a lot of older information. In addition, there is a lot of new and updated material to be found.
At the annual meeting, the incoming President, George Gross, listed five
objectives he wishes to see happen during 2009.
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Each of these objectives will require the support of all members and friends of Matthews Museum.
Drop by and see the progress on our new wing. The foundation is in and the slab has been poured. The timber frame is slated to arrive in May.
We seek contributions to the Museum carriage house building fund. Help us out.
If you have items on loan to the museum, please consider giving ownership to the Museum. You would then be eligible for an income tax deduction for the value of the donated item(s). We could then list them in our inventory as donations rather than loans. If you can contribute some skills in photography, typing or writing short articles about items in the Museum contact us and volunteer during July and August.
We are remembering Gene de Groff, who passed away this summer. Gene was a long time board member of the museum, and with his originality and vast knowledge on many topics he made a substantial contribution to the organization over the years.
As always, the topic of volunteers is an important one, and one we care about. This summer, Elaine Tracy, with some help, did a wonderful job in making sure the museum was staffed well throughout Union Fair week, proving that we can get volunteers if we need to and the circumstances are right. Many of the volunteers commented privately how much they enjoy spending a few hours at the museum, helping out a worthy organization and at the same time satisfying a craving for history and knowledge.
While people are always offering new items for our collection we are working hard, and succeeding, I think, not to become the town's attic. I'll mention two noteworthy developments on the collection in 2008. First, the complete overhaul of the kitchen area. After the work was done it looked fresh and light, and it is a nice reminder that while our little museum looks great, there is always room for improvement. Secondly, our one horse shay, owned by Mr. Ralph Bond of Washington, was sent to Freeport for restoration. When it comes back, the Carriage House in its current state will not be an appropriate place for it, so that will need some thought, effort and rearranging, if not something more drastic, in the near future.
The important process of cataloguing our collection continued in 2008, with the return of Nancy Pike and the hard work of summer intern Jenny Gold, who just graduated from Colby.
In early September the groundbreaking for the new addition took place. This is a major milestone in a project that started just before I joined this organization. The acquisition of the historic bottle stand was the reason the museum was incorporated and went independent from the Union Fair. After years of fund raising, marked by the perseverance of George and Judy Gross and their friends of the New England Moxie Congress, this is a big step toward the completion of this project, and deserves congratulations. Once complete, it will have a big impact on the museum, in more ways then I can list here. For one, this will be a major opportunity to bring new blood into the organization as it is a great project to raise awareness and recruit interested people as well as sponsors, while at the same time it will be a landmark on the fair grounds and in the town of Union.
If you would like to serve as "Superintendent" of Hodge School assisting in its upkeep and future preservation, contact George Gross at 973-379-1566. The Super would help to direct the restoration process with such items as lighting suggestions and possible installation of the missing sink among other things.
Our hats are off to Bob Oxton of Camden for his generosity and labors in excavation work on the Museum wing addition. Bob not only gave of his time and talents but also free use of his equipment. We also thank Union Farm Equipment, Fuller Chevrolet and Bill Packard for their generous support as well.
Thank You Ben!
After serving for seven years, the Board extends it's gratitude to Ben van der Schaaf for his leadership as President. We look forward to his input and help as he steps down to pursue his personal goals. George Gross will take his place in 2009.
Clark and Martha Hooper were recognized by the Union Fair Committee as Fair Volunteers of the Year, 2008.
Judy Grinnell, membership and sales coordinator was chosen as Volunteer of the Year at the Annual Meeting. Judy has been an integral part of the Board for seven years serving as Secretary, dedicated volunteer and Hodge School reunion chair among other duties. Congratulations Judy!
