Many recent changes
We’ve had several challenges and made many changes in the past months. The Society has leased a second location at 10 Depot Street in Merrimack NH that is also our primary museum and research space. We’ve also changed the look of our web site. We are open to critiques! Tell us what you’d like to see in the comment section.
The “Museum” page has details on both of our properties, with a bit of history as both were former one-room Merrimack schoolhouses. There have been countless upgrades to both of these buildings, with much of our expenses donated. Our new facility will allow us to be more easily accessible for those with disabilities, have a larger meeting space that can be rented out, and will not only have greater museum and library space, but also a huge archival area. Our newsletter (that is mailed to members) includes details on what we are accomplishing and what we hope to. We are deeply grateful to all the volunteers who have made this a reality.
According to John Lastowka, the Merrimack Historical Society president, “In a brief summary, at #12 Schoolhouse (South Merrimack), we have upgraded the existing telephone service to Voice over IP (VoIP), a high-speed WiFi, the Burglar Alarm changed cellular service, and a new Fire Alarm System (meeting Town Code) that is cellular service. The monthly charges of these upgrades are similar to or are the same as our original monthly telecommunications bills. This schoolhouse now has an official occupancy permit to hold or rent space for meetings.”
“We found our dream home, #3 Schoolhouse at 10 Depot Street, an extraordinary building with a rich history. It has a significant meeting room, larger museum space, newly installed state of the art communications, storage for artifacts, and parking. The property has a large lawn perfect for outdoor events in either the front yard or within a fenced in backyard. The opportunities are endless.”Here we have installed a VoIP telephone, high speed fiberoptic internet service and a robust WiFi to meet our expanding communications needs. Space is being delegated for meetings, storage, offices , and a curator’s workshop. Temporary office cubicle space has been set up for the officers and curator to perform their duties. Several donated computers are now in use on our new network. We were gifted forty cloth padded chairs which I’m sure our members will be more than pleased to sit in. MHS volunteers have been working on upgrades and repairs to the building, but we still have much to do. . . We are now publishing a quarterly newsletter to keep all of our members up-to-date on their Society’s work.”
We hope that you, our members and future-members will support the Board of Directors’ efforts to bring the Society into the technology age. These changes will make it easier for all of you to participate in the collection, display, interpretation and preservation of our shared personal histories.