PETERSHAM — As you walk past the colorful garden welcoming visitors to the Petersham Historical Society, the first thing that catches your eye, once entering the 92-year-old building, is a large, dark brown stagecoach with “Petersham & Athol” etched on the front.
Donated to the historical society in 1928, the object is one of many in the room that details the town’s history.
“It was a raggy mess and not in good condition, because water had started to seep into the basement shortly after the building was constructed for the society,” said President Nancy Allen. “A private donor gave the old wagon to the society, and it was immediately moved into the basement.”
The stagecoach spent about 72 years in the building’s basement, until the historical society brought in a professional to restore the piece in 2003. In celebration of Petersham’s 250th Anniversary, the wagon was put on display in 2004 and has been the centerpiece of the room ever since.
Open from June to the end of October, visitors can also see an array of items, from antique farm equipment to an old telephone to a vintage wedding dress in a large glass case and preserved pianos.
“We do our best to tell the story of the object and the event when people come in, and if they are interested, they can learn as much as they want. That is really important to us, once we conserve something or display it for people to know what it is about,” said Allen.
Each year, the Historical Society displays new exhibits from its collection, in order to create a freshness of the space, said Allen. This year, one of the newest exhibits is a small display of objects that tell the history of Daniel Shays’ Rebellion in Petersham.
“We have been wanting to get something out to help tell that story. It only went out about a month ago, but this little display has already gotten perhaps the most interest this year,” she said.
Once walking in, visitors can also find a new World War I exhibit to the right — with vintage posters and memorabilia from wartime. Allen said the Historical Society put together the display from its collection in honor of the 100th anniversary of the war’s end. Letters and pictures showcase the work Petersham residents partook in to assist the American Red Cross during the war.
“That was something residents and civilians could do, and they really put their all into it,” said Allen.
Watercolor paintings depicting the landscape of the town are also on display from the Historical Society’s collection this year. Tucked in the back corner of the museum is an old, wooden telephone switchboard that was once used in Petersham.
“This is considered one of the last functioning switchboards of its style and of its type in New England, because it lasted until 1957,” said Allen.
While most towns stopped using the system by the 1950s, Petersham, at the time, did not want to stop. Its desire was to continue employing the local residents working the switchboard, said Allen, along with an aversion to change kept the board running.
The switchboard and old telephone are just two objects that bring each visitor throughout the history of the town. People don’t have to travel far, just outside the Common, to find themselves in a completely different time period with paintings, letters, pictures and maps and more.
“As with every museum, you’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg,” said Allen.