Historical Museum celebrates Christmas in style
Dec 12, 2023
Joel, seated, uses an antique player piano with the help of a volunteer at the Middleboro Historical Museum’s holiday open house on Sunday, Dec. 10. Photos by Sawyer Smook-Pollitt
The player piano at the Middleboro Historical Museum is operated using foot pedals.
The Middleboro Historical Museum was decorated for the holidays.
The museum features a display of Christmas-themed photos from World War II.
The event’s bake sale was very popular.
MIDDLEBORO — Guests to the Middleboro Historical Museum on Sunday, Dec. 10 got a taste of Christmas — 19th century style — at the museum’s open house.
“The goal is to celebrate the holidays and wrap up for the year with our programming,” said Middleboro Historical Association President Daniel Thompson.
Middleboro Historical Museum guest Dorothy Milligan said she “enjoyed [the open house] very much,” as she walked through the museum.
One highlight of the event was an antique player piano that guests could try their hand — or more accurately, feet — at playing.
The piano was a big hit for guests young and old. There also was a bake sale and a “Christmas emporium” that sold holiday-themed goods.
According to Middleboro Historical Association volunteer Doug Vantran, the bake sale took place in a room decorated with furniture from the old Peirce Building in Middleboro center.
“When [the Pierce Building] closed down, we got things from the store,” said Vantran. “You’ll see we have the [building’s] counter.”
According to Thompson, all proceeds from the event will go toward the Middleboro Historic Association and its activities.
Thompson added that the association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1922 that hosts events throughout the year. He said that events like Sunday’s open house are “absolutely” helpful for introducing new people to the museum and the association.
“We are looking for younger people who are interested in history and who want to join us and volunteer and become members,” said Thompson “We rely on their support, not only monetarily … nine out of 10 of us [on the board of directors] are 70 and above. We have one guy who’s 38 … he’s our social media person.”
Anyone interested in volunteering with the Middleboro Historical Association can visit middleboroughhistoricalassociation.org for more information.
“Our slogan is … going forward with the past. And that’s what we want to do,” said Thompson. “We want to continue to preserve [the past] and make sure that this place does stay open and is here for people in the future.”
