Earlier this month, the Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s administration released the funds for “earmarks” included in the Fiscal Year 2018 General Appropriations Act, funding approved by the Legislature for local projects throughout the Commonwealth.
One such earmark was $70,000 for the purchase of new climate-controlled display cases for the Framingham History Center,which will ensure that artifacts are displayed in a manner to adequately protect them.
FRAMINGHAM – The Commonwealth is awarding the Framingham History Center $70,000 to purchase climate-controlled display cases.
“The Framingham History Center is the steward of three of the city’s most historic buildings on Framingham’s Centre Common – the Old Academy (1837), the Village Hall (1837) and the Edgell Memorial Library (1872). And while these buildings are architecturally significant, they are not ideally suited to house and display fragile historic artifacts,” said Rep. Chris Walsh.
“As an architect and student of history, I understand the importance of preserving historical artifacts and buildings and I wanted to do something to help the History Center’s mission to preserve and share Framingham’s history in order to encourage connection to community,” said Rep. Walsh, a Democrat, who represents Framingham.
“I was thrilled last year when Representative Walsh came to us and asked us whether there was something specific state funding could help with, and we decided on funding to purchase climate controlled display and storage cases,” said Annie Murphy Executive Director of the Framingham History Center.
“Some of these significant items include a recorder, one of six musical instruments in New England from the Revolutionary War period, and a tune book carried through the Revolutionary War by 13 year old fifer Thomas Nixon Jr. who was at battles including Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, and New York Harbor,” said Murphy.
“Having climate controlled display cases will also allow us to safely display original documents including slave sales receipts for two young girls and the original deed for land bought by John Stone from five Native Americans who were part of the Praying Indian colony in Natick,” said Murphy.