 |
 |
 |
 |
Welcome
|
Our Next Events “Annual Open House”
|
Estate Auction Clearing Way for Sale of Historic Building
“Oh what fun…” goes the familiar song “Jingle Bells.” This one-horse open sleigh is just one of the over 200 items listed for sale in an online auction of the Meredith Historical Society now through September 12.
Meredith – Can you picture yourself owning a one-horse open sleigh like the one in the song “Jingle Bells”? Well, bids are currently coming in on that as well as a variety of other antique artifacts formerly displayed at the Meredith Historical Society’s Farm Museum.
In preparation for a September sale of the museum building on Winona Road, the liquidation experts at Auction Ninja have opened online bidding on over 200 lots and items. To view the items and place your bid, search for “Meredith Farm Museum Auction” in a browser window and click the AuctionNinja link.
Other items in the auction include a Robinson & Sons pump organ, manufactured right here in Meredith; an assortment of horse-drawn plows; a child’s antique tricycle; a couple of old oxen yokes; numerous antique tools; and even a 48-inch-tall horse buggy. Bidding will remain open through September 12 at 6:35 p.m., and items must be picked up and removed by winning bidders on Saturday or Sunday, Sept. 13 or 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day.
MHS directors this summer voted to approve a purchase offer from NH Builders Inc. of Bedford, who plan to convert the interior of the building, originally a church built in the early 19th century, into a private residence. A contingency of the sale was that “the purchase shall be subject to the granting and recording of a preservation easement requiring that the historical exterior features of the building be maintained and preserved in a manner consistent with its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.” Conversion of the interior to a modern use while maintaining the appearance of the exterior is a frequently used strategy for preserving historic buildings.
John Hopper, president of the society, announced plans last winter to identify a future use of the building. “For a variety of reasons,” he said at the time, “the Farm Museum has remained largely closed, especially over the past 10 years. Partly because it is on a lightly traveled local road, few people ever visited the museum, a trend that persists in the historical museum world not only in New Hampshire but also nationwide.”
In addition, rising costs to maintain the building have grown well beyond the nonprofit society’s ability to meet them, he said. Limited parking and the lack of some basic utilities have also restricted public usage.
Among the options considered by the society was a private sale, which has now come about through the efforts of George Berman, society board member.
So, take a look at the hundreds of antiques available through the ongoing farm museum auction. Maybe you’ll be singing “Jingle all the way” this holiday season!
Proceeds of the auction and building sale go toward the society’s mission to preserve, develop and promote the knowledge and awareness of the town’s rich history through educational programs, museum collections, original historical research and publications, and an expanding library of digital and traditional resources.
|
The Main Street Museum is now open for the season. Hours: |
e-mail: meredithhistoricalsocietynh@gmail.com
