On September 11th at 2pm, the Hopkinton Historical Society presented its first program in the newly renovated schoolhouse. A lot of work had to be done before the building could be reopened.
"It's been about eight years since the building was closed," said Historical Society President Bill Shaw.
The Historical Society held meetings in the building in the 80s, but there were a number of issues such as accessibility issues and heating in the winter. New insulation, two new furnaces, and handicap accessible bathrooms and ramps were installed as a result. The windows were rebuilt, roofing was re-added, and stairs were built to give access to the basement.
To celebrate the re-opening, local historian and former high school history teacher Chuck Joseph presented pictures and stories of Hopkinton from the 1900s to modern day.
"I've gone to a lot of historical society presentations and library program to find programs for our society," said Program Director Ray Gendreau, "but Chuck Joseph's presentation on Hopkinton seemed perfect for an opening program.
The presentation drew a large crowd.
"We were hoping for 30 people," said Gendreau. "I counted 63."
Now that the building is running and open again, it is the hope of Historical Society President Bill Shaw that many different community groups will take advantage of the newly renovated space for meetings. A museum is also housed in the building, and donations are being accepted.
If you need meeting space, or have historical artifacts related to Hopkinton, visit the Historical Society Website, or call 508-435-4502 for more information.
