NORWICH – Mixed in between stories and laughter, an audience of around 80 at the Chenango County Historical Society’s Capital Campaign Dinner Thursday heard a spirited call to the community: asking it to invest in its own future by investing in local history.
The campaign – which seeks to raise $3.5 million for expanding and enhancing the society’s museum on Rexford Street in Norwich – will hopefully begin to pick up steam in the coming weeks and months, society representatives said.
“Spending now benefits our future generations,” said campaign co-chair Walter O. Rogers. “Those of us that have a general interest in this feel these goals can be achieved. The rewards are well worth it.”
The society’s plan would add 12,000 square feet of exhibition and educational space off of the North and West ends of the building. Their goal is to eventually create a historical and educational hub for the entire county, campaign officials said.
“We’re looking to reach the whole community,” said co-chair Raymond Gregory. “Not just the few.”
The expanded space would house the Norwich Pharmacy Museum collection (currently at the Eaton Center) as well as provide a place to showcase Chenango County’s Civil War flag from the 114th Regiment, records of Mormon religion founder Joseph Smith and historical documents and artifacts from each of the county’s 21 towns.
“The museum needs this, the county needs this,” City of Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino said, referring to the countless number of archives that the current facility cannot hold. “Chenango County’s history did not stop when those four brick walls (the society museum) filled up.”
Among the new initiatives, the society plans on designating a community exhibition space that other museums, organizations and individuals from all over the county can reserve.
“We’ve come full circle,” said museum Director Dave Drucker. “I’m hopeful our new direction will be a good one ... that is strengthened by what I’ve seen here tonight.”
Angelino said he remembers being in awe after taking a field trip to the museum in second grade, noting the interaction with local history that the museum encouraged then and now.
“The Internet doesn’t have anything on a museum,” he said. “We need to get the community excited about this. It has pulled off some pretty amazing things in the past ... I envision that this can happen again.”
The society also honored the memory of its key founder, James S. Flanagan, who helped create the organization just prior to his untimely death 69 years ago this month. They also expressed gratitude to Dr. Thomas Flanagan and his wife, Esther, who are honorary heads of the campaign committee, for their dedication.