MHS Launches Capital Campaign to Bring History Closer to Community

The Manchester Historical Society has worked to preserve the town’s past for more than a century, and now the organization has an eye toward the future with the launch of a major capital campaign to increase the society’s capacity to preserve Manchester’s history and to renovate an historic house on Route 7A south.The Cook House, parts of which go back to the late 18th-century, was donated to MHS by Rocking Stone Farm developer Tommy Harmon in 2017. It is currently undergoing the first phase of repairs, thanks to a generous grant from the Sarah K. de Coizart TENTH Perpetual Charitable Trust, and will soon house the society’s large artifact collection. While the MHS collection will remain at its current home, the Manchester Community Library (MCL), for the foreseeable future, the Cook House will allow artifacts long hidden from the public eye to see the light of day and provide storage for a growing collection.To realize its ambitious plans, MHS will need the support of the Manchester community. Beginning this September, the Historical Society will be seeking contributions from the community to complete its capital campaign, the first ever undertaken by the nonprofit. To date MHS has raised over 70 percent of its $300,000 goal.On Thursday, September 19, MHS will a host a public reception to kick off the final phase of the capital campaign and celebrate the generous supporters who have already let us know they share our passion for history and historical preservation.“After 122 years, MHS has its own property in Manchester, a big step forward," said MHS Curator Shawn Harrington. "We hope everyone who values history, and especially Manchester’s history, will join us to build a solid future for its preservation."This next phase of the Manchester Historical Society’s work is the culmination of phenomenal strides made by the organization in recent years, improving the organizing and cataloging of the collection, sponsoring public programs, and collaborating with local schools and businesses, all in the interest of telling Manchester’s story. With your help, that story will be preserved for generations to come.To make a contribution, please click on our Support page.