For anyone who followed the saga to save the Richardson depot in East Brookfield, MA, the name Dennis Lebeau should ring a bell. In the intervening time from today to December 23, 2011, not much has happened except waiting while we formulate more detailed plans. So, to keep myself busy, I volunteered to help Dennis in overhauling the East Brookfield Historical Museum. The town approved funding to give the building a face-lift and replace the failed steam heating system. With that system replaced, Dennis decided it was high time to give the museum a face-lift to improve it's appearance. When I was last there, the drop ceiling had been removed to reveal some of the woodwork that had been covered when the ceiling was installed. The list of improvements currently include:

Repainting the room
Sanding and varnishing the hardwood
Cleaning the window frames
Replacement of damaged and worn-out shades with some salvaged from the second floor, which is used for storage
Putting back all that was removed from the museum

That last part will be a bit strenuous, as some of the artifacts are a bit heavy.... That and moving the English cannon back into the far corner of the room. Dennis also has some old photos of the Boston and Albany depot from the 1850s, as well as other photos from the steam age. Long range, Dennis plans to replace the light fixtures with hanging lights that resemble the older styles, yet enable the use of energy efficient lighting.

The building that the Museum is housed in is the former Hodgkins School, which served as an educational institution from when it was built in 1882 to 2002, when the new East Brookfield Elementary School was completed. That gives it the title of longest serving public school in the United States, as well as the longest serving wood-framed school in the nation at 120 years in continuous use. Here's some information regarding the school and Historical Commission:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hodgkins_School
http://www.eastbrookfieldma.us/Historic ... ission.htm
http://www.eastbrookfieldma.us/Historic ... ission.htm