A Brief History of the Conant Public Library Historical Museum

In 1975, a sum of money was given to the library to renovate the two front rooms upstairs for a Historical Department. Up until the turn of the century,  the Conant Public Library Historical Museum was accessible to the public one day a week as a way to learn more about their history and heritage through exhibitions, programs, and a sizable library of genealogical and historical materials. The historic collection of artifacts has introduced many students, townspeople and visitors to the rich and interesting heritage of our town.

The collection is notable, in part, for its collection of instruments created by early New England makers, including two pipe organs made by Henry Pratt and five brass instruments manufactured by Graves & Co. prior to their relocation to Boston. One of our Pratt organs, Opus No. 1, was the first organ built by Pratt in 1798 and is one of the earliest extant examples of pipe organs built in New England. Opus No. 1 was restored by the Board of Trustees for a Bicentennial project, and was being performed on twice a year as recently as the 1980s, drawing many visitors.

The museum closed its doors to undergo renovation and has remained closed since, preventing patrons from accessing the wealth of historical resources held in its collection. Since 2023, we have been working to reopen the museum, and are proud to announce the launch of our online database, granting the public access to our historical collection as we continue to work towards reopening the museum space for exhibitions, programs, and public enjoyment.

If you would like more information on an object in the online catalog, or would like to make an appointment to view an object in person, we encourage you to get in contact with us!

Click the link to visit our online catalog: https://hub.catalogit.app/15446