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.

Though the Historical Collection has been inaccessible to the public in recent years, work is being undertaken to make the Conant Public Library Historical Museum available to the public once again as a way to learn more about our town's rich history.