Detail of the gravestone of Anna C. Luther, Johnston Historical Cemetery #88. Photo by Christopher Martin. |
Around 2000 we opened our museum barn, built thanks to a grant from the Champlin Foundations. Our meetings were shifted to the barn, and we set up the museum. After research showed that our headquarters house had been built by Elijah Angell, we changed the name of the building to the Elijah Angell House. Today, it functions as a house museum and is part of the Johnston History Museum.
Around 2002 we were deeded the historic Belknap School property. Thanks to another grant from the Champlin Foundations we were able to restore the exterior around 2005-'06, and a further State Preservation Grant allowed us to complete the interior during 2009-'10. On May 15, 2010, the 1892 one-room schoolhouse re-opened to the public for the first time with a dedication ceremony attended by five former students who last sat behind the school's desks in the 1930s and early '40s.
Our society has been, and still is, involved in a number of activities. We are constantly adding to our collection of Johnston material. Monthly meetings with speakers are held at the barn. For the past few years we have hosted dinners and teas in the historical homes of some of our members. We have done much work with the town's one hundred cemeteries, and we have published a historical newsletter for over thirty years.
In the future we would like to start a program through which school children can tour the museum buildings and become acquainted with the history of their town.
Executive Board President—Dan Brown Vice-President—Steve Merolla Treasurer—Joe Jamroz Recording Secretary—Carl Johnson Corresponding Secretary—Christopher Martin Trustees—Phil Lemoi, Grayce Moorehead, Doug Stephens, Anthony Ursillo. Executive Board Meetings are held the second to last Wednesday of each month at our headquarters. All are welcome. |
General Meetings are held the last Wednesday of each month, September through June, at the museum. All are welcome. Want to be a Member? Dues are $20 per year for an individual, $30 per year for a family membership. For additional information call (401) 231-3380. |
Please click the icon to visit and/or sign our Guestbook:
Johnston Historical Society, 101 Putnam Pike, Johnston, RI 02919, (401) 231-3380, johnstonhistorical1825@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted, all content is © Johnston Historical Society.
Updated June 2023