(Chelsea Update would like to thank Shawn Personke for the information and photos in this story.)
The Chelsea Area Historical Museum will open a new exhibit – the first of a series celebrating the 1950s through the 1990s — on Thursday, June 9, during Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights.
The museum has been collecting artifacts throughout the spring and organizers were overwhelmed by the response.
“It seems like everyone had something to donate or loan,” said Janet Ogle-Mater, CAHS secretary and volunteer coordinator. “People hung on to an amazing variety of things and we’re excited to showcase these for the community.”
“From fondue pots to 8-tracks, and macrame to leisure suits, the collection really shows the arc of the 1970s,” said Ogle-Mater. She adds that it’s so interesting how different donors’ items were just made for each other.
“We’d received a cool leather trench coat from one donor. And then a classic ’70’s pantsuit arrived,” Ogle-Mater said, adding, “Once Glenna Jo Christen, our exhibit co-curator, found a pair of platform shoes in shades of burnt orange, we knew we had the perfect ensemble. I think folks who loved through the 1970s will get a kick out of it.”
“Chelsea Through the Decade — 1970s” will run through mid-2023. The museum is open Thursdays during Sounds & Sights, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturdays, noon to 3 p.m. The museum is looking for local residents who would enjoy hosting visitors during open hours.
The mission of the Chelsea Area Historical Society is to gather and preserve Chelsea area history, educate the public, and promote the restoration and preservation of historic buildings and sites for future generations. The museum is located in the 1853 Boyd House, at 128 Jackson St., across from the Chelsea Depot.
For more information, visit www.chelseahistory.org or call 734-476-2010.
