Milestone year for Douglas Historical Society BVCC presents Spring Concert

It is hard to believe but 50 years ago the Jenckes sisters – Helen and Mialma – showed great foresight and deeded their property and its contents on Main Street to the Society.

What was once a general store that offered almost anything a family in Douglas could need for their home and wellbeing is now the E.N. Jenckes Store Museum. Through the leadership of our organization’s boards and presidents past and present, this treasure of the community and the greater Blackstone Valley has been protected for future generations.

It is not just the artifacts – from hand written ledgers that were used to track accounts to dry goods, penny candy and the newly invented washing machine, the Store Museum represents the coming together of community in a time before cars, computers, electronics & social media.

Since 1972 the Society has carried forward with its mission to maintain the general store as it depicts life during the 19th and 20th centuries and to promote research and education about the history of Douglas. Programs and tours, displays, appraisals and pot luck dinners are all part of what makes the Store Museum so special.

The last several years have been challenging as the pandemic closed our doors but now 2023 has us hard at work. A new roof was put on the main store at the end of 2021 and several big projects are underway: we began a multi-phase barn maintenance project in 2022 and repairs to our front porch and giving the buildings a fresh coat of paint are scheduled for 2023. More than half our current operating budget goes to our biggest expenses –general upkeep and paying for fuel oil to heat.

As the Society celebrates 50 years at the Store Museum we are asking everyone to consider making a donation to help us reach our anniversary fundraising goal of $25,000. No contribution is too small! Watch for more celebration details throughout the summer and please send your contribution to help us protect this gem of the Blackstone River Valley to the Douglas Historical Society at P.O. Box 176, Douglas, MA 01516.

The Blackstone Valley Community Chorus will present their concert, “FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH”, on Sunday, May 21st, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. The concert will take place at Valley Chapel at 14 Hunter Road in Uxbridge. Admission is free, though donations are accepted and appreciated!

FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH includes music that celebrates nature and our relationship with the natural world. This concert is very special for the BVCC. This program was originally prepared during early 2020 and was never performed due to the beginning of the pandemic. The BVCC is very excited to finally be sharing this music with the community!

The Blackstone Valley Community Chorus is comprised of singers from towns throughout Central Massachusetts. Singing under the direction of Diane Pollard of Douglas, the BVCC has been committed to bringing varied musical performance opportunities to the Blackstone Valley for the past 19 years. Visit the BVCC on Facebook or at www.bvcchorus.com for more information.

Open Seats up for Vote at Uxbridge

OPEN SEATS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Board of Selectmen (1) 3 year seat

Finance committee (1) 3 year seat

Board of Health (1) 3 year seat

Library Trustees (2) 3 year seats

School Committee (2) 3 year seats

School Committee (2) 1 year seats