A Sunday afternoon destination: MAHS museum and gift shop

Stop by the MAHS Museum and Gift Shop at 302 E. Main, as well as the nearby Blacksmith Shop, on Sunday afternoons from 1-4 pm.

The Blacksmith Shop is just a few steps east on Main Street from the four corners where you will find the spacious Kingsley-Jenter House, home of the museum & gift shop.

When the sign is turned, they’re open!

The gift shop has many unique locally-oriented gifts in an inviting corner of the K-J House.

A large photo reproduction of the old “Dillingham School” in Bridgewater Township is the backdrop for the school section of the MAHS museum.

Former businesses and downtown sites are celebrated in another area of the museum

Original Chicken Broil memorabilia from 1954, the first year of the Broil, also includes artwork and other intriguing information from over the years.

Alfred Lehman’s WWI helmet, uniform, gas mask, and canteen is part of the exhibit honoring veterans in Manchester.

While summer weekends are often reserved for fun outdoor activities, a Sunday afternoon in the fall and winter can seem long and dreary. That might be a good time to visit the Manchester area Historical Society Museum and gift shop on Main Street. Or, the blacksmith shop just a few doors down.

The well-curated collection in the museum area of the Kingsley-Jenter House at 302 E. Main Street provides a glimpse into Manchester’s past. As the sign says when you enter, “Ye Who Enter, Look Back 100 Years.” And it may well be more than 100 years! There are Civil War relics from before Manchester became a village, as well as those from the World Wars in the 20th Century. From local one-room schoolhouses to home furnishings dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, there is something of interest to everyone. And the collection continues to grow!

At the John Schneider Blacksmith Shop a few doors down (324 E. Main), there is even more to see with live blacksmithing demonstrations and some items for sale that have been made on-site.

If you haven’t stopped in when the “Open” sign is up at the (K-J) House or at the blacksmith shop on Sunday afternoons between 1 and 4 pm, you may want to make it a point to do so.

Thanks to MAHS members Sue LaRocque and David Renner for their hard work in making these long-time dreams of the historical society a reality!

Inside the blacksmith shop, you’ll find live demonstrations and even some hand crafted metal items, made on-site, for purchase.

For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive.

by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.