The Meriden Historical Society (MHS) has announced the purchase of 39-41 West Main St., Meriden; (May 28, 2021).

Future home of the Meriden Historical Society on West Main Street across from the courthouse. Photograph by Paul Butkus MHS. The handsome building formerly housed the Meriden office of Connecticut Gas & Electric and later, American Silver Museum.

“The MHS has outgrown its present facility, the Bernice Morehouse Research Center at 1090 Hanover Ave. For the past 20 years, Morehouse has housed out research, historic document storage and administration activities. The new facility will be four times as large, and it will be more centrally located and convenient to the public. It will become an active participant in a thriving downtown area. The new facility will enjoy better security, more storage space for its rapidly increasing collections, and more shelf space for its library. There will be more workspace for cataloging, study, preservation, and public display. The society will continue to operate the historic and beloved Andrews Homestead on West Main Street. The MHS will continue to curate exhibitions and displays of historic interest and to welcome the public to that venerable building. The society hopes to devote some of the space in the new building to serve as a gathering place for meetings and lectures, which neither of its present facilities could accommodate.”

“The Meriden Historical Society purchase of the former Silver Museum is a positive game-changer for the Society and a welcome boost to Meriden’s downtown economic development. This acquisition of a historic building will bring a renewed vibrancy to downtown, drawing visitors for presentations and events celebrating Meriden’s unique history and importance,” according to City Councilor Michael S. Rhode, Chairman of the Council’s Economic Development, Housing & Zoning Committee.

Charles Parker piano stool at Meriden Historical Society's display, Meriden Green. File photo.

Interest in the MHS extends far beyond the city limits. Meriden manufactures are sought by collectors, dealers, auction houses and museums around the country and around the world. The development of search engines and the World Wide Web has greatly facilitated this. The knowledgeable staff of the MHS is constantly bombarded with questions from far distant places about Meriden products.

The financing of the building purchase will be accomplished by a short-term loan, a capital fundraising campaign already in progress, and the sale of the Hanover Avenue property. The MHS is an independent organization relying on dues, contributions and bequests; it is recognized as a non-profit 501-c-3 charitable organization by the IRS.

Claw foot grasps a crystal orb, Charles Parker Co. design. This is one leg of a piano stool – displayed by Meriden Historical Society at the opening of Meriden Green. Photo CB/MDP

Ruth Borsak at the Andrews Homestead – note the painting by Gustav Reiman, a Handel artist. And the magic lantern. AGH/MDP archives

The Andrews Homestead, 424 West Main St., is one of the oldest homes in Meriden. Chock full of items from Meriden’s past, it is open to the public every Sunday in May and October, 11 to 3 p.m., and by appointment. Young and old (and in-between) are welcome to stop in. The parking lot is shared with the Benjamin Franklin Elementary School. Admission is free; donations are appreciated.