History museum to open downtown as early as June

LACONIA — The Laconia Historical and Museum Society will open a museum on Water Street this summer.

Tara Shore, president of LHMS, told city councilors at their meeting Monday night the group intends to open a museum at their 65 Water St. property as early as June. Shore presented to councilors the activities, achievements and challenges faced by the society over the last year, and the opening of the museum was the big ticket item.

“We are the Laconia Historical and Museum Society,” Shore said. “We are thrilled to announce the return of a museum. After a lengthy absence, we are unveiling our new space in June, which will allow us to share the story of Laconia with an even larger part of our community and more frequently.”

On the first floor at 65 Water St., they’re developing a small museum space. Historical society volunteers are looking toward the first weekend of June to open up a set of mixed exhibits, Shore said in an interview Tuesday afternoon, though the date is yet to be locked down.

“We hope to see all of you at the museum,” Shore said at the meeting. 

“Thank you for all of your hard work — all of you — and your dedication,” Mayor Andrew Hosmer said Monday night. “It makes a difference in this community.” 

The last time the society operated a museum was at some point in the 1990s, to the best of Shore’s recollection. 

“It’s been gone for that long,” she said.

Initial thoughts for the opening collection include combining three smaller exhibits — one regarding the history of Laconia Motorcycle Week, which also occurs in June, another about Laconia’s Irish heritage, which they’ve sought to highlight this year, and a third about the industrial history of the city.

“That’s probably going to be the majority of the exhibit,” Shore said.

The first weekend will likely host a sort of community opening, where members of the society will be invited first for something of a “sneak peek”, then it will open completely to the public. They’ll try to figure out the best organization of the museum’s operations between June and December, Shore said. 

The museum will be operated by all volunteers and will have a regular weekly schedule, with no admission fee. 

“This is all new for us,” Shore said, noting this will be sort of a trial-run to see what works best.

Their location at 65 Water St. is where they conduct most of their business, where local legend Warren Huse keeps his office and where volunteers care for Laconia’s archives. Constructed by the Laconia Car Company in 1894, it played a role in numerous industries including the manufacture of trolley cars at one point and was also home to The Laconia Daily Sun and Bonnette, Page & Stone at another.

“It stood firm to facilitate their growth and then eventual transitions,” Shore said Monday night. “While its connections to the car shops and other businesses enhance the importance of our building, it really is the artifacts, photographs and documents housed within it today that make 65 Water St. one of the most historically significant sites in Laconia."

At their annual meeting in February, historical society leaders shared their intention to open up a museum at their facility, but it wasn’t yet known when it might be operational. Now, that achievement is just around the corner. 

Visit laconiahistory.com for updates on the museum's opening.