Day of fun, fellowship as Historical Society unveils new additon

IT’S OFFICIAL: Lou McGowan, president of the Johnston Historical Society, makes it official as he cuts the ribbon at the doorway for people to enter the Museum Barn’s new meeting room.

Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine

UNIQUE ITEMS: These are some of the unique wall hangings now on display in the Johnston Historical Society’s Museum Barn.

PIECES OF THE PAST: Items ranging from huge, steel-covered wagon wheels to political signs of yesteryear were on display inside the Johnston Historical Society’s Museum Barn during last Saturday’s highly attended dedication/fundraiser.

GREETINGS: Anthony Ursillo, who chaired last Saturday’s ambitious dedication-fundraiser, joins Edible Arrangements Smithfield storeowner Deb Kostisin at the door, where he greeted dozens upon dozens of supports and friends of the Johnston Historical Society.

SMOOTH SOUNDS: The Johnston Historical Society’s dedication ceremony for the new addition to the Museum Barn was a huge success and featured the smooth sounds of a jazz quartet from the Rhode Island Philharmonic School of Music. The group includes Daniel Kim in alto sax, Evan Carley on bass, Lars Case on drums and Will Evans on piano.

LIGHT MOMENT: Joe Jamroz, center, treasurer of the Johnston Historical Society, enjoys a lighter moment with Mike Korra, left, and Peter Giammarco during last Saturday’s fun-filled dedication/fundraiser.

Posted Thursday, May 1, 2014 1:43 pm

Pete Fontaine

“I’m really happy to see a lot of people support our work of helping preserve local history,” said Lou McGowan, president of the Johnston Historical Society, on Saturday. “It seems like the rain may have helped us.”

McGowan was speaking about the many people – 125-plus – who took in the society’s impressive dedication/fundraiser that was held inside the Museum Barn and Elijah Angell House located at 101 Putnam Pike (Route 44) in Johnston. For inside of three hours, people of all ages walked through both society properties but marveled at the new 22-by-24-foot addition to the Museum Barn that was made possible by a generous grant from the Champlin Foundations.

“This [new addition] is very nice,” said Martha Mikkelsen, an admitted history buff from North Scituate, as she looked at several historic wall hangings and looked over the seemingly endless selection of silent auction prizes.

Mikkelsen, as well as ladies like Sharon Silcox of Sneedville, Tenn. and Ellen Lanpher of Saunderstown, were genuinely impressed with everything from the chocolate-covered strawberries presented by Edible Arrangements store owner Deb Kostisin to many calzones from Palermo’s of Johnston.

The wide selection of pastry donated by Francesco “Porky” Martinelli and Dana Martinelli of the Bread Boss bakery located at 64 Putnam Pike and the delicious cupcakes provided by Decadent Design by Jean drew rave reviews from the day’s guests.

Likewise, there was a special centerpiece done by Mother Nature’s Florists, and historical society board member Belmira McGowan and his sister Ida did what event Chairman Anthony Ursillo called “an awesome job of organizing the food table.”

Some people even noted that Saturday’s official dedication-ribbon cutting had the perfect script for an old-time play. From the time people walked up the two wooden steps and signed the guest book until they made their way around a myriad of artifacts that included huge steel-covered wagon wheels, this may have been the society’s finest hour.

“What a wonderful turnout,” said McGowan, who performed the ceremonial cutting of the royal blue ribbon that was tacked to the doorway of the Museum Barn’s addition. “I’m overwhelmed with the number of people who came here today.”

To which Danny Brown, the society’s vice president, added, “This was a great success, seeing how it was a rainy day. A lot of new people who I’ve never seen before showed up.”

Although the final figures have not as yet been determined, McGowan said organizers were “thrilled that everybody had a good time and enjoyed good conversation. We’re pleased with the response of the silent auction; there was lots of bidding and people got some great buys. It seemed like the rain may have helped us.”

McGowan, who like Brown and society treasurer Joe Jamroz and people like Cemetery Committee chairs Pat Macari and Steve Merolla spent much of their time talking with people and explaining various points of interest in the original Museum Barn that has been nicely divided into various categories such as local police and fire, suddenly turned softer than usual.

“It makes me feel proud to have such a good team for me to work with,” McGowan said. “People seem to be pleased with the new addition, and for that we’re ever thankful to the Champlin Foundations for trusting us with their money. We’re very, very excited about our new meeting room.”

Ursillo, who actually co-chaired the entire event with Timothy Kee, also issued a “special thank you to a former Johnston resident who wishes to remain anonymous but who greatly cares and understands the importance of preservation and history who was proud to help the Johnston Historical Society with a very generous donation.”

Saturday was also made special by society trustee Rolf Johnston, who put on a wheelwright demonstration and was tremendously enhanced by the four-piece jazz orchestra made up of Will Evans on piano, Lars Case on drums, Daniel Kim on alto sax and Evan Carley on bass. All of the band members are students at the Rhode Island Philharmonic School of Music.

“They were absolutely amazing and added a perfect touch to the afternoon,” Ursillo said of the jazz quartet. “And thank you to Elise Carlson, Dan Brown, Louis and Belmira McGowan, Joe Jamroz, Jim and Alice Lombari, Christopher Martin, Doug Stevens and JHS members as well as the local community for helping support out non-profit organization. Today was indeed special – in many ways.”