Saunders tours Wendell Historical Society’s potential home as crowdfunding campaign nears end

By DOMENIC POLI

Staff Writer

Published: 06-09-2023 5:24 PM

WENDELL — The Democrat representing the 7th Hampden District in the state House of Representatives toured the proposed home of the newly official Wendell Historical Society on Friday afternoon, as the end nears for the crowdfunding campaign set up to finance the endeavor.

Aaron Saunders met with Historical Society members to check out the former depot store and post office at 466 Wendell Depot Road, as well as voice his support for the project as the deadline approaches. The GoFundMe campaign (which can be viewed at bit.ly/3J2RsVi) to raise $45,000 to buy the property concludes on Tuesday, but had only raised $8,620 as of Friday evening. The goal is to purchase the building from the former longtime owner’s daughter.

“It’s tremendous,” Saunders said after walking through the structure. “It’s a great building with good bones, and it has a tremendous amount of history in the community. And I think, when you have … a dedicated group of people, that’s what it takes for something like this.”

Historical Society President Edward Hines explained the building could be Wendell’s first historical museum and repository, something he and board member Pam Richardson said the town desperately needs. The first floor has the old showroom, lunch counter and post office. This area has the potential to be converted into a simple museum with permanent and temporary displays for shows. As of right now, Hines said, all historical treasures related to Wendell are scattered across town in garages, attics, living rooms and basements.

“We see this as a golden opportunity to get a better understanding of the history of the region,” he said before giving Saunders “the grand three-minute tour.”

Kristina Hartjens, executor of the late Anna “Anny” Hartjens’ estate, said selling the property to the Historical Society would be a wonderful way to preserve her mother’s legacy. The elder Hartjens was the town’s postmaster from June 1982 to July 2012. She was also town clerk for the majority of that time and owned the building that housed the former post office and depot store. She died in October, at age 78.

Hines showed Saunders the building’s lunch counter, which he mentioned “has many stories attached to it,” and described the floor space as a “cafe-like design.” The Historical Society hopes to turn the one-room former post office into a gift shop featuring items made by local artists and artisans.

“It’s a small space, but I think it’s the right kind of space for a town of our size,” Hines said.

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The Historical Society president said the structure’s second floor served as an apartment that has ample room for storage.

Saunders said it was fascinating to hear the purpose and significance the building once had in Wendell.

“And hearing the stories from way back was really amazing,” he said. “To think about the role that it played in life for folks.”

The crowdfunding campaign launched on April 27. Tax-deductible donations can also be sent to: the Wendell Historical Society, P.O. Box 941, Wendell MA 01379. There is also a PayPal link on the Historical Society’s website, wendellhistoricalsociety.org. Hines previously said it would cost roughly $200,000 to get the museum up and running, in addition to the purchase of the site. The Wendell Historical Society is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.

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