GRAND OPENING!
JUNE 14th – 1- 4pm
The Bellows Falls Historical Society Invites You to Our New Museum and Offices at 46 Canal Street
We had 6 very good years on Westminster Street, and we deeply appreciated finally having a public facing location where we could showcase some of our collections. In December of 2024 Jim Narkiewicz, one of our board members, purchased 46 Canal Street, the beautiful building formerly owned by Sharon Boccelli. Jim has accepted BFHS as his primary tenant. In March we began the move to this much larger space that has the advantage of being handicap accessible—with parking! The expansive building also offers rooms for meetings, workshops, conferences, research and digital presentations.
After decades of darkness for most of our holdings we are now able to better organize and digitize our archives, display our collections, and educate people about the rich history of Bellows Falls, from the lives of the original Abenaki to the early mills, the factory and railroad boom times, and to the bustling and diverse modern community of today. Our archivist, Pat Fowler, along with librarian Karin Gravina, coordinated the move and rallied a team of volunteers including Family Movers of Vermont and students from The Compass School.
This summer we will be hosting a traveling presentation entitled "Seeds of Renewal." This exhibit was created by the Vermont Historical Society in partnership with Dr. Frederick M. Wiseman, an Abenaki community member, retired professor and department chair of humanities at Johnson State College. It aims to raise awareness of Abenaki agricultural history, cuisine, and ceremony, and show how one can play an active role in Indigenous cultural awareness and revitalization. It will tie-in with The Gordon Crandall Native American Cultural Exhibit that is permanently on display.
We will also be having a special showing of art work by local artists Nan Durling and Virginia Clark.
The Bellows Falls Historical Society is wholly supported your contributions.
We hope you can join us to celebrate this important move,
and will continue to support our efforts to
preserve the unique history of our PLACE.
The Adams Grist Mill Museum will open for the season on Saturday, May 24th.
The beautiful riverfront park is open to the public every day - year round - from dawn to dusk.
We continually move towards accomplishing our major goals: to expand, secure and catalogue our collections; to properly restore the historic Frank Adams Grist Mill Museum; to maintain and beautify our lovely Riverfront Park; and to engage the greater public in the fascinating history of our unique little Village of Bellows Falls. Thanks to Jim Narkiewicz and his crew of trained docents the Mill Museum will offer tours Saturday, Sunday this season. Board member Patrick Walker keeps the Mill stocked with unique souvenir items for visitors to take home. Last season donations at the Mill were impressive—nearly $1,000! Park Supervisor Annette Spaulding, and her army of volunteers, have the Park looking more beautiful than ever! Archivist Pat Fowler is striving to get our collections organized and accessible.
We are doing it - with YOUR help. If you appreciate these accomplishments, and want us to continue, your financial support is truly crucial!
We also have several areas of participation if you are interested: archiving at our Center on Westminster Street, landscaping at the Riverfront Park, or becoming a docent at the Mill. We encourage you to join us in preserving or sharing the history of our Village and helping with the beautification of Bellows Falls’ only access to the Connecticut River.Contact: bfhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
The Collections
TOOLS, MACHINES, CARRIAGES, SIGNS, MILL WHEELS AND MORE
The Adams Grist Mill
BUILT IN 1831 THE FRANK ADAMS GRIST MILL IS VIRTUALLY INTACT.
VISIT the BFHS!
BFHS Archives, Education Center and Museum will be open this year in our new location
at 46 Canal Street
Appointments can be made by contacting bfhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
MAILING ADDRESS:
BFHS
PO BOX 176
BELLOWS FALLS, VT 05101
The Frank Adams Grist Mill, 20 Mill Street, will be open for tours 11- 3pm on summer Saturdays and Sundays beginning on May 24th, 2025 - or by appointment. bfhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
VOLUNTEER for the BFHS!
Let us put your skills to work! Contact President Cathy Bergmann at bfhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
"The Historical Society helped me learn about the history of the home I recently purchased in Bellows Falls, providing me with a full photo album from the original family that owned it for over 100 years!"