A hidden gem in Jaffrey
Recently, old friends from Boston who moved to Jaffrey some 25 years ago invited us for dinner. But they asked if we would first like to meet them at the Melville Academy Museum, 39 Thorndike Pond Road, Jaffrey, for a quick tour. Of course, we said yes, and of course, we learned that she and her husband have been intimately involved with the museum — and much of Jaffrey’s historical preservation — for decades. What a treat to see this well-cared-for building!
The museum celebrated its 107th year as Jaffrey Center’s local history museum this year, and it continues to be a volunteer service of the Jaffrey Center Village Improvement Society (VIS). Inside there is the 1841 Classroom on the second floor, comprising 28 mortise-and-tenon benches and desks and information about the students who attended; fantastic maps of Cheshire and Hillsborough counties; wonderful collections of toys, games and books; and a bronze life cast of the right hand of Abraham Lincoln, among many other artifacts.
On the first floor, you’ll find carefully curated letters, books and ephemera from 1750 to the present, including a corner highlighting five prominent Jaffrey residents: Willa Cather, Jonas Melville, Hannah Davis, Laban Ainsworth and Amos Fortune. The museum is only open from 2 to 4 p.m. on weekends in July and August, so make a plan to drop by and support this gem before the season ends. And thanks to Suze and Ken Campbell for introducing us to this wonderful collection.