Historical society asks Select Board for temporary storage of valuable quilts; archivist announces retirement

The Whitfield Brookfield Historical Society has asked the Select Board to allow temporary storage of several valuable textile artifacts while the Little Red Schoolhouse undergoes restoration.

Speaker 11, speaking in an archivist role, told the board the society expects to remove about four signature quilts — including the Brookfield quilt — for safe storage during renovations expected to last six to nine months or slightly longer. He said the town vault could provide appropriate humidity control if artifacts are stored atop flat files and that the society plans to pack the textiles in archival boxes.

Speaker 11 also described recurring humidity problems at the historic site and said he expects the society will install a whole-house dehumidifier as part of the restoration. He offered to have the town's attorney draw up an agreement to govern the loan, custody and any liabilities, with Nancy Spencer Smith preparing the draft agreement.

Separately, Speaker 11 announced his intention to retire from the archivist position by the end of the year and recommended assistant archivist Kristen Whitworth as the regular archivist, noting she will need keys, a code and a plan for hours and compensation because she works full time.

Board members asked for follow-up details on the storage arrangement and the proposed agreement, and Speaker 11 said he would return with paperwork and share contact information for the society and the attorney.

Next steps: town staff will coordinate an agreement outlining storage, access and liability; the board will take up the archivist succession and related staffing/hours and pay.