Framingham History Center Blog

This week, the Massachusetts House of Representatives will be possibly voting on Amendment 15 to bill # 4825.  This amendment will create a Tourism and Visitors Bureau for the Metrowest area. This would enable hotel taxes from this area to be used toward promoting tourism here in Metrowest.  Right now all of the hotel taxes go right to Boston so this would be a great help to get people to see all that we have out here.

In addition to the Framingham History Center, many arts and cultural organizations in the area have been working with the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce for the past two years to promote the creative economy in the area. 

If you are interested in supporting this amendment, please write to Representative Brian Dempsey at: Rep.BrianDempsey@hou.state.ma.us and Representative Charles Murphy at:  Rep.CharlesMurphy@hwm.state.ma.us

If you would like to cut and paste the message below, please do.  They need to hear from us. 
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear        

I am a supporter of the Framingham History Center and other MetroWest arts and cultural organizations.  As you know, the MetroWest area is a vital region of the Commonwealth. It has a vibrant arts and culture community which only a local Tourism and Visitors Bureau can adequately market.  I encourage you to support the establishment of a Metrowest Tourism and Visitors Bureau so that more can learn about cultural offerings and thereby stimulate the creative economy here and in Massachusetts.  

Thank you for your support,

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Annie Murphy
Executive Director

The FHC is pleased to announce that it has received a $5,000 grant from the Framingham Co-operative Charitable Foundation matching a previous donation of $5,000 from Foundation for Metrowest.  Both of these donations will fund our Civil War in Framingham 2011 initiative.  Last week a group of 30 volunteers convened at the Edgell Memorial Library to begin planning for the Civil War Sesquicentennial which kicks off in April of 2011.  A museum education consultant will be hired with this grant funding to help volunteers and staff develop Civil War exhibitions and programs using the FHC collections, buildings, and stories as well as the town’s sites related to the era of this great conflict.

On Sunday night, at the Danforth Museum, the START Partnership unveiled their economic impact statement with much fanfare.  The MC for the evening was none other than our own Executive Director, Annie Murphy who spoke about how the six organizations in the partnership currently impact the local economy and their projected impact over the next 10 years.  For example, last year 22,530 people from outside Middlesex County came to Framingham to support the various arts and cultural activities.  That number is projected to grow to 264,396 over the next ten years. 

The organizations who contributed data to this study were the Framingham History Center, the Danforth Museum, Amazing Things Art Center, Framingham Public Library, the New England Wildflower Society/Garden in the Woods, and Performing Arts Center of Metrowest.  Staff and directors were at the event as well and many spoke or hosted presentations by their organizations.  Speakers included a full slate of our local representative delegation with State Senator Karen Spilka, Representative Pam Richardson and Representative Tom Sannicandro and Greg Liakos from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. 
There were mini-performances by the Performing Arts Center, story tellers and musicians as well as a video presentation on how the START Partnership members contribute to the arts and culture of Framingham.  It was a great way to see what Framingham has to offer and how it’s only getting better!  If you are interested in receiving a copy of the Economic Impact Study, please email me at michelle@framinghamhistory.org

Jay Lander, Attorney for Ms. Harriet G. Ward, presents Executive Director Annie Murphy with check representing Ms. Ward’s bequest to the Framingham History Center.

This morning, Attorney Jay Lander presented me with a check representing a bequest from Ms. Harriet G. Ward to the Framingham History Center.   Harriet was a member of the FHC, but I don’t think we ever met.  Mr. Lander, who was Harriet’s attorney and knew her very well, described her as very interested in history, a silversmith, a collector, and a wonderful caregiver to her parents, aunts and extended family.  With this gift, her care giving is extended to our community.  It was totally unexpected and could not have come at a better time.  While we have been gaining so much momentum around local preservation and programming, our annual fund has been hit by the economic downturn. It will allow us to continue our work uninterrupted while we also strive for sustainability.

According to Mr. Lander and others who knew her, Harriet was unassuming, liked to have a good time, and did not take herself too seriously — all traits I truly admire.  I also admire her thinking of how important it is to give locally when considering planned gifts.  The Framingham History Center depends on planned giving in addition to annual giving and I hope that you will consider this important community organization when you sit down with your estate planners or advisers.  You can’t imagine how grateful we will be.  If you have any questions about our Planned Giving Program, please call me at 508-626-9091 or email me at director@framinghamhistory.org.
- Annie Murphy
Executive Director