Progress Update: NCCHP Archives Project

Volunteers continue to make progress on the archives, generally devoting a day a week of on-site work to the task. The 3rd floor of Building 15 is now almost fully occupied by books, documents and drums that have been collected and organized from various storage locations scattered around the 85,000 square foot Noble & Cooley complex.

Most recent additions to the facility include additional metal shelving for document storage, another 100 acid free archival boxes, wood drum storage shelves moved from the attic of Building 14, and a variety of conservation supplies. The majority of the new additions are thanks to the recent SHRAB grant, for which we are very grateful. We also want to thank John Dunphy and the people at University Products in Holyoke, MA. for their support and their amazing ability to provide us with the best archival supplies at unbeatable prices.



University Products, Holyoke, Ma. (NCCHP photo)

If you ever visit Holyoke be sure to check out the Holyoke Canal System, an amazing 19th century engineering feat.

A portion of the Holyoke Canal System (NCCHP photo)

Now that the grant money has gone to good use we are back to being entirely dependent on the generosity of museum members and supporters. Please consider becoming a NCCHP member or if you are already a member, making a year-end special donation.

We are also pleased to report that the Machine Shop now has a new roof. This was a critical need since the old roof was leaking. It's not just any machine shop; it houses the only known machinery from the original Stevens-Duryea automobile plant in Springfield, MA. Noble & Cooley purchased the equipment when Stevens-Duryea went out of business in the late 1920's.