Stoneham Historical Society and Museum Provides Fundraising Update
STONEHAM — Treasurer Bee Russo and members of the Stoneham Historical Society and Museum (SHSM) are pleased to share that an anonymous donor recently matched $10,000 to benefit Stoneham Historical Society and Museum’s Saving the Stoneham Mural Project.
In December, Treasurer Bee Russo was contacted by an individual who pledged to match any donation up to $10,000 made on or before Sunday, Dec. 31, to benefit the Saving the Stoneham Mural Project. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has been following the Saving the Stoneham Mural Project since its inception in the fall of 2021.
During the month of December, SHSM raised a total of $9,175.10.
Impressed by the fundraising efforts, the anonymous donor decided to match the full $10,000, resulting in a total of $19,175.10 raised through this month-long fundraising effort.
The $19,175.10 in funds will now be added to the funds that the SHSM had raised prior to December.
To date, the SHSM has raised $146,428.74 of its $150,000 fundraising goal to preserve the historic “Stoneham, Yesterday and Today” mural by Artist Richard M. Gibney through grants and generous private donations.
“On behalf of the Stoneham Historical Society and Museum, I would like to thank our anonymous donor for this extremely generous donation,” said Treasurer Russo. “It is the kindness of our community that keeps this project moving forward.”
Donations range from $10 to $10,000. To donate, click here.
Saving the Stoneham Mural
The catalyst for the campaign, ARTchiving Stoneham, was the closure of the Bank of America branch on Main Street in June 2021 and the possible destruction of the historic “Stoneham, Yesterday and Today” mural that was housed inside the bank.
In fall 2021, Stoneham Historical Society and Museum and Stoneham Historical Commission volunteers Bee Russo, Angela Binda and Marcia Wengen decided to take action and began the process of securing ownership of the mural from the bank. Because of their tireless efforts, the mural was deeded to the Stoneham Historical Society and Museum in the fall of 2021.
The mural was professionally removed from the walls of the bank in January 2022 by Gianfranco Pocobene, Chief Conservator of the Isabella Gardner Museum, and is currently being cleaned and restored by Pocobene Studio.
The expectation is for the mural’s three panels, totaling 45 feet, to be displayed in the newly renovated Stoneham Historical Society and Museum, located at 36 William St. in early 2024.
To learn more about the Saving the Stoneham Mural project, click here.
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