STONEHAM – Treasurer Bee Russo and members of the Stoneham Historical Society and Museum (SHSM) are pleased to share that an anonymous donor has pledged to match any donation up to $10,000 benefiting the Saving the Stoneham Mural Project before the end of the month.
On Sunday, Dec. 10, Treasurer Bee Russo was contacted by an individual who has 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 wishes to remain anonymous.
Under the ARTchiving Stoneham initiative, the SHSM aims to preserve and conserve historically and culturally significant pieces of artwork in the Stoneham community.
To date, the SHSM has raised $123,312 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.
Donations range from $10 to $10,000. To donate, click here.
“On behalf of the Stoneham Historical Society and Museum, I want to thank our generous anonymous donor who has pledged to match any donation up to $10,000 benefiting the Saving the Stoneham Mural project,” said Treasurer Russo. “No donation is too small or insignificant and we continue to be amazed by the generosity of the Stoneham community.”
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 donated 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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