Our newly renovated space at the Stoneham Historical Society & Museum is now home to a new temporary exhibit on Vietnam and Vietnam artifacts: Vietnam: Hometown to Hanoi. Most of these objects are on loan due to the generosity of local collector Mike Sallese, and range from combat supplies and uniforms to maps and intricate models of period helicopters. The exhibit is open on Veterans Day and will be on display through December.
We are also displaying artifacts from the Russell Collection. As part of our Centennial Exhibits in 2022, we were pleased to feature a number of objects relating to the 1960s and Vietnam lent by Stoneham resident John Russell. John’s older brother, Thomas J. Russell, Jr. (Stoneham High School Class of 1965) served in Vietnam in 1968-69. John later generously donated these objects to our permanent collection.
Stoneham is home to a very proud military tradition dating back to the colonial era. Stoneham had Minutemen at Lexington and Concord, and our soldiers fought in one of the earliest skirmishes of the Civil War during the Baltimore Riots. “We have this building due to the generosity of the Spanish War Veterans and our collections reflected that,” says Dolly Wilson, SHSM vice president. “But it’s a new era and we want to ensure we are reflecting more recent history as well. We’re very grateful to John Russell for his gift.” We are actively collecting in this area and would welcome any donations, particularly for Korea or Vietnam and more recent wars.
Our Vietnam: Hometown to Hanoi exhibit is open through December 17, at the Museum, 36 William Street, Stoneham. This includes special opening hours for Veteran’s Day (11:30 -2) on November 11. School and other groups are also welcome for tours.
The Exhibit is open during the following times.
- Tuesdays – Nov 28, Dec 5— 10AM-1PM,
- Thursdays- Oct. 12, Nov.9, Dec 14—6:45-9 PM
- Saturdays. Nov. 11, 11:30AM-2PM; Nov 25, noon-4 PM
- Sundays – Oct. 15, Nov 19, Dec 17—2-4 PM
See the event listing for updates.
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