NEWFANE — The Historical Society of Windham County's museum and the West River Railroad Museum are now open for the season.
The Newfane Railroad Station has recently been restored as the West River Railroad Museum. It comprises the old Depot and Water Tank House, both of which were built in 1880.
It houses a large collection of artifacts, documents, and photographs documenting the Railroad's impact during its 50 years of operation in the West River Valley. The Railroad Museum (on Cemetery Hill Road) is a short walk from the Historical Society's County Museum on Main Street (Route 30).
The Historical Society of Windham County was founded in 1927 to preserve the history of Windham County. The brick federal style County Museum (on Route 30) was built in 1936 as a showcase for the Society's extensive collection.
Two floors of exhibition space display impressive examples of early Vermont furniture, folk art, Civil War artifacts, clothing, toys, and tools. All tell stories of Windham County's history. The Society's archives include early documents, records, and photographs spanning three centuries.
The county museum is open Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from noon to 5 p.m, while the West River Railroad Museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Both museums are also open by appointment. See the Historical Society's website for the latest news and schedule of events at www.historicalsocietyofwindhamcounty.org.