Historical society unveils new barn

GRANBY - The Granby Historical Society recently dedicated its new barn in honor of the late Roland Gibbs, a past president and treasurer of the society, who died in 2001.

George A. Randall, curator of the association's museum on Common St., said the barn was a dream of Gibbs.

"He and I wanted a barn to display large equipment in," Randall said.

"People would call and say they had old equipment to donate, and we had to turn them away.

"Roland was a great friend of the town of Granby," Randall said. "He was a quiet, reserved man."

Besides serving on the historical society, Gibbs was a member of the town's Finance Committee, Planning Board and School Committee. He was a trustee of Church of Christ Congregational and a veteran of World War II. He was treasurer of the Friends of Granby's Elderly, and was active with the Society for Applied Learning Technology, Triad, and the Council on Aging.

The association was formed in the late '40s and operated out of the Town House, a former school building constructed in the center of town in 1821 near Church of Christ Congregational. Randall was president of the association when it inherited the home of Marie Quirk at 14 and 12 Common Street. The house was built in 1840. The barn was constructed on property behind the Quirk house in 2005.

Randall said the association has been inactive for the past two years and is in the process of reorganizing.

Association Trustee Nancy K. Gluek said the barn dedication seemed like a good way to make the public aware of the association and its museum. The barn cost $65,000 to build and was paid for with money donated by benefactors including Quirk, Randall said. It had to be built to look historical, he said.

The Town House has a general store, an old kitchen, a school room and a military display. It can be seen by appointment. Interested persons can set up an appointment by calling the association at (413) 467-3114.

The Quirk House has period living room and bedroom furnishings which the public can see, Randall said. The association holds special exhibits there.

"I've always been interested in local history," Randall said. "My grandparents lived in Enfield, a town now under Quabbin reservoir. They moved to Belchertown and in 1922, moved to Granby."

An old fashioned fiddling performance was held in the barn during the dedication and a plaque naming the building after Gibbs was unveiled.

Marianne L. Deal, another trustee, said the association is always looking for new members. There are about 60 members. Annual dues are $5.

Randall said the association has not set a regular meeting time.

The Town House has a general store, an old kitchen, a school room and a military display.