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Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD Even though the Springfield Museums are still about $1.5 million shy of its fund-raising goal for its new Museum of Springfield History, that didn't prevent a ground-breaking on Friday nor a pledge to open the museum on schedule for the fall of 2009. Congressman Richard Neal joined Museum Board President J. Michael Wallace, Museum President Joseph Carvalho, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, State Rep. Angelo Puppolo, and State Senators Gale Candaras and Stephen Buoniconti at a ceremony that marked the construction of an additional wing on the former Verizon building that will be the new museum. Wallace noted the idea of the museum came from the late benefactor Allan Swift who donated the money to buy the building and his prized Springfield Rolls Royce auto. He thanked Donald D'Amour for his donation of $4 million and Neal for his work in bringing a $600,000 National Endowment for the Humanities to the project. The museum has also received a $675,000 state grant from the Cultural Facilities Fund. The new wing will be a two-story addition that will have exhibit space for larger artifacts such as cars made in Springfield and a 1937 Gee Bee airplane. One of the centerpieces of the museum will be the Indian Motocycle collection, donated last year by Esta Manthos the owner and director of the former Indian Motocycle Museum. The museum would also features "firsts" first gasoline-powered auto made in America and first American motorcycle as well as exhibits on nationally prominent Springfield businesses such as Smith & Wesson, Milton Bradley, Merriam Webster, and Friendlys. "This isn't the history of Springfield," Sarno said. "This is a the history of America." | ||||||
