The Mattapoisett Museum and Carriage House was filled with onlookers at its opening party and summer kickoff Thursday. The old church and carriage house, located on the corners of Church and Baptist streets, experienced a steady stream of people in both buildings throughout the evening enjoying the history and reception snacks.

“Mattapoisett has two stories to tell,” said Seth Mendell, president of the Mattapoisett Historical Society. “One is nautical, with all the shipbuilding and whaling industry. The other is agrarian, farming. The museum is a good blend of both.” Mendell’s father, along with some friends, started the society in 1954.

The museum, opened in 1958, is packed with relics and antiques from the town’s past.

“This is really a snapshot in time of the industries in Mattapoisett,” said Katherine Gaudet, Vice President of the Society. “It’s the history of the community.”

Museum Curator Bette Roberts agreed. “I think it’s great what people have saved and have given to the society,” she said. “And we still do get things once in awhile. Something new always shows up.”

A great example of this was a large town hall placard hanging at the entrance of the carriage house Gaudet showed off.

“A couple of guys took this in the 1940s,” Gaudet said. “It just sat in a basement until last year when one of them confessed to us he stole it and wanted to give it back to get the guilt off his chest.” The placard still had the original postings.

“It’s just amazing,” she added.

The main display at the museum is Clifford Ashley’s mural “A Chart of the Whale Coast of New England, circa 1810” painted in 1919. Mendell refers to it as their “crowning achievement.”  The 6' by 16' mural depicts the south coast from Connecticut to Cape Cod and was donated by resident Polly Duff Phipps. A formal celebration for the mural will be held Sunday, July 31, at the museum.

Also being shown is a collection of Civil War memorabilia for the 150th anniversary of the war’s beginning. Mendell will appear at the Mattapoisett library to speak about life in Mattapoisett during the 1860s on August 4.

For more information visit http://www.mattapoisetthistoricalsociety.org/aboutus.htm or call the museum at (508)758-2844.