qsmhist

In 1981, Dick Bennett met with Virginia Clark and Kay Young in the lobby of the Earlville
Opera House. The group agreed to start a museum, which was to be a separate entity
under the wing of the Opera House. At subsequent meetings, the group drew up
guidelines for acquisitions and made plans for exhibits. Additional people were brought
on board, including Sumner Wickwire, who served as the first treasurer; John Grossmann,
Ken Reymers, and Bruce Moseley, a trained curator. Space was found on the first floor of
the Douglas Block annex under the Opera House. Dick Bennett and Wilbur Bigelow spent
hours restoring the space for the Village museum. Bagnall Electric donated their time to
install the electrical service. The Museum displayed, in the storefront windows, local
memorabilia and historic artifacts on loan from individuals. The first exhibit featured the
photography of Sumner Wickwire. Earlville firefighters generously offered many items
that were of great interest.

On June 13, 1982, the Chenango County Council of the Arts joined the Earlville Opera
House in dedicating the Earlville Village Museum. The Arts Council sponsored an open
house and the Opera House a concert after the dedication ceremony. The opening also
featured a display of watercolors by Ken Reymers. Many people visited the Museum,
especially just before, and during intermission of the Opera house performances. Visitors
to the Museum listened to Dick Bennett's Caruso records, and often put donations for the
benefit of the Museum in John Grossmann's glass jug.

The first officially recorded meeting occurred June 9. 1983. Those present were Richard
Bennett, John Grossmann, Sumner Wickwire, Wilbur Bigelow, Virginia Clark, Catherine
Young, and new member Dorothy Morey.

As more material of historic interest became available, new quarters were needed. In
December 1979, Grace Episcopal Church in Earlville and the Episcopal Church in
Sherburne, merged and formed a new religious corporation: the Episcopal Church of the
Epiphany. In 1982, the decision was made to close the Earlville church. All of the movable
memorials and gifts, including the altar, were transferred to the Sherburne church.
Influenced by such people a Nancy Schell, a member of both the Village Museum and the
Episcopal Church Vestry, and Dick Bennett, active in both the Village Museum and the
Opera House, the Church Vestry and the Opera House Board of Directors decided that the
former Grace Church should be acquired by the Opera house to be used to house the
Earlville Village Museum. Consequently, in December 1983, the Vestry of the Church of
the Epiphany officially voted to turn the structure over to the Earlville Opera House. On
April 8, 1984, at noon, the congregation of the Church transferred ownership of Grace
Episcopal Church to the Earlville opera house, Inc. John Grossmann, head of the Earlville
Opera house, accepted the deed from Ed Lee, Senior Warden of the Church of the
Epiphany's Vestry.

During these early years, many names were given to the fledgling group and its
Museum. These included the Earlville Village Museum, the Village Historical Society, the
Earlville Historical Society Museum, and the Earlville Museum Committee. In January
1989, the group was reorganized under the name, Quincy Square Museum Association.
This name was chosen because an early postcard showed that area in the center of
Earlville as Quincy Square. Much time was spent cleaning and renovating the former
church, and on June 15, 1989, the Association met at the Church for the first time. They
subsequently formed a board of directors and elected a president. The first president,
Neva Conley, served until June 1990. In April 1996, NYS incorporated The Quincy Square
Museum Association. By then the group had demonstrated to the Opera House that it
was a viable organization and in 1997, the Earlville Opera house transferred the property to
the Quincy Square Museum Association, Inc.

Over the years, the Museum has become a showplace for the display of various items,
and the presentation of programs relating to the history of the Earlville area. The
Association has also sponsored various house tours, thus giving the community an
additional view of its history.