Hingham Historical Society Looking to Improve Old Derby Academy

The Hingham Historical Society needs voters' help at Town Meeting to make improvements to the Old Derby Academy.

The HHS has launched its largest fundraising campaign in its history to modify the Old Derby Academy building to house the Hingham Heritage Museum and Visitor Center.

The anticipated cost of the project exceeds $2.9 million and if residents vote Yes on Article W at April’s Town Meeting, the HHS can appropriate the sum of $1.1 million from the Community Preservation General Reserve to help pay for the new improvements.

The HHS has already raised over $650,000.

The proposed new improvements include building a new pedestrian access from Main Street via a new staircase, adding an elevator, visible storage space, a gallery and a new flight of stairs leading to the Hingham Cemetery.

According to project manager Mark Cullings, the new ground level will feature an enlarged visitors’ center, new larger bathrooms facilities more storage space. The second level will feature new northerly and southerly entrances to a reception hall, with new gallery display space, visible storage and the existing ballroom, which will serve as a display area with movable exhibit cases and meeting room.

“This is the most ambitious project ever undertaken by the Historical Society, and when completed will be mean a major new educational, cultural and economic asset for Hingham,”  Cullings said in an email. 

Construction on the new entry staircase is already underway.

The HHS is hoping to have all the improvements complete in time to celebrate the Society’s 100th birthday in 2014.