[MassHistPres] State Police Museum / Grafton Informational Meeting Set For Wednesday, April 26th

[GLFJL at aol.com]

Grafton Historical Commission
Grafton Memorial Municipal Center
30 Providence Road
Grafton, Massachusetts 01519

For Release Upon Receipt
Thursday, April 13, 2006

Media Contact:
John LaPoint
Office: 508-839-3367
Cell: 508-735-5316
E-Mail: GLFJL at aol.com


April 26th Informational Meeting on New Massachusetts State Police Museum and 
Learning Center in Grafton


Grafton: On Wednesday evening, April 26th at 7:00 PM at the Brigham Hill 
Community Barn, the Grafton Historical Commission will host a presentation on the 
new Massachusetts State Police Museum & Learning Center. This new museum will 
be built at 44 Worcester Street at the current location of the Grafton State 
Police Barracks.

In 1992, it was agreed that The Massachusetts State Police – the oldest State 
Law Enforcement Agency in the country – should preserve its significant 
contribution to Law Enforcement history. An objective was established to create a 
museum through private funding – a museum that preserves the departments 
history from its 1865 inception to the present. This museum will include over 135 
years of State Police history, recognize the significance of the department’s 
civilian staff, as well as providing seminars and educational programs to 
inspire future generations of Massachusetts State troopers.

For Additional information on the new Massachusetts State Police Museum & 
Learning Center please visit the following web site:

http://www.masstroopers.org/museum/


The future location of the museum will be the site of the existing State 
Police barracks in Grafton, Massachusetts. The Grafton site was selected for its 
centralized location with easy vehicular access from major roadways in the 
area. An 8,500 square foot, two-story building will be constructed on a five acre 
land tract to the rear of the existing barracks while maintaining the barracks 
as part of the Museum complex. During construction of the new building, the 
Grafton barracks will serve as a temporary museum.
    
Constructed in 1931, the Grafton barracks was one of the original substation 
designs. Comprehensive museum plans call for restoring the barracks building 
to its former circa 1940 appearance, when troopers lived and worked out of 
similar substations throughout the Commonwealth. Completion of these projects are 
estimated to take place by 2010.

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