Request Denied

The Historical Society adds another closed door to the record, as the Wallingham Estate remains out of reach.

Woke up to this in my inbox:

I am not surprised at all that the request was denied, though I am a bit disappointed with the passive aggressive approach. Brian Watson thought it appropriate to email me directly when he requested that MPHS-1897-22-02 be removed from display. Perhaps that is the very reason he feels the need to communicate with me from behind his legal counsel. They could have at least used the correct title when addressing me. Perhaps I will follow up with Celine and see if she can lean on her father. I have been keeping her busy running errands back and forth to a colleague in Littleton who has been assisting with the restoration of the recently discovered documents. Would it be trespassing if she (as a member of the Watson family) visited on behalf of the Society? When your father owns a large percentage of the woods around Motter’s Pond, I imagine you can’t really trespass anywhere.

I have mentioned previously that rumors have been swirling that the Town Council is going to be making some changes that could impact the Society. I’ve been hearing rumblings for months now, but nothing has been raised at the last few meetings. Small-town rumor mills being what they are, I tried to put it from my mind and write it off as suspicions borne from boredom. I don’t need the anxiety: when you rely on a certain amount of funding, it is generally best to fly under the radar, and giving credence to rumors is not productive. This week, however, I received a heads up from a former volunteer that the Town Council is officially making moves. I have not received any communication from the Council, so I am again reserving my anxieties for more concrete proof. After all, I like to think I still have some friends there, if not many since the last election.

We shall see.