About the Town of Gorham Historical Society

Learn about the Town of Gorham Historical Society, our mission, and our commitment to preserving Gorham's rich history. We strive to connect the community through education and engagement. Discover what makes us special and how you can get involved in our exciting journey.

Meet the Gorham Historical Society Board 

President - Lizbeth Rasmussen - gorhamnyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com

Vice President - Lisa Thompson - gorhamnyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com

Secretary - Steve Mumby

Treasurer - Ruth Freier - gorhamlibrarydirector@owwl.org

Town of Gorham Historian - Ann Sewert - annsewert3321@gmail.com

What Makes us Special

We are a small-town historical society dedicated to preserving Gorham's unique history through education and active community involvement. Our focus on local heritage sets us apart as we work diligently to ensure that the stories of Gorham are remembered and celebrated for generations to come.

Our mission

Our core mission is simple: to preserve history and educate. We aim to safeguard Gorham's historical records, artifacts, and stories while providing educational resources and programs that engage and inform the public. By fostering a deeper understanding of our past, we hope to inspire a greater appreciation for our community's heritage.

Our Projects

  • Acquisition and maintenance of artifacts relevant to the history of the Town of Gorham.  Accession records are being computerized.
  • Acquisition and maintenance of information about Town of Gorham individuals and organizations.  To provide easier access to this information, a central index is being computerized beginning with cemetery records.
  • Publication of a quarterly 8-page New Age newsletter.  Click here for a free sample copy.
  • Annual Civil War Day for fifth graders of the Marcus Whitman School District.
  • Tours and educational programs for school age children.
  • Ongoing project to document all veterans from the Town of Gorham from the Revolutionary War to present service.  Click here to submit information for a veteran.  Several binders of veteran information are available in our research room.
  • Upkeep of the inactive cemeteries of the Town of Gorham.  Four binders of cemetery records from the Gorham area are available in our research room.  A computerized index of these records is in process.
  • Maintenance of the museum’s Memorial Garden.

Exciting future plans

We are excited to announce our current major project: the restoration of the historic Hoffman House. This beautiful building will become our new Museum location, offering expanded space for exhibits, educational programs, and community events. Stay tuned for updates on our progress!

Our Facilities

  • Museum and Research Room
    • Occupies the lower level of the former Presbyterian Church
    • Contains artifacts from life in the Town of Gorham, mostly from the Civil War era to the early 1900s with some earlier including Native American items
    • Research resources include information about cemeteries, veterans, schools, churches, organizations, and individuals.
    • Open Wednesdays, 12pm - 4pm. We are closed on holidays and days that the Marcus Whitman Central School is closed due to weather issues. 
    • There is no charge to view any of our documents, photos, maps, etc. at our facility. 
    • There is no admission fee and you do not have to be a member.
    • You are free to use your personal camera and/or scanner to record material (except when prohibited by copyright laws).
    • If you request paper copies, the first 5 copies are free and $.25 per copy thereafter.
  • Post Office Building
    • Served the hamlet of Gorham in the early 1900s, it was moved to the museum grounds and restored in 2003.
    • Houses artifacts honoring Gorham’s agricultural heritage.
    • Open seasonally during museum hours.
  • Lt. Neal D. Curtis Aerial Observation Building
    • During WWII this building was on Rt. 18 near Reed Corners.  Volunteers scanned the skies and reported sightings of airplanes.  It was moved to the museum grounds and restored in 2009.
    • Contents are representative of what was in the building during WWII, including charts for identifying airplanes and a phone.  Also the building contains a tribute to the men from the Town of Gorham who lost their lives serving our country during WWII.
    • Open seasonally during museum hours.

"The Gorham Historical Society does an amazing job at keeping our local history alive. I have been a member for years!"

A grateful member