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04/05/2017 09:30 AMIf most of New England is labeled with the same descriptors—historic, quaint, picturesque—then what makes the town of Madison unique? The Madison Historical Society (MHS), as part of its 100th birthday celebration, is calling on residents to submit their words and ideas for a project highlighting all that makes Madison special.
MHS, founded in 1917, manages historical properties around town and aims to collect, preserve, and educate the public about the history of Madison. To celebrate 100 years as an organization, the MHS created the Madison A-Z project, asking residents to submit a word or two that exemplifies what makes Madison unique.
Residents can submit a person, place, or thing that corresponds with a letter in the alphabet, such as A is for Academy, B is for Bauer Park, etc., via one of the numerous suggestion boxes placed around town. Boxes will be out for the month of April and once submissions are in, MHS Director Jennifer Simpson said the society will select and compile the winning suggestions into a Madison A-Z poster.
“The whole idea for the boxes grew out of our 100th anniversary and various ways to celebrate not just our birthday, but also celebrate Madison,” she said. “Celebrate Madison’s history and celebrate what is unique and special about the town.”
The boxes are located at Stop & Shop, Robert’s Food Center, Walker Loden, Guilford Savings Bank (downtown and North Madison locations), Grand Apizza, Madison Wine Shop, The Frame Shop, Willoughby’s, and Starbucks. Once the submissions are in, Simpson said the historical society is looking for a fun way to graphically represent each letter.
“We will get all of these suggestions of Madison A-Z and then we will ask whoever makes the suggestion, ‘Do you want to paint or draw your suggestion?’” she said.
Simpson said she has already had conversations with Vista Life Innovations about getting local artists to help out with some of the designs through paint nights and other activities. Once each letter is selected and designed, Simpson said the MHS hopes to merchandise the poster in some way.
“Our goal is we are going to create some posters that will be for sale,” she said. “If there are some letters where the graphic is so fantastic, maybe we will make T-shirts or something.”
While there may be a merchandising component, Simpson said the goal of the project is to really get people thinking about Madison.
“We really just want to get the community involved thinking about what is special and unique about Madison,” she said. “Then hopefully as a fringe benefit they will also think about the historical society.”
Suggestions can be submitted at any or the boxes around town until Sunday, April 30. Residents can also offer submissions online at www.madisonhistory.org/ and learn more about the project and the Madison Historical Society’s additional 100th birthday celebration events.