A piece of Medway's history has a renewed future following the grand reopening of the Medway Historical Museum on Oct. 3.

The Medway Historical Society welcomed an estimated 175 visitors to the newly renovated Jacob Ide House at 158 Main St. for an afternoon of local history, special exhibits and a glimpse into the town's past. The event featured military-themed displays, portraits by Anson Daniels and artifacts from a recently unearthed 1988 time capsule. Light refreshments and a door prize rounded out the celebration.

"We had visitors from near and afar, including Utah, and some folks from neighboring historical commissions. The museum was more than they expected," said Medway Historical Society President Sheila Dubrawski. "The house itself provides the perfect backdrop to exhibit historical artifacts. We're very fortunate to have preserved this history in our community. The Medway Historical Society was established in 1902 and has been collecting pieces of Medway History since then. It was so exciting to finally share some of the museum collection, visitors loved it."

Dubrawski also thanked "the many people within the Town administration who helped to make this happen."

The reopening marked an important milestone for the historic property, which has undergone extensive renovations to preserve the building and make it safer and more accessible for visitors. Featured items included:

Exhibits exploring the Cole Library, the Historical Society, Medway's police and fire departments, the town seal adopted in 1923, and memorabilia marking the town's 275th anniversary, including a recently discovered time capsule.

Original Beehive Oven used to cure meat, along with its built-in wash basin.

Displays included an original Luther Metcalf cabinet, a pantry exhibit honoring the Medway Women's Club and its contributions to the community.

A former birthing room now displays portraits of Medway residents, including works by Anson Daniels.

Artifacts tell the stories of the Clark and Beers families, the Village Inn and the Opera House. A restored portrait of Jacob Ide hangs above the fireplace alongside a painting by longtime Medway resident and artist Calvin Burnett.

An alcove photo gallery includes portraits of Addison Parsons Thayer, Harriet Rachel (Lovering) Daniels, and others.

The original Franklin milestone marker is displayed near the circular staircase, along with the house's original manual front doorbell.

Jacob Ide's former office and bedroom feature family photographs, a red-and-white quilt bearing the names of relatives, and historical documents connected to the founding of the Community Church.

A military-focused exhibit is located in the former carriage house.

Together, the exhibits offer visitors a look at Medway's civic history, domestic life, local families, community organizations and military heritage, preserving stories and artifacts for future generations.

The Town of Medway purchased the property in 2017 using Community Preservation Act funds, helping protect the historic structure for future generations. Subsequent work by the town and the historical society addressed structural needs and improvements to meet safety and accessibility requirements, with Community Preservation funding supporting the effort.

Built around 1816 by Malachi Bullard, the Federal-style house is closely associated with the Rev. Dr. Jacob Ide, one of Medway's prominent 19th-century religious and civic figures. Ide served as pastor of the Second Church of Christ for 51 years (1814-1865) and lived in the house for decades.

Ide was also an educator and an outspoken opponent of slavery. He reportedly prepared more than 40 men for the ministry, extending his influence beyond Medway and into the broader religious community of New England.

To watch a video of the Open House, visit https://new.medwaycable.com/internetchannel/show/4351?site=2.