Fall decorations outside the museum have certainly added a festive note this month. Thanks to Theresa Marchand, who donated and installed the scarecrows and beautiful baskets of mums, the museum was particularly inviting for the celebration of Heritage Homecoming and Footsteps events. The event featuring an explanation and modeling of 1800's clothing was attended by a standing room only audience. It was gratifying to see this presentation so well attended and the audience so appreciative of the presenter. John and Eileen Greene have donated the fire alarm bell from the old Grammar School. The alarm is on display in the museum's school room. Thanks to Kathleen Kennedy, we now have a 1963 yearbook in the museum's collection as well as a 1965. Sue Martin donated 4 photos of Blackstone Cotton Mill operatives. Marc Lemay donated military patches, a pennant and military newspapers for the Veteran's Room. A wrench made by Whitins Machine Works was donated by Tom Dunayeski. Joan Trottier Gagne has donated steel grading combs and combing brushes along with the 1944 plot map of the Lake Hiawatha area. Nick and Selectwoman Margo Bik have made a generous donation to the museum's gift fund. Members of the Historical Commission are extremely grateful for all these donations. Bernie Miller was appointed by the Board of Selectmen as an alternate member of the Historical Commission. He was congratulated and welcomed at the October meeting. As Veteran's Day approaches, commission members would like to offer a special invitation to our Blackstone veterans to visit the museum, especially the Veteran's Room which is a tribute to their military service. In November, the museum will be open every Thursday from 12 noon until 4 PM. Saturday, November 3 and Saturday, November 17, the museum will be open from 10 AM until 4PM. December 1st will mark the celebration of Chain of Lights in the Blackstone Valley. As part of that celebration, The Blackstone Historical Commission will hold its third annual "Boughs and Bows" open house that day. Featured this year will be a Swedish craft known as Smallkaramell. The public will be welcomed to make one of these small Christmas decorations filled with candy. There is no charge and school age children accompanied by a parent are welcome to attend. The museum will be decorated for Christmas and refreshments will be served. If you have not visited your town museum yet, this will be a great opportunity to do so. Afghans featuring Blackstone Historical Sites are available at the museum for $50. A limited number of the 1995 History of Blackstone are being sold for the original price of $20. Both make great gifts and support your local museum.