Landmark reopening after Chamber merger
CARIBOU, Maine — While the Nylander Museum was most recently used as a building for Caribou’s Chamber of Commerce, their merger with the Central Aroostook Chamber has brought it back into the hands of the city. City Council recently gave the Nylander board an opportunity to reopen the structure and present a plan for returning the museum to its former glory.
The building will officially reopen at the end of the Memorial Day Parade at noon. Those following the parade will be conveniently located within close proximity of the museum and have an opportunity to view a piece of Caribou’s history along with the cosmetic improvements applied to the building’s interior.
Members of Loring Job Corps, overseen by Pierre Sirois of the Home Builders Institute, have been working hard to help the Nylander board on its mission to restore the museum and were painting on Monday, May 23, 2016. Board members Nelson Ketch and Gail Hagelstein were also in the museum, deciding which items to prominently display for the grand reopening.
Since the museum has gone through many changes over the years, there is more than enough material for the board to host unique, rotating displays. Some of the items in storage include rocks and fossils over 100 years old, preserved eggs, butterflies, and aquatic life, and even paintings and books by Olof O. Nylander himself.
“We hope people will be pleased with the number and variety of displays up here,” said Hagelstein. “The new painting will also add a modern tone.”
Nelson Ketch is the board’s newest member and, while not a Caribou resident, is a direct descendant of the museum’s namesake.
“The board is great because every member is able to do different things and contribute something unique,” said Ketch.
In addition to grand reopening, the Nylander board will also have a presence at the first Thursday’s on Sweden, which lands on June 2nd. They will bring small displays to the event and give residents an opportunity to volunteer and sign on as Friends of the Nylander, an organization that allows community members to pitch in at the museum.
The museum’s future ultimately depends on community participation, as City Council still needs to review the board’s plan and progress in the coming months before making a final decision.
