Adventures in the Archives (and Beyond): What We Collect Has Meaning
by Ashley Adams Serveiss, Collections Manager & Archivist
I’m going to toot our own horn: the Museum of Old Newbury plays an important role in preserving the history of the local community by collecting artifacts that represent every era of The Newburies’ past. From relics connected to Newbury’s earliest residents and industries to items from the twentieth century and beyond, these objects and records provide tangible connections to the people, places, and events that have shaped our community. By bringing together such a wide range of materials, the Museum helps ensure that local history is not limited to famous individuals or major events, but also reflects the everyday experiences of ordinary people.
This is certainly the case for our most recent acquisition, which arrived no more than 30 minutes ago. I was in the middle of writing a completely different piece for Adventures in the Archives when I got a text from Bethany: “Hey, can you meet Steve with the sign? He’s pulling in.” The sign in question is a roughly 10’ x 3’ vintage light box sign from the former Haley’s Ice Cream on Route 1 in Newburyport, right by the rotary. A few weeks ago, our friend Jeff Reed from the Newburyport Preservation Trust reached out to Bethany, and subsequently put us in contact with the folks developing the former Haley’s site on Route 1. The developer was hoping someone in the area might be able to preserve one of the historic Haley’s signs, and from that moment we were all in. Steve Crosby, our good friend and intrepid preservation carpenter, was ready to help with a minute’s notice (literally, because he’s also a talented Revolutionary War reenactor). So, on a brisk early fall morning, a very large sign was unloaded into our Carriage Barn by both Steve and Mike Berube from Minco.
Steve Crosby (left) and Mike Berube (right) of Minco Development unload the sign and bring it into the Museum of Old Newbury’s Carriage Barn on a cool fall morning.
A couple of weeks ago, right after we chatted with Jeff, I asked a family member what they knew about Haley’s. They responded, “It was around forever…the Roy Family owned it…I think it was Emerald Dairy before that…” their voice trailed off. Haley’s was a Newburyport landmark, and even if you never went there, you likely still knew about it. Sometimes, through no fault of our own, we unintentionally take advantage of the places we pass by on a regular or semi-regular basis. This is certainly the case for Haley’s. I’d often drive by and think to myself, “Oh right, Haley’s, I should stop by there for an ice cream soon.” I never did, at not least in the last decade or so — not because I didn’t want to, but because I thought there might be some time left to stop in. The business closed several years ago, and in 2024 the building was torn down. Soon, a developer will begin work on the site, bringing condominiums to the area that once served the best marshmallow sundae around. We can at least take solace in the fact that the developer wanted to see this sign preserved and made the effort to do so.
Collecting contemporary history, like the Haley’s Ice Cream sign, is especially important because the present quickly becomes the past. Objects that may seem ordinary today—photographs, clothing, household items, technology, school materials, business records, and other everyday objects—can become valuable evidence of how people lived and how the community changed. By collecting these materials while they are still available, the Museum of Old Newbury is able to preserve a fuller and more inclusive record for future generations to learn from.
The Haley’s Ice Cream sign now rests comfortably in the Carriage Barn, nestled beside this year’s Yankee Homecoming Bed Race Float, a replica of the Game Cock. The 20th century artifact will make its home amongst objects from the 18th century to the present.