LYNN — The curator of the Grand Army of the Republic Museum (GAR) is urging the city for assistance in restoring the historic institution during its ongoing renovation process.
In May 2024, GAR closed for construction, which included an installation of a new elevator in the four-story building. Curator Wendy Joseph gave an update on the conditions of the project at the City Council’s Veterans Subcommittee meeting last Tuesday.
Joseph said she was not permitted to be on-site during construction due to liability issues, as she is not in the Inspectional Services Department or on the contractor’s insurance. Reporting her findings, she said the building “remains coated with the residue of a year and a half of heavy construction, embedded in every surface, crevice, and artifact,” and that certain artifacts originally stated to be outside the construction zone were removed without supervision or permission.
“These items were never meant to be disturbed. In reality, the construction zones were greatly expanded beyond original plans,” Joseph said.
Joseph went on to detail her further observations. She said that zipper barriers were unzipped to turn her office into a corridor for workers, and that the Lincoln and Grant Library was used as a workroom. She also said antique furniture was pushed aside, a bookcase was never covered, and antique lighting and door hardware was not properly preserved.
She also said that finished paintwork was evaluated by an ad hoc committee, and it received D grade, while elevator phone lines failed an inspection. According to Joseph, the main entrance glass door is unrepaired after the Lynn Fire Department had to force entry during a false alarm because the standard fire department access key box was never installed.
“The Grand Hall now resembles the final scene from ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark.’ Rows of displaced artifacts, all awaiting a place to belong. Once proudly exhibited and now without a home. The work ahead is not only about cleaning and repairing a building; it is about restoring trust, safeguarding irreplaceable history, and honoring the veterans whose stories we are trying to preserve,” Joseph said.
Joseph added, “I urge all responsible parties to recognize that reopening the GAR is not simply a matter of certificates and timelines, but of stewardship. We must ensure that the facility is not only functional, but worthy of its legacy before we welcome the public again. With the proper support, we can recover what has been compromised. Without it, the collections will remain at risk, and the mission of the GAR Museum will remain diminished.”
Ward 6 Councilor Fred Hogan expressed his concern for the state of the GAR.
“The GAR is a place that everyone is happy to go to, and we’re looking forward to it opening back up. Hearing these conditions, obviously you care about what’s going on over there, and we have to figure out how to get this back and give you the assistance that you need,” Hogan said to Joseph. “A lot of this work is going to be detailed work. It’s going to take some time. We can try to figure out how we can assist you, to try to get this moving along the right way and the legal way.”
Councilor-at-Large Nicole McClain called for volunteer support regarding the renovation process.
“It is essential that we brainstorm and implement a sustainable storage solution that ensures these artifacts are properly preserved and rotated into exhibits, so that the public continues to have access to the full breadth of the museum’s collection,” McClain said.
McClain added, “At this stage of the renovation, the museum is in disarray due to a lack of storage space that (the) curator is working (on) diligently, but additional hands will be needed. I asked that we work together to prioritize these needs, supporting both the curator and the museum’s long term sustainability.”
