Sunapee Historical Society Museum

The Sunapee Historical Museum is located in what many remember as the Osborne's Marine building in the center of Sunapee Harbor. Built originally as a stable it has been proudly preserved by members of the Historical Society as an ideal place to share artifacts of the farming, industrial, and tourist industries of the region. Today you can see machinery that kept the old steamships running, dishes from the old hotels, equipment from local farms, items from all aspects of life and even the names of the horses once stabled here.

This barn was built by Wm. Wallace Flanders 1891 and leased to Frank and George Blodgett for a horse and carriage livery. In 1901 the Flanders stable and the near-by Harbor Hotel stable were both being operated by Fitz Corser. In 1907, Wallace Flanders' grandson, Leo Osborne, turned the livery into an auto repair business. Shortly thereafter, Leo with his three sons - Robert, Raymond, and Arthur - turned the business into the Osborne Garage and Marine which continued in business for the next 70 years.

In 1918 the town was celebrating its 150th anniversary and may be the reason Leo and Clara Osborne decorated the building as seen in this photo. An addition had been added to the south side, a separate storage garage next to that, and two gas pumps added along East Main Street. In 1925, Leo Osborne built a new automotive garage on East Main Street and this building became Osborne Marine, used for boat repairs and sales. 

In 1973 the Sunapee Historical Society was founded by a group of interested citizens and formally incorporated in 1978. In 1980, Fay Osborne, the great grandson of the barn's original builder donated it to the historical society as its permanent museum. Restoring the building took the volunteer efforts of many individuals with Fay Osborne leading the way.  

For a deeper look into the stories of all that has happened here over the years, check with the Sunapee Historic Society. Look for Sunapee's Historic Buildings & Places Vol. 1 . 

Barbara Bache Chalmers, Sunapee's Historic Buildings & Places Vol. 1 (Sunapee Historical Society, 1918 & 1919).