The summer exhibit at the Jamestown Museum features signs and advertisements from businesses that once operated on Conanicut Island. It opens for the season Saturday.
The Jamestown Museum, 92 Narragansett Ave., will open for the season Friday, May 24, to coincide with the opening of its summer exhibition, “An Island Economy: Jamestown Businesses.”
The impetus for the exhibit, according to curator Rosemary Enright, was inspired by the November “From the Collection” submission by Delia Klingbeil.
“The large signs for businesses in town featured in the article got Sue Maden and me thinking about how those businesses fit into the history and growth of the town,” Enright said. “And what important areas are not represented.”
Maden is a member of the Jamestown Historical Society alongside Enright, who serves as treasurer for its board of directors. The nonprofit organization owns and administers the museum.
The wares and services available in Jamestown have changed throughout its history as have methods for letting the public know what was for sale and how and where to purchase it.
In the exhibit, the large signs for past business. such as Godena’s Garage and Lyons Market, are joined by smaller indoor and outdoor signs, as well as identification and advertising media.
The history of Jamestown’s growth as reflected in its businesses is shown in a series of panels, each of which uses historic photographs to illustrate the changes in a business area, including agriculture and transportation.
The museum and its exhibit are open from 1-4 p.m. Fridays through Sundays through Columbus Day. It also is open on federal holidays.