The Waltham Museum Unveils...

The Waltham Museum is having a grande opening of their new Cronin Collection this weekend. They are devoting an entire room to a permanent multi-media installation.

The Waltham Museum's new "Grover Cronin's Exhibit" was launched with a discussion with a special guest, Grover Cronin's grandson, Phillip Cronin. Mr. Cronin's love for Waltham and respect for his family's legacy imbued the new exhibit with unique insights and personal lore.

Everybody’s going to ask, “Did you know my aunt? Do you remember my sister?” It seems as if everybody in Waltham at that time worked for Grover Cronin’s. It started a lot of people off with their first jobs, and launched careers.

Cronin’s was not just a person, a family, or a business. It was a community that spread its values, humanity, and history into Waltham. Grover Cronin’s encouraged; who can forget the annual Easter bunny colouring contest in elementary school? Local artists were hired for their displays, and employees shared their enthusiasm for the close-knit co-workers by creating scrapbooks of memories. They also published a yearly book of the special events their company hosted. Every employee was valued as an individual, and the Cronins considered each one as part of the family.

This Saturday, June 15, The Waltham Museum will unveil their new exhibit, The Grover Cronin’s Collection. On display will be photos from the Easter and Santa Claus parades, the complete Compass employee newsletters, original news clippings about Grover Cronin’s, exclusive videos, and exquisitely curated artifacts. Following is The Waltham Museum's invitation to all of Waltham to join in celebrating the positive impact that Grover Cronin's had on our city's culture.

Grover Cronin Exhibit

Thank you to WM Board Members Barbara Boyd and Bob McGann for working with the great energy of our volunteers. This excitement was a dream of one volunteer, Peggy Barrasso, who worked with the treasures here at the museum to put them on display for the public. Thanks to the entire team, including Patti Strom, Nancy Bradley,, Janet Driscoll, Joey Capello and Kay Lhota. Watch ‘Around Town’ with Sally Collura this week as she speaks with The Museum about these great happenings.

“Cronin's wasn't just another cold department store, it was part of the fiber of the Waltham community. Its owners quietly devoted much of their time as members of charitable organizations, and their money on community projects”. Al Arena, Founder of WalthamMuseum. (founded 1971).

Did you ever want to take one more trip to the Grover Cronin Department Store (1912-1989) ? Well, here is your chance! The newly expanded Grover Cronin Exhibit at the Waltham Museum will take you back in time through a collection of rare photographs and artifacts, and show all of the ways Grover Cronin Department Store gave back to the community. Saturday June 15th The Waltham Museum opens the Grover Cronin exhibit 10:30 - 3pm.

The Grover Cronin exhibit includes rare footage of the annual Easter Bunny parade. There will be photographs and artifacts from Fashion Shows,that brought famous NY fashion designers to Waltham. It will include the photos from the Charm School, conducted at the store. You will observe the view from many beautiful window displays in the stores large Art Deco designed windows. Take a look at the Bathing suit contests, art shows, and bake sales, that were held at the store. Enjoy many pictures of inside and outside of the store.

The highlight of the exhibit is a rare collection of 30 years of store newsletters that capture never before seen photographs and stories of the store and its employees. We invite you to come experience this trip back in time to the days that preceded malls and chain department stores. Visit the Waltham Museum at 25 Lexington Street, Waltham on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 1:00-4:00. 781 893 9020