Two Honored by Historical Society

has announced that Jean Deschenes and George Carroll will receive the 2012 Grafton History Awards.

The awards will be presented at the society’s Annual Meeting Dinner to be held at the on Friday, April 27.

“I can’t think of two individuals more deserving of this recognition than George and Jean,” said Linda Casey, Grafton Historical Society president. “Both have gone over and above in dedicating their time and skills to the society. Their hard work has been invaluable in preserving important aspects of Grafton’s history.”

Carroll, a long-time member of the society’s Board of Directors, served as its treasurer for nearly 15 years. He has spent years painstakingly researching and recording the stories of Grafton’s heroes who served in World Wars I and II, and he was the driving force behind the recently installed monument honoring the town’s World War II veterans.

His biographies of fallen WWI and WWII veterans William Delisle, Edward Goulet and George H. Jordan, Jr. now are on display at the Delisle-Goulet Post, and also are part of the Historical Society permanent collection.

Deschenes, a member of the society’s Board of Directors, contributed his considerable expertise and countless hours of his time in building scale models of the three great textile mills of South Grafton.

The models will be the central focus of the society’s South Grafton Mill Village exhibit, allowing visitors of all ages to visualize the impressive structures that are part of our mill heritage. The models will be added to the permanent collection at the society museum and will help future generations learn about Grafton’s contribution to the American Industrial Revolution.

The dinner is open to Historical Society members and to the general public. Reservations are required and must be made by April 13. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Linda Casey at 508-839-0000.