Visit Rye During World War II at the Square House

Rye’s Bud Kelly passed away two years ago but his legacy lives on; not only through friends and family, but also through the current exhibit at the Rye Square House, “Rye in World War II.”

The exhibit, which opens Sunday, all started with Bud. Kelly served with the American Field Service attached to the British Expeditionary Force in the Burma - India theater of operation during WWII. During his service he wrote hundreds of letters, all of which he saved when he returned. His 648 letters, along with many other items from that time, are now on loan to the Rye Historical Society.
 Bud’s brother and Rye city historian Dan Kelly brought the items to the museum about a year and a half ago. He has worked with Rye resident Chris Maloney, whose father served in WWII, to solicit more items for the museum in order to fully provide a “living time capsule” for future generations.   
The displays are well designed to honor the 1,438 names on the WWII Memorial at City Hall. It focuses on those who served the theaters of operation and on the home front.

 “We wanted to talk about Rye in World War II and how it permeated every aspect of life,”  Rye Historical Society Director Sheri Jordan said.

They have done exhibits featuring Rye soldiers and the war, but have never focused on how it changed local life back at home, she said.

Maloney’s aunt married Bud during the war and their wedding clothing is part of the exhibit. You will also find an assortment of other clothing, a journal from Rye’s Private Richard Gedney who was a prisoner of war in a German work camp for most of the war, personal stories of all the Rye KIAs, war medals, Rye women who served, draft paraphernalia and much more. All branches of service are part of the display. 

Maloney, Kelly, Jordan and Researcher/Archivist Richard Hourahan started a website to help document the community’s history with WWII where people can input their own family’s information. It also helped to solicit more loans for the exhibit.  You can find the website at RyeWW2.org. Jordan expects to add more throughout the year that the exhibit will be on display.

“I really give a lot of credit to Chris and Dan for their efforts,” Jordan said.

 There will be a ceremony at the Square House at 12 p.m. on Sunday, May 26 with a brass band performance at 1 p.m. The museum will also be open on Memorial Day so those attending the Legion Post ceremony at noon can visit afterwards. Don’t forget to donate to the museum while you are there.