Volunteer Spotlight!
We wouldn’t be where we are today without our volunteers! Here is some of the work they have accomplished:
Sally Richter – Archives
Since the fall of 2025 Sally has been working with Dermot Whittaker to assemble more compact shelving and to fully label and arrange processed archives in acid-free boxes.
She has also prepared archival folders for the Mill’s collection of photographs taken by Len Gittleman in 1969-70 soon after the Mill closed as a business. Sally recently began a large project to folder and alphabetize customers by year of their frame order receipts from the 1930s to the 1960s.
These orders contain a wealth of information that helps us understand the extensive network of commercial and individual customers, the types of frames that were popular over time, the types of wood being used, and the amount of revenue the Mill received.
Sally has also transcribed deeds of the Mill site and organized maps, insurance documents and other materials that authenticate the history of the property back to 1835. She has created an archives folder on the Mill’s Google Drive in which she has indexed these records, as well as information about mill machinery, millstones and other descriptions.
A long-ago visit to the Old Schwamb Mill with her school-aged daughter and a more recent visit for Oktoberfest led to Sally’s renewed interest in getting involved as a volunteer. Her background in studying German and journalism at the University of Maine Orono, her career at MIT Libraries as an Electronic Resources Associate, and her home within walking distance combine to make the Mill part of her new life in retirement. Her own German ancestry and her daughter’s study of German with Janet O’Riordan, a Mill Board member and former German teacher and tutor, make all these connections even more meaningful.
Marjorie Hilton – Archives
When Marjorie Hilton (“Margie”) came to volunteer at the Old Schwamb Mill seven years ago, we learned that she was also writing a book. That book, “I’ll Trade You: Tales of Traded Items in the Ancient Near East, was published in September 2023 and is available for sale at the Mill.
A political science major at Boston University Margie went on to teach at the Frankfurt International School in Oberursel, Germany, and later at the Josiah Haynes Elementary School in Sudbury, Massachusetts. She has volunteered locally at the Waterworks Museum in Chestnut Hill, the Lincoln Library, and the Weston Library. At each place, she developed exhibits or informative panels for visitors.
Ryan Robinson – Visitor Services and Education
For UMass Boston history student Ryan Robinson, volunteering at the Old Schwamb Mill has been an opportunity to do more than just learn about local history. It has given him valuable experience that he hopes to carry into his future career as an educator. Now in his third year of his undergraduate history degree, Ryan plans to pursue a Master of Education and eventually teach high school social studies in the Boston Public Schools. He was drawn to volunteering at the Mill because of his interest in local history and the opportunity to gain experience working in a historic site.
Much of his time at the Mill has been spent learning its history, with guidance from board members Ellen Cohen, Reed Snyder, Dermot Whitaker, and Bob Tanner. He has also helped with day-to-day operations and events, contributed to the construction of the Mill’s new accessibility ramp, and is preparing demonstration pieces for the Mill’s upcoming exhibit on the history of woodworking tools. One of his favorite aspects of volunteering has been learning from the people around him. He has also become particularly interested in the Mill’s changing sources of power and the way its manufacturing process evolved over time.
For Ryan, the experience has reinforced the importance of bringing history outside the traditional classroom. “It is incredibly important for students to learn about their local history,” he explains, noting that historic sites can help preserve lesser-known stories while building a sense of community and connection to the past. He has already gained public speaking and tour experience that he plans to bring into his future classroom. And his advice to other students considering volunteering at the Mill is simple: “Do it!”
Caroline Lerch – Research and Education
Caroline is an emerging museum professional whose many historical interests include working-class history, the Industrial Revolution in New England, and genealogical research. She graduated with a BA in American Studies from Wesleyan University in 2025, where she wrote her undergraduate thesis on the Washburn Family from Livermore, ME. Since then, she has expanded on her research experience as a Frank C. Munson Research Fellow at Mystic Seaport Museum and has begun her museum career as a Museum Educator at Lexington History Museums.
At the Old Schwamb Mill, Caroline is researching mill workers to learn more about their lives, including their professions, families, and descendants. Her research will highlight the stories of working-class people essential to the operation of the Old Schwamb Mill in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Old Schwamb Mill 