In correlation with its oral history project, the Historical Society of Cheshire County rented out its exhibit hall for the Monarchs of Mayhem– a drag organization that performs in Keene and Brattleboro, Vt.–following an open house event on Saturday, March 7. The event also drew attention to a podcast about the history and legacy of an LGBTQ+ friendly inn.
Aaron Almanza, executive director of the LGBT National Help Center, was present at the open house event, tabling alongside Voices of Pride outreach coordinator Gail Golec.
“A good chunk of what we have is for the National Help Center,” Almanza said. “Resources to spread help for the community.”
According to the center’s website, the “National Help Center, founded in 1996, is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that provides vital peer support, community connections, and resource information through helplines and online chatrooms.” It goes on to say that its goal is “providing critically needed services regardless of age or geographic location.”
Much like the previous open house, the tables included stickers, stamped paper and emergency resources from the National Help Center.
Golec drew attention to a pamphlet on the table about The Secret Life of Death Podcast, which revolves around the history of the Andrews Inn. The Inn was located in Bellows Falls, Vt., and was in service from 1973 to 1984. The inn is recognized nowadays for its service to the LGBTQ+ community, and Golec said the podcast seeks to raise awareness about the importance of the Inn and its legacy.
Golec added that earlier that day an interview was held to be included within the Voices of Pride oral history project, which seeks to elevate LGBTQ+ voices in the Monadnock region and share individual stories.
Michelle Walker, the society’s director of education, explained the collaboration with Monarchs of Mayhem.
“We make the space in the exhibit hall available for rentals,” Walker said. “It was a great fit since we had the open house today.”
The open house ran from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the drag show with Monarchs of Mayhem began at 8 p.m.
The performance, marketed as Anarchy & Bananas, was 18+ and included a mocktail potluck.
Activities included a circle sing and zine making. The organization encouraged people to do interviews with Voices of Pride as well. The tickets for the event weren’t strictly priced but were donation-based, where event attendees could choose the price themselves.
Walker said the group will hold one more open house on April 18, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
“That will be more of an informational open house,” Walker said.
The April 18 open house will feature Gail Golec, who was present at both of the previous open houses, as well as Ian Kaplan, an outreach coordinator for Voices of Pride and former coordinator of the office for community and belonging at Keene State.
According to the HSCC’s website, “The Voices of Pride Project aims to preserve the voices and stories of members of the Monadnock region’s LGBTQIA+ community, providing a platform to share their unique experiences, histories, and memories by recording oral histories in an effort to contribute to our region’s collective cultural and historical heritage.”
Chloe Erno can be contacted at
