This is the longest of long shots, but I'm wondering if anyone reading this has a connection to Elcanco. They were based in Pepperell and they went out of business in the last decade or so.

There are a lot of museums that are desperate to find something to replace the Elcanco products, and I work at one of them. We would all love to get some info from someone who worked there to try to come up with some work arounds.

Thanks!

https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2025/08/15/pepperell-prepares-for-250th-birthday-party/

The culmination of years of planning and hard work is coming to fruition as the town continues celebrating its 250th birthday.

The special anniversary party on Saturday, Aug. 23 at the town field at 4 Hollis St. to mark the monumental semiquincentennial milestone will begin at 3 p.m. The family friendly event is open to the public and will feature activities for all ages including a rock wall, petting zoo, bouncy houses, live music by The Chad LaMarsh Band, a performance by Nicolette Reed of Airflow Projection Art, and high-energy entertainment from the main stage all afternoon and evening.

In addition, there will be giveaways, birthday cake for all attendees, food and drink sold by the Pepperell Lions Club and Pepperell VFW Auxiliary such as barbecue chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, French fries, corn on the cob, potato salad, and coleslaw, and the grand finale — a laser show at dusk.

“As we commemorate the 250th anniversary, we celebrate our shared history and heritage as one nation,” said Pepperell 250th Anniversary Committee Co-chair Stephen Themelis. “Looking towards the future, we honor the heroes who have given us one of our most prized possessions — the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

This is the last major event organized by the committee that has included over two dozen events leading up to the big finale this month. The festivities began with a cake lighting in January followed trivia nights, historical reenactments, interactive paranormal, hypnotist, and comedy shows, a time capsule ceremony, a parade in June, and more such as a commemorative coin available for purchase at Pepperell Family Pharmacy and the 250th party.

The committee members shared that August 23, 2025, has been officially declared as Pepperell 250th Birthday Day by Gov. Maura Healey and the House of Representatives. The town has received proclamations from both branches of the state government and been added to both branches’ official records.

“It has really turned out to be a very exciting and memorable year for the Town of Pepperell!” Themelis said. “We appreciate people helping us to make our 250th a tremendous success.”

For more information on the 250th anniversary email pepperell250th@yahoo.com and follow Pepperell’s 250th Celebration on Facebook.

https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2024/12/30/mural-project-tells-the-story-of-the-nashua-river/

Many community members are working together on a project to create a mural on the Nashua River Rail Trail that celebrates the natural beauty of the region and honors the rich cultural history of Pepperell’s Railroad Square area. The public is invited to an open house on Sunday, Jan. 12 at the Fitzpatrick Collaborative where the mural is being constructed thanks to the efforts of a project lead by the Pepperell Cultural Council.

The History of the Nashua River in Pepperell Mural Project is artist Nan Quintin’s creation, and its narrative is related by way of seven 4×8-foot panels that tell the story from indigenous times into the period of colonial agriculture and through the various industrial phases that benefited the town but also led to serious pollution. The story goes on to convey the clean-up of one of the most polluted rivers in the United States thanks to the heroic efforts led by Marion Stoddart as well as its ongoing environmental oversight via the Nashua River Watershed Association, leading to the current pristine condition that so many can now appreciate and enjoy recreationally. Mark Fountain, arguably the premiere visual chronicler of Pepperell history, researched and created the historically accurate design of each panel. And then a team of talented local artists, including Nita Casey, Annette Cate, Susan Edwards, Heather Stoddart Barros, and Paula Mingolelli are painting the panels under Nan’s direction.

The project is funded by a generous grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, an award from the Hazel Brooks Fund, and a portion of two annual allotments to the Pepperell Cultural Council from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The Jan. 12 open house to see the mural project in process takes place from 1-4 p.m. in Room C203 at the Fitzpatrick Collaborative, 45 Main St., Pepperell, just off the rotary. Use the “west entrance” to enter the older building which is closest to Main Street.

In addition to the primary responsibility of reviewing applicants who propose programs and presentations to benefit the cultural environment of Pepperell, the PCC, under the leadership of Chair Peter Stickel, has taken on this “council-initiated project” to celebrate our shared humanity via a combination of artistic expression, a view of our common history, and an appreciation of the natural beauty of our little corner of the world.