Become a Member of the NHS

We invite you to become a member of the Newstead Historical Society and support the ongoing preservation of the Rich-Twinn Octagon House Museum, a building on the National Register of Historic Places, dedicated to interpreting residential life of the mid-nineteenth century. 

In addition, the NHS collects, preserves, and shares the history of the Town of Newstead and Village of Akron at the Knight-Sutton Museum.

Membership benefits include unlimited free admission to the Rich-Twinn Octagon House “Highlights of the Octagon” tours on the first and third Sundays throughout our regular season. Your current membership card is your ticket to our Sunday tours.

Use our Contact page to email us for more information.

As a nonprofit organization, we rely on the support of our community to continue our mission. Donate today to help us continue to promote cultural understanding and appreciation of mid-nineteenth century living and local Akron-Newstead history.

We are a volunteer organization, and there are many ways you can help the NHS! We welcome anyone in Western New York who has a love of local history. Opportunities include: becoming a docent or greeter at the Rich-Twinn Octagon House and/or the Knight-Sutton Museum, helping with the gardening upkeep, scanning and filing paper ephemera from our collection, and more!

Use our Contact page to email us for more information.

Donations to the Newstead Historical Society should have a historical connection to the people and businesses of the Village of Akron and Town of Newstead, while some unique items from Western New York may also be considered for the collections.

The Rich-Twinn Octagon House is set as an 1870s home. Items from that era such as furniture and paintings, etc., may also be accepted.

Items should be in good condition and free from damage, mold and mildew. We very much appreciate your wish to donate your cherished items to the Society to preserve for future generations.  

Please take a look at the NHS Collections Policy and feel free to contact Jannette Potera, Collections Manager with any questions at collections.newsteadhistorical@gmail.com