FALMOUTH — The Falmouth Historical Society is living its motto and preserving the history of the town with the latest renovations and additions to the Falmouth Heritage Museum.

On Saturday, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., the society will celebrate the annual opening of its museum and the dedication of a new storage barn on the property.

The Leighton Homestead, the1830 building that is now the Falmouth Heritage Museum, was donated to the society in 2004 by David and Jan Andrews. According to Carol Kauffman, society president, the home was moved from its original site at 18 Woods Road to its present home at 60 Woods Road in 2005. The society has been working with limited funds to improve the building ever since.

“We live paycheck to paycheck,” Kauffman said.

The society began a capital campaign to raise funds for the conversion of the building into a museum in November 2004. After the Leighton Homestead was moved to its new location and the appropriate foundation work was done, significant work was still required before the museum could be opened to the public. The house still needed plumbing, landscaping, interior painting and other improvements.

After all of the needed work was completed, the Falmouth Heritage Museum opened to the public for the first time in November 2007.

Last year the museum suffered when a leaky roof allowed water to pour into the building. Volunteers and a $10,000 donation from the Graves School Fund closed the hole and repaired the entire roof.

“It’s no good to be working and collecting artifacts if you’re going to get a leaky ceiling,” Kauffman said.

The new storage barn is the result of two separate grants from The Davis Family Foundation, totaling $45,000. Construction on the barn began last August. It will house many of the society’s artifacts, including some that have not previously been displayed.

The June 23 opening will include a flag-raising ceremony by American Legion Post No. 164, a barn dedication and historical presentations, including information on the 1925 Reo Fire Engine and the history of the Leighton farm house.

Kauffman said she expects a large turnout because of the partnership the society has with the town.

The Falmouth Heritage Museum is open from June through September. Guided tours are offered Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Amber Cronin can be reached at acronin@theforecaster.net or 781-3661 ext. 125. Follow her on Twitter @croninamber.

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The new storage barn at the Falmouth Heritage Museum will house some of the museum’s artifacts, including some that have not been displayed. The barn will be dedicated Saturday, June 23.

The Falmouth Hertiage Museum is at 60 Woods Road and is open from June through September. Tours are offered Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.