Paul Ramunni, founder and director of the New England Accordion Museum, brought a fascinating collection of photographs, music, and vintage accordions to the AAA Festival in Baltimore July 11-15th. All were mesmerized by the personal and unique stories surrounding each accordion.

Paul not only collects and preserves accordions, but he also collects the stories which surround each one. He began this venture about three years ago. After forty two years of not playing his accordion, he woke up one morning with the desire to play the accordion again. He happened to be in Vermont at the time, was referred to someone who had accordions and bought one. On this day, his life took an amazing turn inspiring the passion to acquire accordions! He visited tag sales, pawn shops, garage sales. Paul and his wife decided to set up a museum in their garage.

In October 2011, they opened the New England Accordion Museum in Canaan, Connecticut. Paul presently owns over 200 accordions and memorabilia. It is open by appointment only. If you would like to see the accordions and hear the amazing stories that go with them, call 860-833-1374 or email: ramunni@comcast.net for a tour. Paul is always looking to acquire interesting accordions either by donation or purchase. While in Baltimore, he actually bought three accordions from people who brought them to his workshop!

One very fortunate development occurred when Paul met Jack and Kathy White, the owners of the now closed Cleveland Accordion Museum. Since they were in the process of closing their museum, Paul was able to move many of them to the New England Accordion Museum.

Paul said, “I have learned that what is most interesting about this project doesn not involve the accordions themselves. Rather, it is about the people and the stories I have been gathering from the folks I meet.”

Paul will exhibit his accordion museum display and present his Workshop at the 2012 ACCORDIONS NOW! Festival in New Hampshire on August 17-18th. See article in this August issue.

Be sure to visit the New England Accordion Museum or contact Paul to make arrangements for him to present a workshop and display of his many interesting and well preserved accordions.