HILLSBOROUGH — Though he may not have been the country's most popular President, Franklin Pierce is still a New Hampshire boy who managed to ascend to the highest post in the nation. A new bookstore and gallery at his historic home is now celebrating that achievement.

On Friday, the Hillsborough Historical Society officially opened the doors to the President Franklin Pierce Bookstore and Gallery in a carefully restored red barn at the Franklin Pierce Homestead.

“There's no Franklin Pierce library,” said Alan Dobrowolski, who along with his wife, Sara, helped create the bookstore and gallery. “He wasn't always the most popular President, but he deserves to have some recognition.”

The Dobrowolskis are the second generation of Sara's family to take a keen interest in President Pierce and his historic home. For 25 years, Sara's father, Jim Marvin, has worked to preserve and promote Pierce's family's farm.

“When he retired from the military, he moved to Hillsborough and this place became his passion,” said Sara Dobrowolski.

“Our kids grew up thinking this was (Marvin's) house,” Alan Dobrowolski said. “He was always here.”

Though Marvin still makes regular appearances at the Pierce Homestead, which is owned by the New Hampshire Parks and Recreation and overseen by the Hillsborough Historical Society, the Dobrowolskis, along with Gary Sparks and other members of the society, are putting in a lot of time.

Their recent project, the bookstore and gallery, has been a labor of love that's been motivated by the desire to bring more visitors to the historic property.

“We want to get people to come and to keep them coming back, and we think this gallery and bookstore will help us do that,” said Alan Dobrowolski.

The theme of the shop is all Franklin Pierce, all of the time, in keeping with the way the gift shops are run at other presidential libraries.

“I visited a lot of libraries to get a sense of what kinds of things they carry,” said Alan Dobrowolski. “We wanted to bring in items that are authentic to President Pierce and his history.”

Toys that were used by children in Pierce's day, the china pattern that he used at the White House, pressed-glass ornaments, and books for both children and adults are part of the offerings. There's even a Franklin Pierce bobblehead doll, which Dobrowolski said was “the most controversial item in the shop.”

“People either love it or hate it,” he said.

The gallery, also located inside the barn, features photographs of Pierce and his family, works of art, and a collection of artifacts that illustrate life during Pierce's time in New Hampshire. Tours of the Franklin Pierce house are also given and feature rooms with elaborate French wall paper, traditional New England stenciling, furnishings and artifacts from Pierce's life.

Hours for the store and gallery are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and weekends through Columbus Day.

For more information visit www.hillsboroughhistory.org.

nfoster@newstote.com