Open Hours continue in February and March

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After a successful first in January, we will continue our open hours at the Harvard Historical Society in February and March, with some new additions to the collection. This portrait of Miss Elvira Scorgie is one of the portraits on display.

Upcoming Museum Open Hours:

February 11, 2-4 pm.

March 10, 2-4 pm.

215 Still River Road
Harvard, MA 01451

The Antique Stove at the former Harvard Public Library building, now Fivesparks

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The Historical Society assures antique stove its rightful permanent home in Harvard’s former Public Library building–now Fivesparks

Mozart and Marteney Program and Annual Meeting

Wednesday December 6, 2023 at the Harvard Historical Society
215 Still River Road, Harvard, MA 01451

Annual meeting of the HHS at 7 pm, followed by a Musical Program at 7:30 pm.

Thanks to Will Hopper from Harvard Cable TV for recording this event.

"Mozart and Marteney" features oboes hand crafted in the style of Mozart's era by former Harvard resident Eugene Marteney and music from the Mozart era. Social time and refreshments follow the program.

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250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party

Was on September 9, 2 - 4 PM at the Harvard Center Cemetery

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Elijah Houghton, a Boston Tea Party participant, is buried in the Center Cemetery off the Harvard Common. A celebration of the Tea Party event and Elijah Houghton's part in the "Destruction of the tea" will take place at the Center Cemetery September 9, 2023 from 2-4 pm (rain date September 10).

Start by picking up a booklet at the Welcome Table in front of the Congregational Church, read a Storywalk with your kids about the Boston Tea Party, have your kids disguise themselves as the Colonists did, sample light refreshments at the “No-Tea” Table and hear Elijah’s story, what might have incited him to rebel, at his graveside at either 2:30 or 3:15.

History of Harvard
1880-1940 Enter the New Century

Our newly published book, "History of Harvard Massachusetts: Enter the New Century 1880-1940" is now available for purchase at the Harvard Historical Society.

We are open most Monday and Tuesday afternoons, 1-5 pm. If these hours are not convenient for you, please email curator@harvardhistory.org, to let us know you would like to order a book. Softcover book is $35.00, hardcover is $45.


Watch the video of the Living History Program that took place at the Historical Society on May 18, 2023

Thanks to Will Hopper from Harvard Cable TV for recording and editing the event.

The book is newly edited by Joe Theriault from a manuscript written by members of the Society in the late 1930’s, under the leadership of Ida Harris. The manuscript has been prepared for publication by Joe Theriault. The book was formerly available only in a typed manuscript compiled by Ida Harris but never formally published, perhaps because of wartime.

Ida Harris tells us in her Preface that “Records have been searched, papers consulted, some of the oldest inhabitants interviewed and efforts made to obtain the most authentic information available.” She concludes “The aim of this committee has been to preserve for posterity such material as is now available but which, with the passing of the present inhabitants, might be forever lost.”

The book is 459 pages long and filled with information. Sections include short biographies of citizens of the town, the apple industry, roads and transportation, electric lights, cellar holes and old home sites, education, military annals, social and political organizations, vital records for the years between 1890 and 1940, and much much more. The book is a fascinating combination of historical facts and the recollections of the contributors.

The book is published by the Harvard Historical Society and all proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit the Society.

We are looking for Collections Volunteers!

Come try it out! All training is provided. A fun way to learn about your town, and make a difference protecting history and making sure access is available to all!

Learn more about these volunteer opportunities.

Harvard in the First Half of the 20th Century. A Living History Program.

May 18th at 7:p.m. at the Harvard Historical Society
215 Still River Road, Harvard, MA 01451

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Harvard citizens will tell stories about their lives and the events that took place during the early decades of the 20th Century, including two world wars, a depression, a hurricane and more.

The Creation of the Wachusett Reservoir:
The Towns,Trains and People

Ed Sterling presented an illustrated story of the Wachusett Dam and Reservoir in Clinton
April 27th at 7:p.m. at the Harvard Historical Society
215 Still River Road, Harvard, MA 01451

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Ed Sterling from Bolton has had a lifelong interest in history, especially about trains and railroads. Noticing the many abandoned and overgrown railroad tracks in this area, Ed set out to explore what trains ran on those tracks, and how did the railroads come to abandon rail service. He has studied the history of the Central Mass Railroad extensively, and the role it played building the Wachusett reservoir.

$5. Donation appreciated to support our public programming

Discover the 1870 Organ with Gavin Klein

A video filmed by Patrick Vallaeys
Eighteen year-old Bolton resident Gavin Klein demonstrates the workings of the 1870 George Stephens Organ at the Harvard Historical Society in a new video filmed by Patrick Vallaeys. The Organ was recently restored to better working order in a community funded campaign led by the Harvard Historical Society.

The Cultural Landscape of the Harvard Shakers
What has Vanished and What Remains

An Illustrated talk by Ned Quist
Was on October 20th, 2022 7:00 pm
215 Still River Road, Harvard MA 01451
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An illustrated talk about the changes the Shakers made to the landscape in the northeastern part of Harvard and some of the buildings they acquired or built between1791 and 1917. Ned Quist will share some of his large collection of photographs of Harvard's Shaker Village and his gleanings from the Shaker journals about the buildings. In addition to building their houses and shops, the Shakers made extensive changes to the landscape that remain and shape the Village area today.

Firefighting, Past and Present

Was on Thursday, September 15 at the Still River Meetinghouse

Thanks to Harvard Cable TV for recording the event.
Robert Curran's film starts at 01:51.

On September 15th, 2022, the Harvard Historical Society hosted the Harvard Fire Department for a program featuring a film created by Harvard resident producer/filmmaker, Robert Curran. The evening opened with the arrival of “Antiquey,” driven by Lt. Tony Shaw, and Engine 1, at the front of the Meetinghouse.

Engineer Curran, who is lead driver and in charge of maintenance on Engine 2, runs his own commercial film production company (FIRE ENGINE Productions, Inc.), and he made the film to celebrate the department’s 100th anniversary.

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Shaker Open House

Was on Sunday, June 26, 1 to 3 pm at the
Harvard Historical Society, 215 Still River road, Harvard, MA
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On June 26 we had a Open House at the Harvard Historical Society featuring our Shaker Collection, including the newly arrived Shaker Desk. There were refreshments and an opportunity to taste Shaker recipes prepared by the members of the Historical Society.

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Shaker Hidden Treasure

Was on Sunday, May 22, 2 to 4 pm at the
Harvard Historical Society, 215 Still River road, Harvard, MA

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On Sunday, May 22, people were invited to admire a newly arrived Shaker Desk and learn about two special Shakers who might have used it. They had plenty of opportunity to have a conversation with our Shaker experts who hosted the event from 2 to 4 pm at the Meeting House.

This program is in collaboration with Freedom's Way.

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More about Freedom's Way Treasure Hunt
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A Common History:
The Story of Harvard's Identity

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Carlene Phillips, has written “a 142 page book with a trove of stories about people and events that made Harvard, plus many rare photos.”

That’s a quote from the advertisement for her book in the May 14 Harvard Press.

Carlene has been researching and writing the stories appearing in this book for years and it’s about to be published. A series of her stories have appeared in the Press over the years and this book is a collection of them.

The cover of the book is beautiful with a painting of a historical view of the Common. It is one of the four paintings by Pollard in the Historical Society collection.

You can purchase the book at the General Store in Harvard, or contact Carlene at carphillips@charter.net

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Douglas “Doug” A. Cregar

IN MEMORIAM DOUG CREGAR

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of Doug Cregar's death Sunday, Sept. 26, at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston.
Doug accomplished a great deal for the Historical Society as a board member and as president.
We are grateful for all his hard work and enthusiasm, and we will miss him very much.

Christmas Cards from the Harvard Historical Society Archives

(and a little history...)
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In the late 1800's a Christmas card became the primary way to send a yearly message to friends and family, just like it is today. The earlier tradition of sending Happy New Year cards and Valentine’s Day cards fell out of fashion (for non-romantic friends). Christmas cards were imported starting in the 1850's but they were expensive and didn't become popular until Prang and Mayer, a lithography firm with a factory in Roxbury Mass, began selling Christmas cards in America in 1874, becoming the first printer to offer cards in America. Its owner, Louis Prang, is sometimes called the "father of the American Christmas card."
Humorous and sentimental images of children and animals, were popular in early cards. Snow scenes, religious scenes, and Santa Claus cards were later additions. Sometimes the cards had envelopes or were more economical postcards. Judging from our collection, cards with silk fringe seem to have been popular in Harvard, or maybe they were so special that more were saved.

Information from Wikipedia
See more cards...

Come & Visit

Pieces from the collections are on display and may be seen at social events, or you may visit by appointment. 

Our administrative assistant, Judy Warner, is in the Curator's office Mondays and Tuesdays from 1:00 to 5:00 pm  and will be happy to show you around or assist you with research.

Contact the Curator.

Volunteering

Membership can involve as much or as little active participation as you prefer; you can simply choose to support us through your donation or if you would like to be more actively involved we have many volunteer opportunities available.

Learn more about Volunteer opportunities.

Membership

We are a non-profit organization and do not receive any town funding; all our operations are made possible by our members.

Because we are a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization, all contributions and dues are fully tax deductible.

Become a member today!

The HHS is a non profit organization and relies on membership and donations to maintain our buildings and our collections and to support programs.
We do not receive any town funding.