The Acton Historical Society works to discover, preserve and share facts and artifacts from the rich history of Acton, Massachusetts with the hope of spreading enthusiasm for and knowledge of our town.  Come visit us or contact us to share your own stories of Acton and its people.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Two Special Events on October 27

Hat Exhibit at the Hosmer House

Sunday October 27
2:30 - 4:30 pm
Hosmer House Museum
300 Main Street, Acton

Come see the wonderful variety of hats in the Society's collection and items lent by generous individuals in the community.  The exhibit features hats from different occasions, ages, professions, and eras.  Learn fascinating facts about hats, formerly much more omnipresent in people's lives than they are today.  Do not miss this rare opportunity to see items usually not on display.
Admission: 
  • AHS Members free, as always. 
  • Non-members $3 per person.  Follow the exhibit with Bill Klauer's talk on "A Hermit's Demise" for an additional $2.
  • $10 Family Limit.

Program - A Hermit's Demise - Rumors & Consequences in 1870s Acton

Sunday October 27 at 4:30 pm
Jenks Library
Bill Klauer, Speaker

On October 27th, Bill Klauer will share the story of Aaron Woods, known locally as a hermit and a miser whose death generated intense speculation and national news coverage in the 1870s. Among the twists and turns of the story are the coming of the railroad to North Acton, the "Potato Cave" (now properly called the Acton Stone Chamber), an Acton crime spree, and the far-reaching consequences of local rumors.
Admission: 
  • AHS Members free, as always. 
  • Non-members $3 per person.  For $5 per person,  tour the Hat Exhibit and hear Bill's talk.
  • $10 Family Limit.

We have Parking!

After a summer of landscape renovation, we are delighted to report that we now have the use of an expanded parking lot at 300 Main Street, home of our Hosmer House Museum, Jenks Library and associated buildings.  Thanks are due to the voters of the town of Acton for their support of this project.

For a slideshow of the project in process as well as other work on the Hosmer House, click here.

On Our Blog

Our most recent blog post displays newly discovered pictures of West Acton and its barrel shop before and after the fire of 1913.  An earlier post discussed John Fletcher, his boot and shoe business, his advocacy for temperance and against slavery, and the large impact he had on Acton, particularly the town center.  In May, the blog discussed Henry Barker and his cider mill, a topic inspired by trying to identify a large portrait found in a South Acton barn. 

Another recent blog post showcased a collection of photos of workers from Hall Brothers' wooden ware company as well as pictures that apparently came from a branch of the Beach family.

February's blog post discussed Francis Skinner (1797-1865) who grew up in Acton and went off to live a very different life in Boston.  Our interest in the Skinner family is explained in a blog post about our acquisition of an 1834 letter written about Sarah (Faulkner) Skinner who went blind in her later years.  We were able to uncover a surprising amount about her and her family.

In 2018, we explored dances in Acton, the New England Sawmill Unit, Acton baseball, schoolhouse construction and maintenance in the town's earlier days, the house that sits where Isaac Davis's home once stood,  ice harvesting, and the stories of Acton residents Clara (Hapgood) Nash, Daniel Scarlett, John Oliver, and Rev. James T. Woodbury.

There's plenty to discover on the blog; check it out!