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.
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.
We are open, as usual, at Jenks Library on Monday and Wednesday mornings, 9-11. Stay tuned for special events at the Hosmer House Museum. |
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On Our Blog
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A recent blog post discusses 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. Given its size and artistic touches, we think it must have been someone with resources; we are hoping someone knows who he is.
Another recent blog post showcases 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 discusses 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! |
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World War 1 Exhibit
Thank you to all who visited the Society's World War 1 exhibit and to all the members who worked to prepare for and host it. Some of the photographs displayed can be seen in our online exhibit, or visit Jenks Library to see our entire collection of World War 1 photographs. |
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