Acton History Online
Explore Acton's history wherever you are. The Acton Historical Society has been at work making its collections and Acton stories available online. We will be adding more over the coming months; please check back.
Video Content
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Scenes of ice harvesting from Ice House Pond in East Acton, c. 1950 |
Stories from Acton
A look back at how Acton residents spent the summer months one hundred years ago. Learn More... 
After decades of struggle, Acton women were finally allowed full voting rights in 1920. Learn More... 
F. W. Pelton ran a private high school in Acton in 1852 and put on quite a show of students' work. Learn More... |
For Memorial Day we researched African-American Revolutionary War soldier Titus "Hayward." Learn More... 
George C. Wright, Acton benefactor was president of the largest coffee and spice company in New England. Learn More... 
An overlooked slide gave us a picture of the Acton football team of 1897-98 with identified players. Learn More... 
Profiles of the six South Acton women were the first female voters registered in Acton. Learn More... |
In 1868-69, West Acton residents tried to secede and join with Boxborough to become a new town. Learn More... 
A project to identify early black and mixed race Acton residents from 1735 through the Civil War. Learn More... 
Charles Heywood, railroad executive, inventor and owner of 2 Acton mills, and wife Ann were philanthropists. Learn More... |
Resources for Acton Historical Research
Acton's Markers and Monuments - locations, stories, photos & sources to follow-up Explore... |
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Online Exhibits
Some highlights from our collections, expanding on our November 1918 exhibit commemorating the end of World War 1. Explore... |
Revisit our exhibit featuring hats and head-coverings in our collection and others lent by generous individuals. Explore... |
More Stories from Acton
West Acton's roller skating rink and roller polo team added excitement to village life. Learn More... 
John Fletcher, his boot and shoe business, advocacy for temperance and against slavery, and impact on Acton. Learn More... 
The enterprising Hanson Littlefield built a hall in West Acton for his store and other ventures. Learn More... 
Aaron Woods, hermit and supposed miser, was the subject of national news interest twice in the 1870s. Learn More... 
Photos found in a West Acton home, probably from the Beach Family & Halls Brothers Wooden Ware Co. Learn more... |
Clara (Hapgood) Nash, the first woman admitted to the bar in New England, was also an Acton teacher and poet. Learn More... 
Acton's powder industry appeared regularly in the news. In 1898-99, there was a lot of excitement. Learn More... 
A letter led to information about Sarah (Faulkner) Skinner who went blind in her later years. Learn More... 
Paintings in our collection led us to discover artist Annie Payson and explore her story. Learn More... 
Researching F. J. Taylor, South Acton photographer turned up his wife Margaret, also a photographer. Learn More... 
The morocco factory in South Acton was a large employer in the 1890s. Its site was near the Assabet Rail Trail. Learn More... 
Captain Joseph Brown, veteran of Bunker Hill and Saratoga, served the town of Acton for many years. Learn More... |
Tracing the history of school buildings in Acton is challenging. Here, a look at the north and east side schools. Learn More... 
Francis Skinner grew up in Acton but created a very different life in Boston for his descendants. Learn More... 
Incidents at the town's watering troughs and how perceptions of the troughs changed over time. Learn More...
Stories and pictures from the New England Sawmill Unit who went to Scotland in World War 1. Learn More... |