Exhibits Held at the Hosmer House
Summer 2022-23:
Wish You Were Here!
Our "Wish You Were Here" exhibit focused on Acton as a vacation and sightseeing destination. The exhibit drew from our extensive postcard collection and also displayed items from the Lake Nagog Inn and businesses that catered to tourist traffic.
Fall 2019:
Hats!
Our exhibit displayed the wonderful variety of hats in the Society's collection and items lent by generous individuals in the community. The exhibit offered a rare glimpse at items usually not on display. Hats were formerly much more omnipresent in people's lives than they are today, and accordingly, the exhibit featured hats from different occasions, ages, professions, and eras. Thank you to Barbara Head for her hard work and for sharing many fascinating facts about hats of times gone by.
November 2018:
WW1 Armistice Centennial
In honor of Veterans Day and the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1, the Hosmer House was open for four days in which visitors could explore an exhibit about the first World War, with special recognition of Acton connections. On display were items associated with the war that have been donated to the Society over the years. See our online exhibit of some of the photographs.
October 2018:
125 Years of the Acton Fire Department
In gratitude to the Acton Fire Department for its service to the town of Acton, the Historical Society presented an exhibit featuring items and photos illustrating firefighting in Acton over the years. In addition, the Hosmer House Museum was open for tours.
April 2018:
Patriots Day Through the Years
Acton has celebrated its important role in the events of April 19, 1775 (and 1861) in a variety of ways. In April, the Society hosted an exhibit featuring souvenirs and other items illustrating the way in which Acton has sought to commemorate its history.
December 2017:
Acton's Sweet Tooth - Then and Now
During the first weekend of December, the Society had a holiday open house. The Hosmer House museum, generously and beautifully decorated by the Acton Garden Club, was open for tours. Leon Poirier lent his collection of Fanny Farmer candy tins, and items from Loraine's candy box, a local candy store, were on display.
September 2017:
Out of the Ashes: Celebrating the Hosmer House
Winding up our fortieth year of stewardship of the Hosmer House, we presented an exhibit highlighting the extraordinary imagination, energy and perseverance of a group Acton residents in the 1970s who wanted to save the dilapidated, charred historic house that had stood on the site since before the American Revolution. The house was open for visitors to admire its architectural features and its collections. Photographs in each room showed how the space had been transformed from from various degrees of decay to a rich historical resource. Additionally, items were on display that have been found on the property and that are connected to the families that lived in the house.
May 2017:
Still Standing: The Barns of Acton, A Tribute in Images
The springtime 2017 exhibit in Gallery I at the Hosmer House Museum featured the creative work of current Acton Boxborough Regional High School photography students under the guidance of art teacher, Nat Martin. Selected paintings and sketches of Acton’s esteemed artist, Arthur Davis (1863–1953), were on view as well. Davis captured both the essence and the context of several local barns, some of them still standing.
November 2016:
Acton Serves: An Unbroken Line
In November, the Society displayed items from the military experiences of generations of Actonians. The community generously lent a fascinating assortment of uniforms and items carried through war. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
July 2016:
Red, White & Blue Flags and Quilts
In July, with the generous help of local quilters, the Society presented American flags and patriotic quilts, complemented by antique quilts and other items from the Society's collection. A resident artist offered her expertise and provided hand-on quilting lessons.
June 2016:
Made in Acton
In June, the Society presented a selection of items and photos from its extensive and diverse collection documenting the history of manufacturing in Acton from piano stools to pencils to powder. The Society is grateful for the loan of wonderful Acton-made items for the exhibit.
December 2015:
Toys from the Attic
In December, the Society exhibited a wonderful collection of toys and games owned by the Society and loaned by members. In addition, the Acton Garden Club decorated the Hosmer House's keeping room for the festivities.
November - December 2015:
Acton Serves
Veterans' Day through Pearl Harbor Day, the Society presented a collection of photographs and artifacts reflecting individual experiences of war time service, both here at home and on the battlefield. The exhibit was made possible by the generous response of local families willing to share their personal histories with Museum visitors.
In addition, military miniatures collected by career Marine Colonel Walter Arthur Gagne of Acton and recently given to the Society's permanent collection were on display for the first time.
Many thanks to the individuals who have lent and donated items for this exhibit!
September and October 2015:
Acton THEN
Acton Through the Eyes of the Artist -- A display of photographs illustrating the civic, academic and industrial life of Acton between 1850 and World War I. Also exhibited are some of the portraits and pastorals by Acton's own Arthur Davis (1863-1953).
and
Stitch in Time
A display, drawing from both the Society archives and the generosity of private collectors, of the wide range of fiber objects made by Acton area citizens for both domestic and military use between the early 1800s and World War I.
Wish You Were Here!
Our "Wish You Were Here" exhibit focused on Acton as a vacation and sightseeing destination. The exhibit drew from our extensive postcard collection and also displayed items from the Lake Nagog Inn and businesses that catered to tourist traffic.
Fall 2019:
Hats!
Our exhibit displayed the wonderful variety of hats in the Society's collection and items lent by generous individuals in the community. The exhibit offered a rare glimpse at items usually not on display. Hats were formerly much more omnipresent in people's lives than they are today, and accordingly, the exhibit featured hats from different occasions, ages, professions, and eras. Thank you to Barbara Head for her hard work and for sharing many fascinating facts about hats of times gone by.
November 2018:
WW1 Armistice Centennial
In honor of Veterans Day and the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1, the Hosmer House was open for four days in which visitors could explore an exhibit about the first World War, with special recognition of Acton connections. On display were items associated with the war that have been donated to the Society over the years. See our online exhibit of some of the photographs.
October 2018:
125 Years of the Acton Fire Department
In gratitude to the Acton Fire Department for its service to the town of Acton, the Historical Society presented an exhibit featuring items and photos illustrating firefighting in Acton over the years. In addition, the Hosmer House Museum was open for tours.
April 2018:
Patriots Day Through the Years
Acton has celebrated its important role in the events of April 19, 1775 (and 1861) in a variety of ways. In April, the Society hosted an exhibit featuring souvenirs and other items illustrating the way in which Acton has sought to commemorate its history.
December 2017:
Acton's Sweet Tooth - Then and Now
During the first weekend of December, the Society had a holiday open house. The Hosmer House museum, generously and beautifully decorated by the Acton Garden Club, was open for tours. Leon Poirier lent his collection of Fanny Farmer candy tins, and items from Loraine's candy box, a local candy store, were on display.
September 2017:
Out of the Ashes: Celebrating the Hosmer House
Winding up our fortieth year of stewardship of the Hosmer House, we presented an exhibit highlighting the extraordinary imagination, energy and perseverance of a group Acton residents in the 1970s who wanted to save the dilapidated, charred historic house that had stood on the site since before the American Revolution. The house was open for visitors to admire its architectural features and its collections. Photographs in each room showed how the space had been transformed from from various degrees of decay to a rich historical resource. Additionally, items were on display that have been found on the property and that are connected to the families that lived in the house.
May 2017:
Still Standing: The Barns of Acton, A Tribute in Images
The springtime 2017 exhibit in Gallery I at the Hosmer House Museum featured the creative work of current Acton Boxborough Regional High School photography students under the guidance of art teacher, Nat Martin. Selected paintings and sketches of Acton’s esteemed artist, Arthur Davis (1863–1953), were on view as well. Davis captured both the essence and the context of several local barns, some of them still standing.
November 2016:
Acton Serves: An Unbroken Line
In November, the Society displayed items from the military experiences of generations of Actonians. The community generously lent a fascinating assortment of uniforms and items carried through war. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
July 2016:
Red, White & Blue Flags and Quilts
In July, with the generous help of local quilters, the Society presented American flags and patriotic quilts, complemented by antique quilts and other items from the Society's collection. A resident artist offered her expertise and provided hand-on quilting lessons.
June 2016:
Made in Acton
In June, the Society presented a selection of items and photos from its extensive and diverse collection documenting the history of manufacturing in Acton from piano stools to pencils to powder. The Society is grateful for the loan of wonderful Acton-made items for the exhibit.
December 2015:
Toys from the Attic
In December, the Society exhibited a wonderful collection of toys and games owned by the Society and loaned by members. In addition, the Acton Garden Club decorated the Hosmer House's keeping room for the festivities.
November - December 2015:
Acton Serves
Veterans' Day through Pearl Harbor Day, the Society presented a collection of photographs and artifacts reflecting individual experiences of war time service, both here at home and on the battlefield. The exhibit was made possible by the generous response of local families willing to share their personal histories with Museum visitors.
In addition, military miniatures collected by career Marine Colonel Walter Arthur Gagne of Acton and recently given to the Society's permanent collection were on display for the first time.
Many thanks to the individuals who have lent and donated items for this exhibit!
September and October 2015:
Acton THEN
Acton Through the Eyes of the Artist -- A display of photographs illustrating the civic, academic and industrial life of Acton between 1850 and World War I. Also exhibited are some of the portraits and pastorals by Acton's own Arthur Davis (1863-1953).
and
Stitch in Time
A display, drawing from both the Society archives and the generosity of private collectors, of the wide range of fiber objects made by Acton area citizens for both domestic and military use between the early 1800s and World War I.