Exhibits – The Westford Historical Society & Museum

The Westford Museum houses several permanent exhibits. Temporary exhibits highlight parts of our collections which cannot be displayed on a permanent basis. A large percentage of the collections are in storage and can be viewed by appointment if their condition allows.

Approximately 80% of the Westford Historical Society’s collections are in storage, not normally on display in the Museum. Each week we feature a different artifact from our collection.

Permanent Exhibits

The History of Graniteville

Westford has a long history in industry, with the earliest recorded granite quarrying beginning in 1826 on Oak Hill, near today’s Fletcher Granite company. Granite from here is known for its clean blue-gray appearance, “Chelmsford Gray.” The earliest operations occurred before the use of railroads, with the old horse …

The Westford Knight

Legend has it that a Scottish earl named Henry Sinclair took a crew of explorers and discovered America in 1398, a whole century before Christopher Columbus. According to the story, they explored regions of Nova Scotia and New England. Some even claim that the evidence of that is the grave …

Westford Doctors

As in every town, disease and illness in Westford was inevitable. From 1850-1868 the #1 cause of death in Westford was consumption, the #2 cause was old age, and the #3 cause was Scarlet Fever. Life expectancy was approximately forty years of age. Fortunately Westford had a reliable doctor for …

The American Revolution

Notable items from the Revolutionary War period are: – Several items which belonged to Col. John Robinson. – Recently acquired drum sticks attributed to Jonathan Minot, Jr., Drummer in Capt. Minot’s company. – An epaulette attributed to David Goodhue, a Westford native and officer during the war.

Westford Academy

Westford Academy (WA) was founded in 1792 as a private secondary school for children “of any nation, age, or sex.” It was exceptional from its beginning, taking both boys and girls as students as long as they could read the Bible without sounding out words and pay 9 shillings per …

Power of the Mills

The opening of the Stony Brook Railroad brought new industrial activity to all three Stony Brook villages: Brookside, Graniteville, and Forge Village. The granite quarries above Graniteville now had a convenient and economic means to transport their stone to Lowell and from there to the rest of New England and …

Westford Women Dolls

Westford has an abundant history of outstanding and courageous women. Jean Downey (1925-2003), conducted the Westford Women Doll project in 1985 to highlight women’s history and civil rights within Westford, with 12 women originally highlighted. A prominent resident in town, Jean was a nurse, involved with charities, and an accomplished seamstress. …

The Prescotts of Westford

The Prescotts were early settlers of Westford and Chelmsford, and by the end of the 1700’s there were many Prescott families that were related in one way or another. Abram, Olive’s husband who was born in 1769 was among the fourth generation. Abram was the third son of twelve children …

Country Store

The General Store not only provided residents with their common household supplies and luxuries, but also was located in the center of town to make it easily accessible. Many could get to the store by walking or on horses. The post office was located in the General Store as well. …

Farming

Before the mills came to Westford, the town was mainly agricultural. A farm was home to many Westford residents. Apples were Westford’s major crop. Other profitable crops consisted of peaches, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, as well as many more small fruits. Common farming tools included the brush hook, buck saw, scythe, …

Temporary Exhibits

The Many Colors of WA

The Many Colors of Westford Academy Westford’s high school colors were not always maroon and grey (and sometimes gold) with a floating Grey Ghost. Into the 1950s, the school’s colors were less solid, as well as the description of the sports teams (mascots). In fact, a football team was not …

Past Eateries

Past Eateries of Westford Westford saw many restaurants come and go. These eateries came in all sizes, while they were sometimes frequented more for atmosphere than their food. The Old Oaken Bucket, The Tiki Lau (New Tiki), and Polly’s were only a few examples. Smaller, lesser known eateries had their …

Ten District Schools

https://youtu.be/JrUsoRSYVLI Five school districts were established in 1787 with schoolhouses in each district. New districts were added in 1806, 1822, and 1826. Westford Academy was incorporated in 1792, and a two-story late Georgian style Academy Hall was built in 1794 to the west of the common. By approximately 1870 to 1908 …

Fire Companies of Westford MA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkAnfAG2Aus&feature=youtu.be Westford Historical Society’s 2005 Calendar researched and created by Marilyn Day, Wesyford Town Historian (2005) Slideshow, Alina Jeng, Westford Historical Society Intern (2020) The Center Fire Station This fire station is particularly special to Westford and to the Westford Museum. The Museum building served as the Center Fire Station’s …

Women’s Rights in Westford

Women’s Rights in Westford timeline 1780 Massachusetts State Constitution restricts voting to males only but omits “male” as a qualification for holding public office. 1819 Susan Prescott becomes the first woman assistant preceptor (assistant principal and teacher) at Westford Academy. c1833 Led by …

The Atwood-Carlton-Millett Family

The Westford Family lived in town starting in the 1880s. Having left their mark on local medicine and art, members of the family lived in town until 2007.

Stone Circle at Grassy Pond

Many thanks go out to Cori Ryan and all the people involved in yesterday’s History in Stone program! Over 80 people visited the Museum to hear Cori’s talk on the Stone Circle at Grassy Pond, view the ancient artifacts found here in Westford, listen to Spirit Dancer’s stories and revel …

Nabnasset

Nabnasset is the 5th and final theme in our Villages of Westford series. It started as a farming community and added the mills at Brookside. In the late 19th century the recreational land around Nab Lake was known as “Nabnasset Grove.” A summer community built up in the 1930s and …

Featured Artifact of the Week

Painting Panel The chips were taken from the original clapboards and show the paints used from 1794 through 2009. Two paint chips from the east side of the 1793 Westford Museum building, which was the original building of Westford Academy. The were taken by Dan Lacroix to determine the 2009 …

Featured Artifact of the Week

Placemat The table mat has a depiction of the Westford Town Common. Drawn by the late Phyllis Hughes then of Carlisle, MA, originally for the Friends of the J.V. Fletcher Library, the image is presumably contemporary to when it was dawn in 1973. The Westford Museum may be seen to …

Featured Artifact of The Week

Autograph Book From the Westford Academy Exhibit Westford Academy autograph book of Abbie J. Cutter (1861-1923) from her time at WA from 1875 to 1879. The book contains signatures of mostly her classmates from her years at WA. Pictured signatures are from Hattie A. Bailey and Clara W. Blodgett (1862-1945). …

Featured Artifact of the Week

Ice Cream Parlor This 1922 card advertised the grand opening of a new ice cream parlor on Third Street, Graniteville (Westford). Women presenting the card received a free ice cream, while man would receive a free cigar. The apparent owner of the new parlor was Louis Lanctot, a dealer and …

Featured Artifact of the Week

Library Card 1878 library card for H. Dwinell, who was likely Hezekiah Dwinell (1804-1884). According to the Fletcher Library, the card was used while the library was in the Town Hall, in the room to the immediate right of the main entrance. The collection was just over 3,000 books at …

Featured Artifact of the Week

Prescott House Painting A 1947 depiction of the Prescott house still standing at 181A Main St, the intersection of Chamberlain Rd (Chamberlain’s Corner). The house was originally built in 1752 by Ebenezer Prescott (1723-?), and remained in the family until the deaths of siblings Ebenezer Clyde Prescott (1891-1977) and Lucinda …

Featured Artifact of the Week

Marie Aurea Marcotte’s Chemistry Folder The 1952 chemistry folder of Marie Aurea (Marcotte) Rondeau (1934-2015), while she attended Westford Academy. She went by Aurea Marcotte at the time. Her chemistry teacher was John Rennie (1921-2014), who taught at WA from 1946 to 1956. As well as notes, the folder contains …

Featured Artifact of the Week

Photo of 29 Main St. 1929 Black and white photo of 19 Main St, which was built in 1873. It was the home of Dr. Orion Vassar Wells (1880-1918) and his family. He attended Harvard Medical School in 1906, and was a popular doctor in town. The photo shows his …

Featured Artifact of the Week

Cord From Micronesia The cord was made from tree bark by indigenous peoples of Micronesia. For more information on the Micronesia islands and its active indigenous cultures, please visit this link. Native Americans in New England and most of the East Coast also utilized tree bark, when available, for practical …

Featured Artifact of the Week

Framed Photograph Photograph of Charles G. Sargent (1819-1878). He founded the C.G. Sargent & Sons Co, which existed from 1852 to 1990. The company primarily built machinery for processing textiles, particularly wool drying. Sargent also co-founded the Abbot Worsted Co in 1855 with John W.P. & John W. Abbot (father …

Past Exhibits

See highlights from past exhibits on our Past Exhibits page.

Permanent Exhibits

Temporary Exhibits

Online Exhibits

Past Exhibits