Exhibits

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

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History Pods-Virtually Keeping Westford’s History Alive

View our collection of short Westford History Pods (3-5 minute videos) featuring items and artifacts from the Westford Museum’s collection as well as a tibit of Westford History and more!

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Aerial view of Abbot Mills Buildings

The Abbot Worsted Company; The Business, the People and the Community

Virtually tour the Abbot Mill Exhibit in the Westford Museum with Penny Lacroix (2007) Helene (Mickey Crocker reflects on her years working in the Mills (2021) Working the Mill in

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Captain Pelatiah Fletcher Doll House

The Doll House is no ordinary playhouse.  After moving into the Captain Fletcher House (54 Lowell Rd), Mary “Marni” D. Agnew decided to create a replica of the house.  The

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Home Life

Not so long ago, the average home was a very different place. Candles lit the rooms instead of light bulbs, fires were used to cook things instead of ovens and

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Photo of mural

What happened to the Lake Shore Theatre?

Mural-sized painting of Nabnasset Country Club, ca. 1930 W.2017.24.1Photo by Rich McLaughlin We’ve been hearing lots about the Lake Shore Theatre in Nabnasset. It was run by Franklin Trask for

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Stone Circle at Grassy Pond

History in Stone; Reminders of Native American Life in Westford. The Stone Circle at Grassy Pond, may be an ancient artifacts found here in Westford, by Cori Ryan, and Darlene

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Set in Stone~ History of the Quarry Industry

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

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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

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Image of the Westford Knight

The Westford Knight

The so called “Westford Knight” is a carving of unconfirmed origin in ledgerock on the hill approaching Westford Center from Stony Brook. Easily visible in contrast with the natural features

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Online Exhibits

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Featured Artifact of the Week

Drawing From the collection 8″ x 10″ drawing of the Westford Museum by artist Nita Leger Casey. It was drawn on textured, cream colored stock with black ink between 1982

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Westford Notable of the Month Father Bobby Wall (1931-1992)

By James VanBever Today, the Little League baseball field in Graniteville features well-groomed baseball and softball diamonds that are well lit so that boys and girls can play at night.

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Featured Artifact of the Week

Arial Photograph From the Industry Exhibit Blue-tinted photo of the Abbot Worsted Mill complex in Forge Village, as it looked in 1950 at Pleasant St. The first Abbot Mill was

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Featured Artifact of the Week

Therapeutic Instrument From the Medical Exhibit Ca. 1920 William’s Improved Red Cross Battery. It was manufactured by P.G. Williams of New York. Medical batteries were popular from around 1870 to

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APPLE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL 1936, Knpobo, Cradle Flower

        Cradle Flower Mary Lou Schlosser MAY 16, 1936 (Photograph by Charles L. Hildreth) Among the hundreds of photographs from the Charles L. Hildreth collection, we have

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Featured Artifact of the Week

Astronomical Mirror Engraved Front Side Piece of the original main reflector (mirror) from MIT’s Haystack Observatory on Westford’s Millstone Hill, which also includes corners of Tyngsborough and Groton. The mirror

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Notable of the Month- May Emma Day (1890-1973)

    If you were ill or lacked transportation during the early part of the 20th century and needed a book from the J.V. Fletcher Library, the librarian would often

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Featured Artifact of the Week

Departure of the Minutemen: Westford Responds, April 19 1775 From the Military Exhibit Giclee on canvas, signed by artist Don Troiani. This 2014 print depicts Sgt. Joshua Parker (1740-1834) of

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Featured Artifact of the Week

Watercolor From the online Atwood Exhibit Framed watercolor by William Atwood Millett (1922-2007) of his studio. Bill Millet was born in Brockton, MA, and was the last of the family

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Past Exhibits

See highlights from past exhibits on our Past Exhibits page.