Featured Artifact of the Week

Picture Postcard

Black and white printed photo postcard from 1907. It was sent to Mrs Frank D. Bailey (Sarah Bailey) of West Newbury, MA, from Alice. The photo shows Boston Rd, heading down to Minot’s Corner (Cornerstone Square). The Westford Museum cottage (office) is visible on the left and is where Alice then lived. “[An] ordinary example of 1^1/2 story residence,” according to the 1985 Historical Commission files, the Greek Revival building was built around 1874.

The note wrapping around the photo reads:
The house at the left is where I am now. Received/
my “Delta” paper even if I didn’t attend the exercises. I didn’t think they would send it. Write if you can, Alice.

The photo was taken prior to 1907. Henry “Tricky” Keyes (1859-1917) purchased the Westford Academy building that year and the property next to the cottage soon after. Keyes moved the Academy building to its present location in the same year The Academy and cottage properties were sold to the town in 1916 to serve as the firehouse (Westford Academy) and dispatch office (cottage), until 1975. The Academy building was converted into the Westford Historical Society’s Museum between 1975 and 1985, and in 1987, the cottage became occupied by the Society as well. Both properties continue to be owned by the town under the purview of the Westford Historical Commission.

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