Featured Artifact of the Week

Painting

Artwork
From the Collection

Watercolor by Mary Gertrude “May” Balch (1875-1961). It depicts a young boy and girl playing on the beach. The inscription reads:

Little bursts of Passion.
Little human cries,
Make the mighty Love-light
Come to baby eyes.

— From May’s poetry

May Balch was born in the Parkerville section of Westford. She entered Westford Academy in 1988. Later, she attended the Massachusetts Normal Art School, graduating in 1896. The school still exists today as MassArt. May went on to become an artist, poet, writer, and dress maker. She was also Supervisor of Drawing at the South Hadley, until the death of her mother, Sarah Balch (1841-1913), and moved back to Westford to care of her father, Civil War Veteran Wayland Balch (1839-1937). She later participated in the 1929 historical pageant, celebrating Westford’s 200th anniversary of incorporation.

From Westford Museum History Pod collection featuring May Balch:

W.1997.14.1

Come and find out more of May Balch….at “Wild Women of Westford” an Evening of Storytelling and wine pairing. Friday August 26th @7:30pm, Westford Museum. Event and ticket info here