The Westford Museum has a lengthy background of its own. The original building was constructed in 1794, and acted as the first Westford Academy. The building had 2 floors, with a classroom on each floor, and functioned as a school until 1897, when the Academy was moved to the Rodenbush Center. The old building was bought by John Cameron Abbot to be used for land, however the town decided to instead place a granite stone at the location to memorialize the original Westford Academy. Henry Otis Keyes repurchased the building in 1907, and moved it towards its present location.
From there the building went through several stages where it changed purposes over time. Once moved the area became a blacksmith shop until 1911, when it became a 2 family home. 5 years later it became a fire station. Three large front doors were added for the fire trucks, as well as a side door. The Museum’s current cottage area was then used as a dispatch station.
The Westford History Committee was created in 1975, and restored the building and created the Westford Museum. The Museum was and is run by the Westford Historical Society, and was dedicated on September 11, 1976. The Cupula was struck by lightning and delayed the opening until May 14 1983. The Museum stands as it was, besides a renovation in 2015, and is a beloved structure of Westford, containing the town’s vast history of its people and infrastructure.
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More of the History of Westford Academy here
Fire Companies of Westford