Featured Artifact of the Week

Snow Roller

  • Snow Roller
From the Collection

Painted wood model of a snow roller once used in Westford. Before snow plowing — and before the automobile became popular, it was common to use a snow roller to make roads accessible, particularly between 1890 to 1920. The rollers were essentially a form of horse drawn carriage. For more info on their history, click here. The scale model was made by Bernard Wilder (1916-1944) in 1950.

Wilder was a Westford resident, WWII veteran, and brother of local railroad historian H. Arnold Wilder (1909-2009). Both were graduates of Westford Academy.

Model
Plexiglas Case: 111/4 x 8 x 5″
W.1984.18.4