WELCOME TO THE NORTH BROOKFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY WEBSITE
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HISTORICAL MUSEUM
~ SPRING – SUMMER 2019 HOURS ~
*******THE MUSEUM WILL BE OPEN*******
SATURDAYS (10am-1pm)
May 4th and 18th
June 1st, 5th, and 29th
July 13th and 27th
TUESDAYS (3-5pm)
May 14th and 28th
June 10th
and by appointment (email avery468@aol.com)
The Museum collection chronicles the history of North Brookfield and contains hundreds of photos and artifacts.
The Society has a unique sale selection of historical prints, maps, books, prints by local artists and the new acclaimed DVD, Ward Hollow: A Video History of North Brookfield by Tyler Nickerson
(Free North Brookfield Town House Post Card just for stopping in )
The Museum is located at 197 Main St. in the lower level of the historic Walker Block next to the Town House
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AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY
SPRING 2019 PROGRAM SCHEDULE
AAS public programs spotlight the work not only of historians but also of creative and performing artists and writers who have performed research at the Society.
https://www.americanantiquarian.org/programs-events
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~~ TOWN HOUSE UPDATE ~~
Spring 2019
Special thanks to the Friends of the Town House, Selectman John Tripp, and all who have donated time, talent, and treasure to the Town House painting effort. And thanks to the NB Decorating Committee and NBFD for decking out the Town House and center of town so beautifully.
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MASSACHUSETTS HISTORY ALLIANCE
Annual Conference, Holy Cross College
“Empowering Our Communities Through History”
June 24, 2019
The Mass History Alliance had a postcard design competition this spring.
The NB Historical Society submitted the entry above, a photograph by Frank Worth, circa 1900. which shows workers from the H. H. Brown Shoe Factory and students from the Grove School posing near the corner of School and Walnut Streets.
We didn’t win but we did get 13 votes! Click here to see the winner and the other entries.
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FRANCIS AMASA WALKER
(born, North Brookfield, July 2, 1840)
Click on the link below to read an account of the Civil War experience of North Brookfield native, Francis Walker, son of Amasa Walker. Written by another NB native, Jason Gauthier, this account traces the story of the man who would go on to become the Superintendent of the U. S. Census.
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THANKS FOR AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM!
The Civil War Letters of George W. Harwood–Part 2
was presented by Jan and Dave Drake
sponsored by the North Brookfield Historical Society
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TOWN HOUSE BLOCK PARTY
Saturday, September 20, 2014
A grand time was had by all!
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RUSS BUZZELL UNVEILS NEW WORK
“WHEELER’S SURPRISE”
The New Braintree Town Hall hosted a large and enthusiastic audience on Saturday, August 7, 2014 for a talk by artist Russ Buzzell and the unveiling of his latest work, “Wheeler’s Surprise”. The event was sponsored by the New Braintree Historical Society.
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~ ANNOUNCING ~
The Family History Project
The Historical Society/Museum is embarking on a new project to collect family histories as they relate to North Brookfield. We are looking for biographies, essays, etc. (not entire published works), one or two interesting photos per individual family member, newspaper clippings, and family stories that shed light on the history of North Brookfield on a personal level. These items will be organized in binders and shelved in the Museum. If would have anything you would like to share with us, we’d love to add it to our collection.
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NEW ACQUISITION
The Historical Society has a limited number of copies of
THE BROOKFIELDS FROM THE COLLECTION OF WILLIAM BULLARD
Local historian and photographer Dennis LeBeau presents a heartwarming tale of life in the Brookfields at the turn of the last century. The photographs in this collection are those of North Brookfield’s William Bullard, an itinerand photographer of the 1890’s and early 1900’s. The story of Bill Bullard’s life and photographic legacy are dramatically revealed in this fascinating glimpse of the past. After the photographer’s untimely and tragic demise, the rich photographic archives of Bill Bullard were carefully preserved by his brother, Charlie Bullard, and three generations of the neighboring Gaudette family. Dennis LeBeau individually reprinted each image in this collection from its original glass plate negative. Mr. LeBeau’s researched and well-informed captions accompany the photographs in Bullard’s collection, creating a comprehensive historic portrait of both the Brookfields and the Bullard family.
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GEORGE M. COHAN WAS HERE! North Brookfield’s Town House
by Marilynn Borst
Author Marilynn Borst’s book includes 85 photos and over 100 remembered stories both written and oral.
Please click below for more information.
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“WARD HOLLOW”
a documentary film tracing the history of North Brookfield
by Tyler Nickerson of Rad-X Pictures
DVD’s are available for $10 each
at the Haston Library, 161 North Main St.
and the Town Offices, 215 North Main St.
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BATES OBSERVATORY
North Brookfield Historical Society and North Brookfield Water Department
Recommendations to the Board of Selectmen
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FRIENDS OF THE TOWN HOUSE!
As a result of the efforts of the Friends of the Town House, Preservation Massachusetts has included the Town House on its 2012 list of Most Endangered Historic Resources
Preservation Massachusetts recognized the efforts of the Friends of the North Brookfield Town House
at a reception on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at Tuckerman Hall in Worcester.
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OLIVER WARD
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DID YOU KNOW….
Click below for a most interesting update to the Bicentennial Brochure.
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MASHANTUCKET RESEARCH CENTER AND MUSEUM
Kevin McBride, Director, and Ashley Bossonnette, Research Assistant, visited North Brookfield on Monday, October 1st. The purpose of the visit was to discuss “all things 17th century, Colonial and Native American including King Phillip’s War (1675-1677).
Click below for details.
Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Laurie Drazek Articles – October 2012 – PDF
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*** NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE ***
1885 ATLAS OF THE BROOKFIELDS
Click here for more information and access
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NEW ACQUISITIONS
Including records of marriages performed 1798 – 1858 by Rev. Thomas Snell, D. D.
Click here to view a full list of the Museum’s new acquisitions.
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NEW–DRIVING AND WALKING TOURS
Click below to view maps and photos of driving and walking tours of North Brookfield. Enjoy!
DRIVING TOUR PACKAGE – Updated December 2012
