Norton Historical Society

By -
A black, white, and dark blue striped header image with the text Norton Historical Society

Several weeks ago, I visited Norton Historical Society in Norton, MA. Located down the street from my undergraduate alma mater, Wheaton College, this historic school and barn features many artifacts from the town and surrounding area. A tour guide and a scavenger hunt assisted me in finding unique items stashed in the space.

One-and-a-half story whitewashed mid 19th century school building with two green doors and matching shutters on the three windows One-and-a-half story whitewashed mid 19th century school building with two green doors and matching shutters on the three windows Norton Historical Society Sign

Norton Historical Society began in 1960 as the town prepared for its two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. In 1972, they began restoring District No. 3 Schoolhouse with assistance from the Norton Historical Commission. The building was originally constructed in 1854 and is a step up from the older one-room schoolhouses. In 1976, as part of the bicentennial of the United States, the society moved its building to the present site, which had previously held Norton High School. In 2010, the Boston-based Massachusetts chapter of National Society of the Colonial Dames of America affixed a metal plaque on the front of the building to preserve its history.

Five rows of shelving holding vintage packaging Tan kite with black outline of a plane hung on a wall Four Watercolors depicting the Center of Norton Vintage Desks in Former Classroom, now Norton Historical Society building

The basement of the schoolhouse held cases of scrimshaw and other maritime artifacts. A shelf along the back wall was full of vintage packaging, including milk bottles, a tin Hershey’s cocoa, egg cartons, and boxes of Band-aids. Other interesting artifacts in this area included scales and clocks, reproduction Sears Roebuck Catalogues, and postcards.

A crowded kitchen setup with a table and chairs, faux food, hutches with dishes, and a woman mannequin wearing 19th century clothing Writing Desk and a Mannequin Wearing 19th century Travel Clothing Bedroom Furniture by a Fireplaces at Norton Historical Society Quilt with Norton Buildings at Norton Historical Society

Upstairs, the schoolroom was divided into two sections with a potbelly stove in the middle to keep the space warm in winter. On one wall hung an unused target practice kite printed with the outline of an airplane from World War II. Artwork from town residents, including two quilts and a series of watercolor paintings, showed the buildings in the town across many decades. Heaps of furniture, ceramics, and mannequins with 19th century clothing stood on one side of the back section. On the other side, old school desks demonstrated how many children would fit into the massive classroom.

Saws, Rakes, Shovels, and Signs in the Norton Historical Society barn A rickety wooden wagon with a sign on the side A lamp attached to the front left corner of the carriage with the rest of the carriage in the background

Outside in the barn were a variety of farming implements, including saws, shovels, rakes, and a cranberry scoop. Two wheeled vehicles sat inside the barn. The Norton School Barge was a horse drawn wooden wagon used as a school bus until 1920. My favorite item in the society collection was the Eliza Wheaton Carriage. From 2019 through 2021, as detailed on the Wheaton College website, then-president of Wheaton College Dennis Hanno worked with Norton Historical Society to retrieve the carriage from Middleborough Historical Society and have it restored by Amish craftspeople in Pennsylvania. As a history expert, Wheaton alum, and childhood resident of Uxbridge, just like Eliza Wheaton, I had the privilege of sitting on the beautifully restored passenger seat.

I sit on the restored seat inside the carriage. The inside of the door is blue. I stand in front of a late 19th century black carriage A blue sign affixed to the back of the carriage gives its name

The museum is currently open Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Volunteers respond quickly to emails; be sure to check ahead to be sure the museum is open, as the museum tends to close during the week of a holiday. Like most historic houses, the schoolhouse of Norton Historical Society is not wheelchair accessible and may be difficult to navigate for those with limited mobility. Much of the contents in the barn can be viewed from outside the building. Everyone I met during my visit was super friendly and well-informed. This is a good stop for retirees and homeschoolers in the Norton area looking for someplace quiet to visit during the week.


Abby Epplett’s Rating System

Experience: 7/10

Accessibility: 6/10



Location: 18 W Main St, Norton, MA 02766, USA