Old Bridgewater Historical Society
On the same day I visited Norton Historical Society and made a few quick history stops in Norton, I stopped at Old Bridgewater Historical Society (OBHS). This organization was founded in 1894 to keep track of the history for what is now four towns: Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, and Brockton, which was formerly called North Bridgewater.
The society owns Keith House, named after Scottish-American minister Rev. James Keith. In 1657, as a 15 year old, he graduated from Marischal College in Aberdeen, Scotland. A few years later, in 1661 or 1662 immigrated to Boston, MA, and by 1664, he had moved to Bridgewater to become the first minister. According to local legend, because a church had not yet been built, Rev. Keith gave his first sermon atop “pulpit rock” in modern War Memorial Park of West Bridgewater. Rev. Keith married twice in his life and had at least nine children, with their descendents living in the area to this day.
The house itself was built in 1662, before the arrival of the minister, making it among the oldest parsonages in the United States. The society believes it was used as a garrison house during King Philip’s War, much like Historic New England’s Gilman Garrison House in Exeter, NH. It is a classic two-story post-Medieval saltbox style with clapboard on the front and back, and shingles on the sides. The clapboard and windows sills are currently painted a stunning blue, while the front door is an inviting bright red. Inside the house, the rooms have been stripped back to an early 18th century state with plain wooden floors, wood paneling, fireplaces, and woven rugs.
The Memorial Building contained a large meeting room with tables and chairs at the center, artifact cases along the walls, and portraits hung above a small stage. These portraits represented founders of the historical society. Francis Edward Howard donated the land for the building in 1901, as he lived in the house across the street. Lawyer and politician Benjamin Winslow Harris was society president at that time; for his time in office as the U.S. Representative for the Massachusetts Second District, he succeeded Oakes Ames, the grandfather of orchid expert Oakes Ames whose home is now Borderland State Park. As for artifacts in the building, the collection includes antique clocks, lamps, Civil War memorabilia, and documents.
OBHS opens at the whim of volunteers, many of whom did not seem much interested in having visitors. The website listed Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. during July and August by 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. the rest of the year, while Keith House is open on select Sundays in July and August from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Response to email inquiries are hit-or-miss, but at least the website seemed current. Only unmarked, on-street parking is available, but the roads are not busy. Like most older buildings, the properties are not accessible to those using a wheelchair. Plenty of seating is provided once inside the Memorial Building.
Parts of the Memorial Building were well-lit, as lighting in the display cases were purchased through a grant provided by National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020; however, the space in general had poor lighting. The space had no guided tour, and signage was in small print, making it difficult to read. As an aside, the nearby road is part of the Bay Circuit Trail & Greenway, a “230+ mile, multi-use trail in Greater Boston” last mentioned during my trip to Historic New England’s Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury, MA. This might be a good stop to rest if you are traveling down the trail.
Abby Epplett’s Rating System
Experience: 4/10
Accessibility: 5/10