Old Sturbridge Village, MA

 

Massachusetts has many historical locations that have become tourist destinations over the years, but one of my favorite historical sites is that of Old Sturbridge Village. Old Sturbridge Village reminds me of Williamsburg, Virginia, a living history location that not only teaches about the history of the late 1700’s to early 1800’s in New England but also teaches us about the arts, crafts, millenaries, farming, culinary and husbandry of the time. I just love this kind of historical stuff when traveling this great nation.  

After a major flood that hit the historical village after Hurricane Diane in 1955, this unique historical village turned its attention to restoring what was left and purchasing various historical buildings from around the New England area to become what is now known as Old Sturbridge Village. The Village is comprised of 40 structures spread out over three sections across 200 acres of land. Every day there are reenactors dressed up in costume ready to demonstrate and interpret how citizens lived and worked in the area during the 19^th Century. A spot worthy of your time and exploration. Center village life is comprised of the Quaker Friends Meetinghouse, the Center Meetinghouse where town meetings, lectures and elections were held, a Tin Shop where household goods were created, The Salem Towne House which was a rich farmers home, a small Law Office, The Parsonage that held the minister and his family, The Knight Store which was the center country store for the village, the Thompson Bank, the Fenno House that shows the domestic textile production for the village, the Fitch House that highlights the exhibits of how children and families lived in the village, a Small House that showed the difference between the less affluent families or renters lived, a Printing Office, a Cider Mill basically the producers of hard cider for the taverns in the area, a Shoe shop, the Bullard Tavern and the Stage Coach. Then you have the Countryside area that depicts the Freeman Farmhouse of a typical New England Farm with barns and outbuildings and growing fields, The blacksmith show and house, the Cooper Shop where they made various buckets, pails and wooden barrels, the Pottery Shop that became famous for their clay pots, milkpans, mugs, crocks and mixing bowls, then the District School a one room school house and the Covered Bridge. Then there is the Mill Neighborhood that houses the Gristmill, a Sawmill and a Carding Mill.  

Old Sturbridge Village had devoted many buildings to share and show off their collection of American antiques such as firearms, furniture and glass plus early lighting devices such as oil lamps, and candles to whale oil. Let’s not forget their famous herb gardens that show off the amazing way they’ve preserved heirloom varieties of both ornamental and cooking, medicinal herbs and plants, plus how they dyed clothing using herbs and plants.  I absolutely love this place. Most enthusiastically recommend a stop if you’re ever in the Massachusetts area.

Author Elizabeth Kilbride is a former political operative, author, scriptwriter, historian, journalist. business professional, and creative artist, and life coach consultant. Ms. Kilbride holds a Masters in Criminology and a BS in Business Management who stepped out of the loop for a while, but who is now back with a powerful opinion and voice in the direction of this country and our economy. As a life coach, she is available to counsel individuals to enjoy their dreams and a better life. Ms. Kilbride loves to travel, photograph her surroundings and is also a gourmet cook who loves to garden and preserve food for the winter months.