Please see our latest newsletter for all the Easton Historical Society details and more...
Also see our new "Guide to Collections", which is arranged topically for your convenience. It is intended to provide you with an overview of our collections.
Calendar Notes!
All events are held at the Easton Historical Society unless otherwise noted.
--Saturday, May 11th, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ken Martin Memorial Bottle and Can Drive at the Easton Historical Society, 80 Mechanic Street For pickup of large amounts please call 508-238-7774. Proceeds benefit the Easton Historical Society
--Sunday, May 19th, Open House, 1-5 P.M. This month's open house will be held on May 19th and will feature an extensive collection of Easton postcards from the early 1900's. See how many different postcards of Easton there are representing all areas of the town! Light refreshments will be served. A special thank you to member Robert Vogel for sharing his collection with us! he is also bringing a few very rare and interesting items. You won't want to miss this!
--Our Annual Meeting will be scheduled for a Sunday afternoon in May. Details will be sent in a separate mailing.
Curator's Corner - Curator / Caretaker Frank T. Meninno
The Importance of Volunteering
The Society is always looking for willing helpers. Just in the past few months, members and friends alike have lent their talents in many ways. Just take a look at the following activities, held during the fall and winter of the past year: In October the Society helped to celebrate the 100th anniversary of "Wayside" which was the home of Congressman and Mrs. Louis A. Frothingham, and is now our town hall. I put together a display in the lobby, and Hazel Varella, Ed Hands, Dan Pare, and Joanne England did everything from guide tours to providing written materials and a slide show about "Wayside." Joan Lundgren and Melanie Deware did a great job on the refreshments, and Gloria FreitasSteidinger complemented the event with wonderful floral arrangements. Special guests were Mrs. David Ames, David Ames, Jr., Frederick L. Ames, and Senators Brian Joyce and Thomas Kennedy. Later that month Clover Valley Farm volunteered a hayride allowing me to scare the wits out of a few people with the "History and Mystery of Poquanticut." In November the new Easton Shovel Town Cultural Council provided refreshments for our Antique Appraisal Day which also featured volunteers from the Society, Ames Free Library, Oakes Ames Memorial Hall and the Friends of Borderland State Park. Also in November, our dedication of a flagpole to the late Ken Martin (who defined the very word of volunteer) included refreshments provided by Thomas and Judy Sabin, Society members and long time neighbors of Ken. December is always busy. During the holiday events, all the board members helped out at the Society. These included new ideas for sale items from Deborah MacPhee, fresh baked goods from Mrs. Robert Misiewicz, Patricia Baker, Melanie Deware, Jeanmarie and Catelyn Joyce and others; Ed Hands' excellent ideas and refreshments; and Ken Michel, David Ames, Melanie Deware, Patricia Baker, Frances Holland and myself staffing the table at the Artisan's Faire at Queset. Melanie Deware did a great job creating a "red and white" tree for the Society's contribution to the Easton Garden Club's Festival of Trees. I also need to mention our bottle drive group of Hazel Varella, Ed Hands, Roger McNamara, and me. Our research group has grown to include Barbara Beech, Joanne England, Ed Hands, Frances Holland, Professor James Kenneally, Judge Leon Lombardi, Dan Pare (who has also been busy editing Reminiscences and other projects), Maureen Raymo, Hazel Varella, and Jean Visnauskas. Bob Vogel gladly lent his talent and his collection of postcards to provide an interesting open house in September. Oliver Ames High School student Brett Sheehan also helps out after school with a variety of tasks.
As you can see, we are busy and help is needed. Or, to put it more appropriately, the Society needs your help! There are lots of opportunities and there is always a place for your particular talent. Have a busy schedule already? Don't worry. Any amount of time you can contribute is valuable. Are you a great organizer, or do you have computer skills? We have projects for that. Are you one of those people who just love to clean? We have plenty of glass cleaner and wipes. Whatever your skill or interest, we will try to accommodate. I have always said that I don't believe in a team of one. If we all give some of our time, energy and effort to help move the Society forward, imagine what great things we can accomplish! And no, you won't be expected to shovel snow!
Early Easton...
In 1694, the first settler, Clement Briggs established his home near the Easton Green. In 1711, the Taunton North Purchase
area became Norton, and in 1713, the twenty-six families settled in Easton and hired Elder William Pratt as their first
minister. There was no legal parish in Easton until 1722 when the East Precinct of Norton was recognized. In 1725, the area
was incorporated as the Town of Easton; it was so named because it was formerly called the "East End" of the Taunton North
Purchase and was shortened by pronunciation to Easton.
News :
--The Spring 2013 Newsletter is ready for viewing!