Ashburnham Historical Society

Ashburnham Historical Society Ashburnham’s Meeting House first Town Hall @ 1791. Currently located on Main St. in the town’s historic district since 1836.

The building holds a terrific collection of artifacts and ephemera and sponsors educational events in the warmer months. Building is a " Modified Corn Barn Design".

🍎🎻 APPLES, ARTISANS & ASHBURNHAM HISTORY 🎻🍎Sunday, September 20 • 10 AM–4 PM📍 Meeting House Museum🎶 Calling All Local Mu...
09/03/2026

🍎🎻 APPLES, ARTISANS & ASHBURNHAM HISTORY 🎻🍎
Sunday, September 20 • 10 AM–4 PM
📍 Meeting House Museum

🎶 Calling All Local Musicians! 🎶

Do you play the fiddle, banjo, flute, harmonica, guitar, dulcimer, or another traditional/old-fashioned instrument?

We’d love to invite you to join us at the Meeting House Museum and help serenade our community with some old-time music and colonial-era sounds!

You don’t need to perform a formal concert—just come share your music and help create a warm, old-fashioned atmosphere as visitors explore the museum, meet local artisans, enjoy apples and cider, and discover a little more of Ashburnham’s story.

Kids, teens & adults are all welcome! ❤️

🎵 Stay for the day, or choose a time slot between 11 AM and 3 PM.
🎵 Come solo or bring a friend.
🎵 Beginners and informal players are welcome!

Have an instrument and want to join us? Send us a message or comment below. We’d love to hear from you! Or mail me, Chris, at [email protected].

And if you have another idea for making the day special—antique car, cute baby farm animals, storytelling, traditional crafts, historic demonstrations, old-time games, or something we haven’t thought of—we’d love to hear from you!

Let’s fill the Meeting House grounds with the sounds, sights and stories of our community. 🍎🏡🎶

Apples. Artisans. Ashburnham History.
September 20 • 10–4 • Meeting House Museum@

🦅 A 50-Year Story Is Taking Flight — and It’s Happening Right Here in Our Own BackyardAs president of the Ashburnham His...
09/01/2026

🦅 A 50-Year Story Is Taking Flight — and It’s Happening Right Here in Our Own Backyard

As president of the Ashburnham Historical Society, I spend a lot of time thinking about the stories that make our community special — the people, places, traditions and moments that connect us to the past.

This fall, I’d love to invite our Ashburnham community to discover another remarkable part of our local history: hawk watching.

For 50 years, Eastern Massachusetts Hawk Watch has been counting, studying and celebrating migrating raptors across our region. And one of those special places is right here in Ashburnham — Mount Watatic.

Fifty years ago, the ink was still wet on the Endangered Species Act. Bald Eagles were a breathtaking rarity. Peregrine Falcons were hanging on by a thread.

We have witnessed remarkable recoveries. We have seen species expand their ranges. We have recorded extraordinary flights of thousands of raptors across Massachusetts. And through decades of observations, we’ve learned that migration is not just something happening somewhere else — it is happening over our mountains, our forests and our communities.

You don’t need to be an expert. You don’t need binoculars. You don’t even need to know the difference between a hawk and a falcon.

Just come curious.

The people who gather at hawk watches are happy to share what they see and what they know. You might learn to identify a Broad-winged Hawk soaring overhead, spot an eagle riding a thermal, or simply discover why generations of people have been fascinated by the annual journey of these magnificent birds.

And along the way, you’ll discover a piece of the history of our region that many people may not even know exists.

🦅 Eastern Massachusetts Hawk Watch is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year!

🍂 Join in this fall and experience the spectacular fall migration at Watatic and Wachusett Mountain.

Come for the hawks.
Stay for the views.
Meet some wonderful people.
And discover a 50-year story that is still being written.

As someone who cares deeply about Ashburnham’s history, I love discovering these connections between the history of our town, the history of our landscape and the people who have cared enough to observe and protect it.

massbird.org/emhw/

Come look up. You might be surprised by what you discover. 🦅🍂

💚 WAY TO GO, ASHBURNHAM! 💚Once again, our little town is getting some BIG attention! This time, Ashburnham is featured i...
08/27/2026

💚 WAY TO GO, ASHBURNHAM! 💚

Once again, our little town is getting some BIG attention! This time, Ashburnham is featured in Yankee Magazine in an article exploring the hidden history beneath New England’s famous white-painted buildings.

And guess what caught their attention?

PEA GREEN! 💚

Here’s the excerpt:

“Even so, it wasn’t adopted for every building. Meetinghouses, once towns got around to painting them, were a rainbow: yellow, gray, sky blue, red, bright orange, peach blossom, and—the choice of Ashburnham, Massachusetts, residents—pea green.”

How fun is that?! Our little corner of Ashburnham has a colorful story to tell—and people are taking notice! 👏

And once again, it reminds us how special this community really is. Behind those big, beautiful doors of the Meeting House Museum are passionate volunteers, board members, and community members who give their time, energy, and hearts to preserve Ashburnham’s history and make it something everyone can enjoy. ❤️

We may be a small town, but we have BIG history, BIG heart, and some pretty amazing people who keep it alive!

So, WAY TO GO, ASHBURNHAM! 🎉💚
Come see what we’re all about—and maybe discover a little of that history for yourself!

📖 Read the full Yankee Magazine article:
Read the full article in Yankee Magazine⁠

Ashburnham: small town, big history, and a whole lot of heart. ❤️@

A Night of History & MoviesWhat a wonderful evening at the Meeting House Museum! ❤️Thank you to everyone who came out fo...
08/21/2026

A Night of History & Movies

What a wonderful evening at the Meeting House Museum! ❤️

Thank you to everyone who came out for the Liberty Kids Movie Night. The kids especially enjoyed getting up close with some of our Revolutionary War artifacts before settling in for two Liberty’s Kids episodes on the big screen—The Shot Heard ’Round the World and The Midnight Ride.

And what makes these stories even more special? Ashburnham has its own connection to both events. Local residents played a part in the story of the Revolution, making the history we were watching on screen feel a little closer to home.

There was something pretty special about seeing children holding pieces of our town’s history and watching those events come to life on the big screen. 🇺🇸

And it got us thinking…

How great is it that we have a movie theater right here in town? 🎬

The possibilities are wide open—children’s movie nights, classic films, historical and period pieces, special screenings, or even private movie parties for kids or adults.

We’re already thinking about what we might show next. The Meeting House may have a few more movie nights up its sleeve!

Thank you for helping us make history come alive at the Meeting House Museum. ❤️

And a special thanks to SML and generous residents and volunteers whose partnership make it all happen.🩷

🇺🇸 TONIGHT! FREE FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT! 🇺🇸We’re getting the popcorn popping and the Liberty Candy Shop ready! 🍿🍬Join us at ...
08/20/2026

🇺🇸 TONIGHT! FREE FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT! 🇺🇸

We’re getting the popcorn popping and the Liberty Candy Shop ready! 🍿🍬

Join us at the Meeting House Museum a fun evening with LIBERTY KIDS on the big screen!

📚 A little history
🇺🇸 Local Revolutionary connections
🍿 Popcorn
🍬 Candy
💧 Water
🎬 Large-screen movie

6:30 PM: Activities & treats
7:00 PM: Movie

And since the weather has been doing its thing, we’ve moved the movie INSIDE the Meeting House—so no mosquitoes, no worries about rain, and plenty of room to get comfortable!

FREE • FAMILY FRIENDLY • TONIGHT!

Come learn a little, have some fun, grab some popcorn and candy, and enjoy the story of the Revolution through the eyes of kids!

📍 Ashburnham Historical Society
79 Main Street, Ashburnham@

🇺🇸🎬 LIBERTY KIDS MOVIE NIGHT TONIGHT-HISTORY COMES ALIVE! 🎬🇺🇸🇺🇸 Learn the history. Discover the local connections. Celeb...
08/20/2026

🇺🇸🎬 LIBERTY KIDS MOVIE NIGHT TONIGHT-HISTORY COMES ALIVE! 🎬🇺🇸

🇺🇸 Learn the history. Discover the local connections. Celebrate 250 years of American independence.

More than just a movie night!

The Ashburnham Historical Society invites families, grandparents, kids, and history lovers of all ages to join us for a special Liberty Kids Movie Night as we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of American Independence!

📍 Ashburnham Meeting House Museum
79 Main Street, Ashburnham
August 20
🕡 Come early at 6:30 PM
🎬 Movie begins at 7:00 PM

Before the movie, settle in, take part in a fun Revolutionary War scavenger hunt, and explore some of the actual Revolutionary-era artifacts in our collection.

Then at 7:00, enjoy two Liberty Kids episodes — approximately 46 minutes total:

🎬 “The Shot Heard ’Round the World” — featuring the events surrounding the British march toward Concord and Lexington the opening of the American Revolution.

🎬 “The Midnight Ride” — bringing to life the famous warning ride and the events that helped ignite the Revolution.

But here’s where Ashburnham’s own history comes into the story!

🇺🇸 Did you know Ashburnham has its own connections to these Revolutionary events?

Throughout the evening, we’ll share the Ashburnham stories and local connections surrounding the events depicted in the episodes, helping bring the larger story of the American Revolution right back to our own community.

This is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn that history isn’t just something that happened somewhere far away — history happened here, too.

And what better place to learn about it than inside our own historic 1791 Meeting House?

🍿 Popcorn
🍬 Candy
💧 Water
🔎 History scavenger hunt
📜 Revolutionary War artifacts
🎬 Big-screen movie
🇺🇸 250th Anniversary history

Bring your blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, or beach chairs, and get comfortable and cozy with your friends and family before school starts!
(We also have chairs for you)

👵 Grandparents — bring your grandchildren!
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families — make it a family night!
📚 History lovers — come discover some local connections you may never have heard before!

🎭 AND A LITTLE ASHBURNHAM HISTORY TRIVIA…

Did you know Ashburnham once had a theater of its own?

Can anyone tell us what it was called? 🤔
Drop your guess in the comments!

Come at 6:30 PM to explore, play, discover and get comfortable. Then at 7:00 PM, the lights go down and our Liberty Kids adventure begins!

Free and family-friendly!
Although, support is always appreciated.

We were planning to watch under the stars, but with mosquitoes and Mother Nature having other plans, we’re bringing Liberty Kids inside the historic Meeting House! 🇺🇸
Hope we see you there!

Presented by the Ashburnham Historical Society as part of our celebration of the 250th Anniversary of American Independence.

🦩 CALLING ALL FLAMINGOS! 🦩Ashburnham, we need your help with a very important historical mission! 😉Do you have a plastic...
08/17/2026

🦩 CALLING ALL FLAMINGOS! 🦩
Ashburnham, we need your help with a very important historical mission! 😉

Do you have a plastic pink flamingo—or two, or ten— hanging around your yard, garage, shed, or garden that could use a little adventure?

The Ashburnham Historical Society is looking to borrow or accept plastic flamingos for an upcoming program. We promise they’ll be put to good use—and they may even become part of a little flamingo history lesson! 🦩📜

Why flamingos? Well… you’ll just have to wait and see! 👀
Let’s just say these fabulous pink birds have a surprisingly interesting story to tell.

🦩 Got a flamingo to share?
Drop them off at the Ashburnham Meeting House Museum, 10 AM–1 PM on Saturdays. We may also be able to arrange another drop-off time.

📩 Or send us a message right here on Facebook and we’ll make arrangements!

Calling all flamingos… your moment in history has arrived! 🦩❤️

Help us turn Ashburnham a little more PINK! 🌸

@

PART ONE: A Revolutionary Discovery—and Another Connection to Ashburnham! 🇺🇸📚Sometimes the smallest objects can open the...
08/13/2026

PART ONE: A Revolutionary Discovery—and Another Connection to Ashburnham! 🇺🇸📚

Sometimes the smallest objects can open the door to a much bigger story.

We recently came across a fascinating article from Fraunces Tavern Museum⁠ about hornbooks, one of the earliest tools used to teach children to read in colonial America.

A hornbook was a simple wooden paddle holding a small printed lesson, protected beneath a thin, transparent piece of animal horn. Children learned their alphabet, syllables, reading—and often their prayers—from these durable little teaching tools.

But here is where the story gets especially interesting for us as we explore Ashburnham’s Revolutionary-era connections. 🇺🇸

During the Revolutionary War, some hornbooks began incorporating patriotic words and symbols, reflecting the growing movement toward independence. At the same time, wartime shortages and the disruption of trade with England made these familiar educational tools increasingly difficult to obtain.

And horn wasn’t just used for learning. Powder horns—hollowed animal horns used to carry gunpowder—were an essential part of a soldier’s equipment during the Revolution. Many were carved and personalized, making them fascinating artifacts that can tell us something about the people who carried them.

One humble material. Two very different purposes: teaching a child to read and helping a soldier fight for independence.

And now comes the exciting part…

🔎 What does this have to do with Ashburnham?

We believe there may be another fascinating connection waiting to be uncovered. This is Part One of a story we’ll be exploring as we continue connecting the everyday objects of the Revolutionary era with the people and places of our own community.

Stay tuned. History has a way of turning up in the most unexpected places!

🇺🇸 250 years later, we’re still discovering the stories of the Revolution—right here in Ashburnham.

Inspired by research shared by Fraunces Tavern Museum. (frauncestavernmuseum.org⁠)

🎬 MOVIE NIGHT UNDER THE STARS!LIBERTY’S KIDS 🇺🇸Thursday, August 20 • 7 PM📍 Ashburnham Meeting House Museum🍿 Popcorn • Bl...
08/11/2026

🎬 MOVIE NIGHT UNDER THE STARS!

LIBERTY’S KIDS 🇺🇸

Thursday, August 20 • 7 PM
📍 Ashburnham Meeting House Museum
🍿 Popcorn • Blankets • Lawn Chairs • Family Fun

Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets and join us for a special family movie night featuring Liberty’s Kids!

We’ll gather on the back lawn for an evening under the stars—weather permitting—or head inside the historic 1791 Meeting House if Mother Nature has other plans.

🍿 Popcorn included!
✨ And a few fun surprises along the way…

This is a wonderful way for parents, grandparents, and kids to enjoy a relaxed, patriotic evening together while discovering a little history.

🇺🇸 History, family, popcorn and fun—all in one memorable evening!

Mark your calendar and bring the family!
More details coming soon. ❤️🤍💙

🌸 Good morning, Ashburnham! 🌸✨ Something beautiful just arrived! ✨A generous community member recently donated this beau...
08/08/2026

🌸 Good morning, Ashburnham! 🌸

✨ Something beautiful just arrived! ✨

A generous community member recently donated this beautiful Fenton Cranberry Glass Mini Water Squat Jug to our gift shop, with proceeds helping support the ongoing expenses of the Ashburnham Historical Society. ❤️

With its lovely hobnail design and rich cranberry color, it would make a wonderful gift—or a special addition to your own collection.

🌷 There’s always something new to discover at the Meeting House Museum! 🌷

Stop in today and see what treasures are waiting for you.

🏡 Open Saturdays, 10 AM–1 PM

Address

79 Main Street , Post Office Box 692
Ashburnham, MA
01430

Opening Hours

10am - 1pm

Telephone

(978) 827-5804

Website

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