Hanover MA Historical Society

02/14/2020

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Here are some vintage Valentine's Day cards from the early twentieth century in the collections of the Hanover Historical Society.

02/08/2020

Who remembers The Hearthside Restaurant? This 1965 photograph shows "Dick Richard's Hearthside Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge" on Route 53, advertising "Char-Broiled Steaks" and lobster. Remembering restaurants is one way to explore Hanover's more recent history, especially through personal memories.

01/30/2020

A photo of what is now the Norwell Package and General Store from the winter of 1958. The caption reads "After the Norwell Fire, Elmer Josselyn now has a better up to date store." This photo is from one of the Charlie Gleason scrapbooks in the Hanover Historical Society collections. Charlie Gleason loved taking photographs of Hanover and the surrounding towns.

01/18/2020

Another photo of Hanover from the scrapbooks of L. Vernon Briggs. This is of the E. Phillips & Sons Tack Factory on the Indian Head River. This photo was taken around 1890, and is looking up Cross Street from the bridge over the river. You can see Myette's Country Store building in the center of the photo.

01/11/2020

On this unseasonably mild January day, here is a photograph taken by L. Vernon Briggs in 1888 on top of Church Hill in Norwell looking towards Hanover Four Corners. You can make out the steeples of St. Andrew's Church in the center and the Second Congregational Church off to the right. From the collections of the Hanover Historical Society

12/21/2019

Two vintage postcards from ca.1900 in the collections of the Hanover Historical Society. Wishing everyone happy holidays!

12/11/2019

Shipyard Ornaments now on Sale!
These special holiday ornaments feature the signs from Hanover’s two historic shipyards along the North River. Smith’s Shipyard and Barstow’s Two Oaks Shipyard were among the most successful and prolific shipyards along the North River during the late 18th and early 19th century. Ornaments $20 each and available only at the Stetson House, open Saturday, from 12 noon to 4pm.

12/06/2019

Stetson House Decorated for December!
The historic Drummer Samuel Stetson House in Hanover Center is decorated for the Holidays during the month of December. Stop by for a tour, explore the collection, learn about the ongoing research projects, find some unique gifts, and see the decorated rooms of the Stetson House. Special thanks to Bruce Ryerson and the enthusiastic members of the Hanover Club for decorating. The Stetson House is open to the public from 12 to 4pm on Saturdays, December 7th, 14th, and 21st.

11/25/2019

As a way of wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving, here are some early 20th Century postcards from the collections of the Hanover Historical Society.

11/16/2019

Stop by and check out the pottery sale! Local artist Janine Senatore has her work on display from 11-4, her pieces are great for holiday gifts & more. #pottery #handcrafted #sale #holidays

11/12/2019

This Saturday! Pottery Sale at the Stetson House Barn
Featuring the work of Janine Senatore
Saturday, November 16th, 2019, 12 noon to 4pm
A portion of all proceeds will benefit the Hanover Historical Society

The Hanover Historical Society will host a special holiday sale of hand-made, unique pottery. Items for sale will include lidded vessels, bowls, sets, mugs, and decorative pieces. The pottery pieces are made by Hanover native and current resident Janine Senatore, who has been working in ceramics for decades. Senatore discovered a love of pottery while in Hanover High School, and later attended nationally important workshops around the country. Her ceramic works are individual pieces which draw on the long tradition of subtle differences in color, form, and texture that only hand-made work can produce. Come explore the work, meet the artist, and help support local craft and local history.

11/02/2019

Dr. Gad Hitchcock's 19th Century Doctor's Buggy is restored and has returned to the Stetson House! And it looks stunning! Thanks To Whitey Correria for great job on the restoration.

11/01/2019

Pottery Sale at the Stetson House Barn
Featuring the work of Janine Senatore
Saturday, November 16th, 2019, 12 noon to 4pm
A portion of all proceeds will benefit the Hanover Historical Society

The Hanover Historical Society will host a special holiday sale of hand-made, unique pottery. Items for sale will include lidded vessels, bowls, sets, mugs, and decorative pieces. The pottery pieces are made by Hanover native and current resident Janine Senatore, who has been working in ceramics for decades. Senatore discovered a love of pottery while in Hanover High School, and later attended nationally important workshops around the country. Her ceramic works are individual pieces which draw on the long tradition of subtle differences in color, form, and texture that only hand-made work can produce. Come explore the work, meet the artist, and help support local craft and local history.

10/24/2019

A Tour of the Center Cemetery:
Burying the Dead in Colonial Hanover
Sunday, October 27th, 1pm
Hanover Center Cemetery

This special program of the Hanover Historical Society will explore the traditions of mourning the dead in the 18th Century. Hanover’s Center Cemetery is the oldest in town and its landscape is filled with gravestones, but there is more to the story. This tour will explore all the aspects of mourning that were involved when a person died in Colonial Hanover—preparing the body, making the coffin, digging the grave, conducting the funeral, and, if it could be afforded, setting carved gravestones in place. The tour will last one hour and be held rain or shine.

Photograph courtesy of Board member Betsey Josselyn.

10/18/2019

A Tour of the Center Cemetery: Burying the Dead in Colonial Hanover
Sunday, October 27th, 1pm
Hanover Center Cemetery

This special program of the Hanover Historical Society will explore the traditions of mourning the dead in the 18th Century. Hanover’s Center Cemetery is the oldest in town and its landscape is filled with gravestones, but there is more to the story. This tour will explore all the aspects of mourning that were involved when a person died in Colonial Hanover—preparing the body, making the coffin, digging the grave, conducting the funeral, and, if it could be afforded, setting carved gravestones in place. The tour will last one hour and be held rain or shine.
Special thanks to HHS Board member Betsey Josselyn for the photograph!

10/17/2019

The Stetson House, Barn, and Cobbler's Shop are fine, but last night's wild and windy nor'easter did a number on the trees, including knocking over a beautiful ittle crabapple tree.

10/15/2019

A Tour of the Center Cemetery: Burying the Dead in Colonial Hanover
Sunday, October 27th, 1pm
Hanover Center Cemetery

This special program of the Hanover Historical Society will explore the traditions of mourning the dead in the 18th Century. Hanover’s Center Cemetery is the oldest in town and its landscape is filled with gravestones, but there is more to the story. This tour will explore all the aspects of mourning that were involved when a person died in Colonial Hanover—preparing the body, making the coffin, digging the grave, conducting the funeral, and, if it could be afforded, setting carved gravestones in place. The tour will last one hour and be held rain or shine.

10/11/2019

The Hanover Historical Society's Annual Meeting & Dinner is Saturday, October 19th, 2019, at the Phoenix Lodge Masonic Hall, 133 Broadway, Hanover, MA
Featuring Guest Speaker: Michele M. Pecoraro, Executive Director of Plymouth 400, Inc., the organization formed to lead the planning and execution of programs and events commemorating the 400th anniversary of the 1620 Mayflower voyage and the settlement of Plymouth Colony; America’s founding story.
Appetizers 5pm, Business meeting 5:30, Dinner 6:00, Presentation 6:45
Hanover Historical Society Members $20 each, Non-Members $25 each, Check or cash payable at the door.
Please RSVP by Thursday, October 16th, to [email protected] or 781-826-9575.
Sponsored by our friends at Richardson Insurance

10/05/2019

The Stetson House will not be open for tours today, please join everyone at Oktoberfest, this afternoon at Forge Pond Park!

10/04/2019

Seen this afternoon, a deer, next to the Cobblers Shop.

09/28/2019

Come down to Old Ship yard lane for Barstow’s Shipyard Walk at 10 am today

09/26/2019

This Saturday Monring!
A Walking Tour of Barstow’s Two Oaks Shipyard
Who: The Hanover Historical Society
When: Saturday, 10am, September 28th
Where: Shipyard Lane, Hanover
$8 HHS Members, $10 Non-Members
Join Caleb Estabrooks for a special tour of Barstow’s Two Oaks Shipyard, the site of one of the North River’s most famous and productive shipyards. Hear about the history of the yard, the ships built here, and see objects found on the property.
The tour will last about one hour, rain or shine.
For more information, find us on the Web at http://hanoverhistoricalsociety.com/connect/events/ or contact the Hanover Historical Society at 781-826-9575 or via email [email protected].

09/21/2019

One week from today, the Hanover Historical Society presents
A Walking Tour of Barstow’s Two Oaks Shipyard
When: Saturday, 10am, September 28th
Where: Shipyard Lane, Hanover
$8 HHS Members, $10 Non-Members
Join Caleb Estabrooks for a special tour of Barstow’s Two Oaks Shipyard, the site of one of the North River’s most famous and productive shipyards. Hear about the history of the yard, the ships built here, and see objects found on the property.
The tour will last about one hour, rain or shine.
For more information, find us on the Web at http://hanoverhistoricalsociety.com/connect/events/ or contact the Hanover Historical Society at 781-826-9575 or via email [email protected].

09/16/2019

The Hanover Historical Society Presents a walking tour of Barstow’s Two Oaks Shipyard
Saturday, 10am
September 28th
Shipyard Lane, Hanover, MA
$8 HHS Members, $10 Non-Members
Join Caleb Estabrooks for a special tour of Barstow’s Two Oaks Shipyard, the site of one of the North River’s most famous and productive shipyards. Hear about the history of the yard, the ships built here, and see objects found on the property.
The tour will last about one hour, rain or shine.

08/28/2019

It's back to school time of year. This photo shows students of "Salmond School, about 1922," from the Charlie Gleason albums.

08/23/2019

We pulled the early 19th Century doctor's carriage out of the lower barn this afternoon and sent it off to be restored. The carriage came from the Fannie Philips estate and has a tradition of being used by Dr. Gad Hitchcock of Hanson. The restoration will be done by Whitey Correira of Hanover. Watch for updates on the progress over the next several months. Thanks to everyone who helped out.. And if you would like to help, please make a donation to the Historical Society today!

08/21/2019

South Shore children enjoying summer more than a century ago! Photographs labelled "Marshfield in 1905" from Charlie Gleason's Scrapbook, #16, 1940. Hanover resident Charlie Gleason was a dry goods merchant who rode his wagon to customers in the South Shore towns of Hanover, Marshfield, Norwell, Hanson, Scituate, and Pembroke, taking hundreds of photos along the way.

08/13/2019

More summer scenes, this time from some Hanoverians' visits to the beaches of Scituate and Marshfield, 110 years ago. The first one is labelled "Olive Prouty and Henrietta Stetson," second one is "Third Cliff Party -- Martha Farrar, Mrs. Stetson, Helen Lewis," and third one "Mrs. Hatch, Mrs. Wood, and Mrs. Stetson." From Charlie Gleason's Scrapbook, 1908-1909.

08/06/2019

Some scenes of summer in Hanover from sixty years ago. These are photos taken by Charlie Gleason in July 1959. Shown here are some riders at Briggs Stables in Hanover Center and coffee hour after church at St. Andrew's in Four Corners. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

08/03/2019

The Stetson House will not be open for tours today, Saturday, August 3rd.

07/10/2019

Re/max Deluxe

Monday evening we kicked off our month-long display of artifacts provided by Hanover MA Historical Society!
The night was filled with extraordinary pieces of history, good times with members of the community, and delicious food catered by On Rye Deli!
The artifacts will remain on display at our Norwell office for the remainder of July. Feel free to drop by anytime during business hours to check it out!
Thank you to Maura Connolly Longueil of Abbey Knoll Photography for the photos!
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#remax #hanover #hanoverhistoricalsociety #norwell #southshore #history #localhistory #events

06/22/2019

Hanover Day at The Stetson House

06/22/2019

Hanover day festivities!

06/22/2019

Celebrate Hanover Day with us at the Stetson house! We have fairy houses, trackless train rides, wood workers, 4H is here with animals and more!

06/22/2019

Hanover Day 2019

06/21/2019

Tomorrow is Hanover Day! Celebrate Hanover Day, and Hanover's 292nd birthday, by stopping by the Historic Drummer Samuel Stetson House. There will be woodworking demonstrations, fairy houses, costumed reenactors, wagons and farm equipment, a monkey bridge, and animals! The Stetson House, Cobbler's Shop, and Barn will be open from 10am until 4pm.

06/15/2019

This is the scene just outside the Stetson House today. Stop by from 12 to 4 this afternoon to tour the House, and see this magnificent dogwood tree at its best.

06/12/2019

Musical Instruments from the Collections of the Hanover Historical Society

The Hanover Historical Society has a fine collection of musical instruments, from large to small. Many of them are currently on display at the Hanover High School. To learn more about the Historical Society's musical instruments, check out the new section on our Web site:
http://hanoverhistoricalsociety.com/collections/musical-instruments-from-the-collections-of-the-hanover-historical-society/

Musical instruments were rare in Colonial Hanover, limited to a handful of drums, fifes, and bells. By the 19thCentury, instruments were becoming more affordable and common in average homes. Many i…

06/08/2019

It finally feels like Summer and the Stetson House is open, today from 12 noon to 4pm. This is a painting done by Louise I. (Cannaway) Ashton. She was born in 1905, grew up in Rockland, and lived most of her life in Hanover until her death in 1988. She decorated trays and boxes, restored and painted early American chairs, worked on braided and hooked rugs, and took up painting landscapes and seascapes in the 1960s. This example from a private collection is currently on display at the Stetson House through the summer in Artists of Hanover’s Past.

06/06/2019

We have an inquiry asking if any area residents might posses a photo of Mary (White) Howes, the wife of Dr Woodbridge Ruggles Howes. The inquirer is her 2nd great granddaughter and she would like very much to have a photo to place alongside the photo she has of Dr. Howes.

06/05/2019

Two more third grade classes from Center Elementary School toured through the Stetson House, Barn, and Cobbler's Shop this morning! Our Stetson Scholars presented their research, the students tried writing with quill pens, they already knew all about the Bailey Clock, and were fascinated by the "creepy dolls" on the second floor.

06/01/2019

The Stetson House will not be open today because the Executive Director will be leading. tour of Burial Hill in Plymouth at 1pm. Please join if you can!

05/31/2019

Signs of a successful school visit! All four Cedar Elementary third grades classes visited the Stetson House, Barn, and Cobbler's Shop yesterday, and left some quill-and-ink signatures behind. Thank you to Board members Susannah Leslie and Dick Bancroft for helping make the visit memorable for the students.

05/30/2019

The weather may have turned rainy, cold, and gray since Monday, but for the first time in years, the sun was shining on the Hanover Memorial Day Parade as it passed the Stetson House. Dozens of visitors toured the house and grounds, and explored Hanover history.

05/29/2019

The weather may have turned rainy, cold, and gray since Monday, but for the first time in years, the sun was shining on the Hanover Memorial Day Parade as it passed the Stetson House. Dozens of visitors toured the house and grounds, and explored Hanover history.