Sudbury Historical Society

Sudbury Historical Society SHS Online Store 🛍 ➡️ https://www.sudbury01776store.com/ The Society was founded in 1956 by history-minded citizens of Sudbury.

The Sudbury Historical Society (SHS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the rich history of the Town of Sudbury into the lives and activities of its people. The Society's mission is to collect, study, preserve, and maintain historical records, artifacts, and objects relating to the history and archaeology of the community of Sudbury, Massachusetts; to promote interest in,

and the study of, its history; and to connect the people of Sudbury with its traditions and history through educational programming and community engagement. In 1970, it absorbed the Goodman Society (founded in 1890) its predecessor Historical and Improvement Society. Since 1998 the Society has been headquartered in the Upper Floor of the Sudbury Town Hall, but plans are underway to build a new headquarters in the re-purposed c. 1730 Loring Parsonage next door, which will become the future Sudbury History Center.

The Sudbury History Center and Museum is closed Friday, Juneteenth. But we will be open this Sunday, June 21, 1-3 pm. St...
06/19/2026

The Sudbury History Center and Museum is closed Friday, Juneteenth. But we will be open this Sunday, June 21, 1-3 pm. Stop by and get your history fix.

In time for tomorrow's SHS lecture on the "Rice Family During the Revolution," high-school volunteer Theo Bowne transcri...
06/17/2026

In time for tomorrow's SHS lecture on the "Rice Family During the Revolution," high-school volunteer Theo Bowne transcribed thirty fascinating documents related to the Rices in our archives!

These original documents include: a 1790 letter regarding Philip Raleigh (Raley) - the first settler of Antrim NH in New Hampshire - whose wife was from Sudbury; a 1785 invoice for over thirty-two gallons of rum, likely for Rice Tavern in Sudbury; and some quotations of English poet Alexander Pope by Jonathan Rice of Sudbury in 1778.

[Sudbury Historical Society Archives, Gift of Steven H. Greene, inv. nos. 2021.006]

Amelia Puffer Canino of Maine and Dan Clements of Michigan traveled to the Sudbury History Center and Museum to research...
06/15/2026

Amelia Puffer Canino of Maine and Dan Clements of Michigan traveled to the Sudbury History Center and Museum to research their Puffer Family ancestors such as Captain Jabez Puffer (1705-1789), who is buried in the Revolutionary War Cemetery.

Together, we looked at original Puffer-related documents in our archives, including an 1823 petition by inhabitants of Sudbury for a town-wide ban on the sale of "spirituous liquors in any form whatsoever"!

[Sudbury Historical Society Archives, Gift of Ann and Katherine Bradshaw, inv. no. 1999.005.0020]

Visit our booth on Sudbury Pride Day for free giveaways and to learn more about the Sudbury Historical Society (SHS)! Se...
06/11/2026

Visit our booth on Sudbury Pride Day for free giveaways and to learn more about the Sudbury Historical Society (SHS)! See you on Sunday, June 14th!

🚌 Last month, all third-grade students in Sudbury came through our museum for our "Sudbury Through Time" program! This e...
06/02/2026

🚌 Last month, all third-grade students in Sudbury came through our museum for our "Sudbury Through Time" program! This engaging tour led by reenactors from the Sudbury Historical Society (SHS) teaches students about the rich early history of the Town of Sudbury with visits to historic sites in Town Center.

🖼️ At the Sudbury History Center and Museum, students learned about the Nipmuc People, who inhabited this area for thousands of years before the arrival of English settlers. They also learned about America250, the American Revolution, and the militia who marched to Concord on April 19, 1775 to fight for their country.

💐In the gardens of the Loring Parsonage, students met Mary Loring, who once lived here with her husband, Reverend Israel Loring, and their family. She shared the hard-working details of her daily life in the eighteenth century and how she and her seven children worked in the house, farm, and gardens.

⛪ At the First Parish of Sudbury, Reverend Israel Loring welcomed students inside, where he shared stories of his religious service in Town. Students were surprised to learn that children attended services for over five hours back then! But, he made it up to them by allowing them to toll the meetinghouse bell. Always the trip favorite!

🇺🇸 In the Revolutionary War Cemetery, students read old gravestones and learned about notable individuals buried there, including: Simeon, an enslaved young man who lived in the Loring household; Deacon Josiah Haynes, who at the age of seventy-eight, marched to Concord; Sarah Noyes, who is the first known burial in the cemetery; and Colonel Ezekiel How, who was a Revolutionary soldier and once owned The Wayside Inn.

🐴 At the Town Pound, students met the pound keeper, who explained caring for stray cows, horses, and other animals until their owners came to retrieve them. Sudbury was once such a small town that he often knew whose animal was lost.

🏠 The Hearse House was opened for the first time this year! The sexton explained how he helped the minister with burials. Some students and teachers remarked how they always wondered what was inside that small building near the cemetery!

📚 We are proud to present this annual program to local students!

Be sure to check out the latest issue of the American Ancestors New England Historical and Genealogical Register for an ...
06/02/2026

Be sure to check out the latest issue of the American Ancestors New England Historical and Genealogical Register for an article by Sudbury Historical Society (SHS) member, Ralph Parmenter Bennett, on the Sudbury-born Jason Parmenter, who fought in the Revolutionary War and Shays' Rebellion! Made possible by the Mass Cultural Council.

Sudbury Through TimeSudbury’s third-grade students recently enjoyed their field trip to the historic Sudbury Town Center...
05/23/2026

Sudbury Through Time

Sudbury’s third-grade students recently enjoyed their field trip to the historic Sudbury Town Center for 'Sudbury Through Time'. This engaging program, organized by the Sudbury Historical Society, teaches students about the rich history of Sudbury.

At the Sudbury History Center and Museum, students learn about the Native Americans, the Nipmucs, who lived in the area for thousands of years before the arrival of English settlers, who arrived in 1638. They also learned about Sudbury’s Revolutionary soldiers who marched to Concord on April 19, 1775 to fight for their country’s freedom.

In the garden of the History Center, the students meet Mary Loring, who once lived here with her family. She shared the hard-working details of her daily life in the 1700s and how she and her seven children worked in the house, gardens, and farm.

At the First Parish Meeting House, Reverend Israel Loring welcomes the students inside where he shares stories from his years of religious service to the town. They did not like to hear that children needed to stay for his services for over five hours! But he made it up to them by having them ring the bell in the steeple. Always the trip favorite!

In the Revolutionary War Cemetery, the students read old gravestones and learn about individuals buried there, including Simeon, an enslaved young man who lived in the Loring household, Deacon Josiah Haynes, who at age 78, marched to Concord on April 19, 1775, Sarah Noyes, who is the first known person to be buried in the cemetery, and Colonel Ezekiel How, a Revolutionary soldier who once owned the Wayside Inn.

At the Town Pound, students meet the pound keeper who explains how he cared for stray cows, sheep, and goats until their owners came to retrieve them. Sudbury was once such a small town, that he often knew whose animal was lost.

The Hearse House was opened for the first time this year after renovations. The towns sexton explained how he helped the minister with burials of the towns people who passed away. Some students told us that they have always wondered what was inside that small building near the parking lot. Now they know.

Ask a third grader what their favorite stop was. Stop by the History Center with your student so they can proudly share what they learned.

Photograph from our archives of the late Congressman Barney Frank speaking to Sudbury students at the Loring Parsonage, ...
05/22/2026

Photograph from our archives of the late Congressman Barney Frank speaking to Sudbury students at the Loring Parsonage, now the Sudbury History Center and Museum, in 1981.

[Sudbury Historical Society Archives, Gift of William S. Andreas, inv. no. 2024.015.0004]

The Sudbury History Center and Museum will be open for special hours on Memorial Day during the town parade and ceremoni...
05/21/2026

The Sudbury History Center and Museum will be open for special hours on Memorial Day during the town parade and ceremonies!

Stop by on Monday, May 25th, to learn about all things Sudbury history in our museum galleries and visit our gift shop.

[Photograph by Jane Garnes - Memorial Day in Sudbury, 1997 - Sudbury Historical Society Archives, Gift of Sherry Fendell, inv. no. 1997.004.0003]

Address

288 Old Sudbury Road
Sudbury, MA
01776

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+19784433747

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Sudbury Historical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category