Wendell Historical Society - MA

05/31/2026

Toys Story:
Here is a collection of toys, artifacts and remnants uncovered at various locations on the Parsonage property:
-Gasoline truck with ladder, plastic, Renwal Manufacturing Company ca 1940-1950;
-1950s Ajax Plastics spaceman astronaut toy figurine;
-Cast iron race car toy with boat-tail design, probably manufactured by Hubley ca 1930-1940 ;
-“Charlotte Doll” porcelain head, probably early 20th century;
-Victorian sewing awl, bone;
-Black plastic toy gun, “Made in Hong Kong,” ca 1960;
-Part of a Bakelite Borzoi dog by designer Don Manning, New York, 1940s;
-Plastic “Super Comb” or “Pocket Comb” with protective handle, ca 1970;
-Whip cream can cap;
-Transparent plastic water gun, red;
-Hasbro 6” plastic ruler, made in U.S.A.
Most of the plastic items were found in 2003 after Joe Wilder dug the foundation for a new room that was the location of a long-gone carriage shed. Looks like it was also the backyard dump. Lucky for us!

05/26/2026

Today we had a crew of workers from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office Community Service Program at the museum. They were a great team who helped with cleaning the yard, caulking, painting and moving an old freezer to WRATS. Big shout out to Peter LaFrance!
The big project of the day was using a jack-hammer to break up cement pads the USPS left behind 3 years ago. This is a major improvement that helps with the look, feel and functionality of the building.
The team will return tomorrow!
The pace of our renovations is picking up. Volunteer workers save the WHS thousands of dollars. Your continued financial support is crucial and gives us hope that the doors to the museum will open next year. So please help get the job done with a donation right now, because every dollar goes a long, long way. Thank you from the Wendell Historical Society!
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05/24/2026

Here's another photo by Harry W. Fay courtesy of his niece Fay Bennett. This is a view of Wendell's South Common c. 1900!

05/14/2026

Another new acquisition from Harry W. Fay's niece, Fay Bennett! This was Henry Hoyt's blacksmith shop, located where the slide and merry-go-round are today in the Wendell Free Library's playground.
Henry Hoyt, son of Enoch and Clarissa Hoyt, was born in the village of Brushton, NY near the Canadian border in 1848. He worked as a blacksmith his whole life and came with his wife Mary to Wendell from Binghamton, NY in the late 1800s. They lived on Mormon Hollow Road. Henry died here in 1905, five years after this photo was taken by Harry W. Fay.
The house to the left in the photo was the splendid Ballou House and Brown Pitcher Store & Luncheonette which burned to the ground in 1980.

05/14/2026

05/10/2026

Wendell's South Common c. 1901 as photographed by Harry W. Fay of New Salem. The Baptist Church was painted red; it didn't become Town Hall until 1919. The two houses were built in 1853 after a fire destroyed the original two buildings in the same spot. Merchant Otis Chittendon lived in the house on the right and his store was in the house next door.
Photograph courtesy of Harry Fay's niece, Fay Bennett.