Life From The Roots: Historical Societies -- New England Photos

The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Historical Societies -- New England Photos

What do a train depot, old bank, old church, an old one-room school house, and an old dwelling have in common? They are now homes to Historical Societies, and I feel sentimental about these buildings because of the good memories associated with them in their new life. In the future, as I photo more, I will add them to this site.

What can a person say about Historical Societies? I think we all love them, and if you look hard enough you will probably see one in every town. Recently, my husband and I passed quite a few, and I decided to take some photos. Time didn't permit us to stop, but that was okay, as we had been in several, and my husband is a member of one as well.

The Kennebunkport Historical Society in Maine was simply darling, in an old one room schoolhouse. I noticed that they are only open six hours a week, three hours on two days. You had better be extremely prepared when you go there. It was closed when we stopped.

In York, Maine, the Old York Historical Society, below, is in the center of town. It used to be a bank. My husband and I did quite a bit of research in there, as he has old from there. The location is great, because you can walk to shops and get a bite to eat.

The Church below has been home to the Historical Society of Wells and Ogunquit of Maine for 31 years. My husband has been a member for about 10 years, and I have done research there. There is a great collection of resources for all New England states in the Genealogy and History Department upstairs. The Church is used for weddings, and there is a Museum as well on the first floor.

Two sidewalks have been made with memorial bricks.

The four below are in Massachusetts

North Andover Historical Society

I used this Society when I needed information on Simon Bradstreet and his wife Anne Dudley.

Above is the Lexington Historical Society in Lexington, Massachusetts

I have several ancestors from this town, and I grew up there, but have never been in the building. The old train depot has been put to good use.

The next three photos are of the Chelmsford Historical Society.
Although I lived and went to High School in this town, it wasn't until the past month that I discovered where the Society is located (not in the center of town, like most).