Past Events

A Rare Treat for Quilters
Sunday, May 4, Drop in between 2 and 5pm

The Lord’s Prayer Quilt, attributed to the Middlemas Family of Brighton and Natick, circa 1880 will be on display at the Natick Historical Society on Sunday, May 4. Also on display will be a dozen other antique quilts from our collection, the Newton Museum at the Jackson Homestead, the Wellesley Historical Society and private collections.

The Lord’s Prayer Quilt will be featured in the upcoming book, “Massachusetts Quilts, Our Common Wealth”. Aimee Newell, who researched and wrote about our quilt for the book, will explain both the construction and historical significance of this unusual and striking quilt.

Aimee Newell will speak at 3:00 and 4:00

Free and open to the public
Natick Historical Society,58 Eliot St (Rte 16)South Natick

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Wampanoag Life—17th Century to current day
Sunday, April 6, at 2 pm

Randy Joseph is a skilled Native educator and Leader of Wampanoag research and Education at Plimouth Plantation. His talk will focus on 17th century daily life, environment, shelter, and foodways. He is willing to discuss from a Wampanoag perspective any topic, past or present, that will suit the interest of the audience. There will be plenty of opportunity for questions following the initial presentation.

A short annual meeting to elect officers and present reports will precede the talk.

Meeting is free for members.
Open to the public – A voluntary contribution of $5 for non-members is suggested.
John Eliot Memorial Hall, 40 Eliot Street, South Natick

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Susan B. Anthony - The Invincible
Wednesday March 19 at 7pm

See Susan B. Anthony come to life-wearing bloomers, circulating petitions, meeting Buffalo Bill Cody, visiting the White House, and challenging legislators. This informative program includes temperance, women’s rights, abolition, the Civil War, and westward expansion. Learn about her friendships with Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Clara Barton, and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Using Susan B. Anthony’s own words - her fiery speeches, humorous letters, and revealing diary entries - Sally Matson has woven together a story filled with wit and emotion.

Cosponsored with the Morse Institute.
Free and open to the public.
Lebowitz Meeting Hall, Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central St, Natick, MA 01760

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Annie Sullivan, Teacher
Sunday March 2 at 2pm

Travel back in time to Boston, 1912 to meet Kate Carney as Mrs. Annie Sullivan Macy, the “miracle worker”. Her own sight lost and restored in childhood, Annie recounts her impoverished immigrant background to prove that the amazing changes she wrought in Helen Keller were done by hard work, not hoaxes or magic.

Cosponsored with the Eliot Church Women’s Club and
the Friends of the Bacon Free Library
Free and open to the public.
John Eliot Memorial Hall40 Eliot Street, South Natick, MA 01760

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Family Fun Day - Quilts
Feb 23, 10am to 2pm, drop in

Learn how quilts can tell stories, play with patterns, and bring people together. View some historic quilts, listen to stories about quilts and design your own quilt in paper

In partnership with the Bacon Free Library
Museum and Library at 58 Eliot Street, Natick, MA 01760

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Olmstead and the Elm Bank Gardens

January 27 at 1:00PM

Already yearning for spring? Catch a glimpse at our first program of the new year. “Olmsted and the Elm Bank Gardens” features an illustrated talk about Elm Bank and other gardens designed by noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted from the Director of the Olmsted Institute. This program is presented in partnership with Mass Horticultural Society and will be held on Sunday, January 27 at 1pm in the Hunnewell Building, Elm Bank Horticulture Center, Wellesley, MA

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Sunday, December 9, 11:30 PM
History of the Eliot Church

James W. Morley, author, local resident, and retired Columbia professor, will appear on Dec 9 at 11:30AM at the Eliot Church, 45 Eliot Street (Route 16), in Natick to discuss his newly-published book From Many Backgrounds: The Heritage of the Eliot Church in South Natick.

Published by the Natick Historical Society, this engaging and sometimes surprising narrative tells the stories of the successive buildings and congregations who have worshiped on the site of the Eliot Church since 1651. Morley’s book is an important contribution to the knowledge about one of the oldest church sites in America.

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December 6, 2:00 PM and December 18, 3:30 PM
Private Tour of Natick's World War II History Museum

Take a private tour of this exceptional museum, right on our doorstep. This private collection displays more than 6,000 artifacts range from mannequins with complete uniforms and equipment, to Hitler's draft of the Munich agreement, to spy weapons and cameras, to a Sherman tank.

This program is for Natick Historical Society members only. Why not join today?

For information reservations call (508) 647-4841.

Click here to see our past programs

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Saturday, November 17, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Family Fun Day - Secret Diaries and Journals

Start at 11:30 with a visit to the Museum to look at real journals that people wrote over 100 years ago! Read their private thoughts and what they recorded for the future. From 12:30 to 1:30, head upstairs to the Bacon Free Library to sample fictional journals from a kid’s point of view and make a simple journal of your own.

Best for 3rd grade and up. In partnership with the Bacon Free Library
Museum and Library at 58 Eliot Street

In partnership with the Bacon Free Library
Museum and Library at 58 Eliot Street

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Sunday, November 4, 2:00 PM
Woman's Contribution to Turn-of-the-Century Natick

Natick has a history of socially and economically progressive women. Come hear about their early struggles and successes. Harriet Buckingham will give a history of the Natick Women’s Club. Then, Karol Bartlett will speak about women-owned Natick businesses. The event will include music from the period and a formal tea using the Women’s Club silver service, now in the collections of the Natick Historical Society.

Free and open to the public
Lebowitz Meeting Hall at Morse Institute
14 East Central Street, Route 135, Natick

Co-sponsored by the Natick Historical Society and the Morse Institute

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Saturday, October 13
Civil War Encampment with General Grant

Encampment from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the Common – Free and open to the public
Visit a Civil War encampment of Natick’s own Henry Wilson Regiment, the Mass 22nd. Talk with uniformed soldiers and their wives in period dress about army life, watch a drill, and meet General Grant.  Civil War-era toys and games for the kids, history displays at the library and more activities ongoing all day. dddddddddddddd jkkkkkkkkkkkkk kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk kkk
Oration from General Grant, 2:00 PM in the lecture hall, Congregational Church – Free and open to the public
The day will culminate with a lecture by Sam Grant on the life of U. S. Grant, the Civil War and his later political involvement with Henry Wilson.

Benefit Reception with General Grant – 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the lecture hall, Congregational Church

Tickets $5 Members, $15 Non-Members.

Click here for the full press release about the encampment

The Historical Society is grateful to our sponsors for their support of this event:

Roche Brothers Supermarkets - Edible Arrangements - The Rat Pack Cafe - Savinos Grill - Skipjacks

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Thursday, September 27 10:00 AM
Explore the past through Natick photographs

Relive the good old days with a trip to Natick's past. Browse through old photos of Natick in earlier times. Then, help the Natick Historical Society by identifying people and places in our mystery photo collection. Enter to win a door prize -- Natick Images, a photographic history of the town compiled by Anne Schaller of the Historical Society.

This program is open to the public.

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Sunday, September 23, 4:00 - 6:30PM
Open House and Barbequeue

Help us celebrate the completion of the interior renovations at the Museum and Library. Enjoy an outdoor barbecue on our riverside grounds. Music by Suburban Child. Raffles.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Bacon Free Library
Tickets available at the Museum and the Library during regular hours
$10 per adult, $5 per child

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Thursday, September 20 10:00AM
Guided tour of the Natick Museum

Relive the good old days with a trip to Natick's past. Take a short tour of the museum's highlights including the Eliot Bible, the Takawampbait Pulpit, and Henry Wilson's Civil War uniform. Then, browse at your leisure through Native American artifacts, colonial tools and furnishings, maps and a natural history collection. Enter to win a door prize -- Natick Images, a photographic history of the town compiled by Anne Schaller of the Historical Society.

The tour is open to the public.

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Saturday, September 8 (Rain date: September 9)

Natick Days
Have a question about Natick's History? Come to the Historical Society's table and ask away! In addition to a family activity we will also have books, magnets, maps and photographs for sale.

The NHS table will be on the common from 10:00 to 4:00.

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Sunday, June 24, 2007

The Harwood Baseball Factory and an Old-Fashioned Baseball Game
Start the summer off right with some old fashioned base ball.  The pre-game festivities begin with a short talk about the Harwood Baseball Factory and an introduction to the rules of 1858 base ball. Then, watch The Mudville Base Ball Club as they battle The East Holliston Terraplanes. In the post-game wrap up, join the team for a few plays. Be sure to bring your sun screen and lawn chairs.

Time and location are yet to be determined.

Free to members. Non-members are requested to make a $5 donation.

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Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 2:00PM

Historical Walking Tour of Natick Center
Celebrate Natick history with local journalist Maureen Sullivan as we take a leisurely stroll through time and Natick Center. We will discuss how historical trends and events shaped our town center. The tour will conclude with an interior visit to Odd Fellow’s Hall, now the Zeta Fencing School. And what better way to end than with refreshments at Bakery on the Common. Wear your walking shoes!

The tour will begin at the gazebo on the common at the intersection of Main and Central Streets.

Free to members. Non-members are requested to make a $5 donation.

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Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 2:00PM

Annual Meeting and "The Gentle Craft: Shoemaking in 19th Century Massachusetts"
This year’s annual meeting will be an important one, highlighting the Society’s new strategic direction. We will elect officers for the coming year and vote on proposed by laws and membership dues.

Following the annual meeting will be "The Gentle Craft: Shoemaking in 19th Century Massachusetts". Peter Oakley, Shoemaker at Sturbridge Village, will discuss the shoe industry from its early days as piece-work in 10 footers through its transition to factory production. Peter will also demonstrate some shoe maker's tools.

Free to members. Non-members are requested to make a $5 donation.

This program is presented at:
John Eliot Memorial Hall
40 Eliot Street, Rte.16, South Natick

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Sunday, March 4 , 2007 - 2:00PM

Songs of World War II
Join us for a "Sentimental Journey" through the music of World War II. The music of the day told evocative stories and reflected a nation in which the war permeated everyday life. Popular area soprano Mary Shaw and acclaimed pianist Bill Sano perform some of the best-loved songs of the era and will bring back memories of a simpler time. "I'll be seeing you!"

This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Bacom Free Library, the Eliot Woman's Club, and the Natick Historical Society.

This program is presented at:
John Eliot Memorial Hall
40 Eliot Street, Rte.16, South Natick

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Saturday, February 24, 2007 - 10:00 AM to 2:00PM

Family Drop-In Activities!
Objects can tell fasciating stories! Discover these stories through hands-on exploration of everyday things that people used in the early days of America. Then have fun with a related crafts activity for the whole family. Best Suited for kids 6 and up.

Free to members. Non-members are requested to make a $5 donation.

This program is presented at:
Bacon Free Library, Lower Level
58 Eliot Street, Rte.16, South Natick

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Sunday, February 4, 2007 - 2:00PM

Preserving Your Family History
What ’s in your attic? Do you have boxes of family photographs in the basement? Join us for an opportunity to learn how to preserve your family papers, scrapbooks, diaries, letters, photographs, and other materials. Mark Vassar, Processing Archivist at the Massachusetts Archives will explain basic archival techniques that you can use at home. He will also discuss how collections are donated and what happens to them at archival repositories. Collectors and family historians will not want to miss this program.

Free to members. Non-members are requested to make a $5 donation.

This program is presented at:
John Eliot Memorial Hall
40 Eliot Street, Rte.16, South Natick

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Sunday, November 12th at 2:00 PM

Peter Salem - Fighting in the Hope of Freedom

Join actor and historian Bruce Harris for a costumed living history talk in the character of Peter Salem. Salem was a minuteman from Framingham, a sharpshooter, and a slave, who served every day of the Revolutionary War. Learn about what people wore, what they ate, and what their daily life was like. Find out what the attitudes of the day were and dispel the myths about African American participation in the Revolutionary War.