Our core mission: 1) to promote interest in the history of Worthington, Massachusetts; 2) to gather, catalog, and preserve documents, artifacts, and digital media of significance to Worthington’s history; and 3) to make our archives accessible to the public.
Announcements
Read recent posts in our WHS Journal online. Our latest article is The Benevolent Women of Worthington in the Kitchen, exploring the food customs of over a century ago as revealed in the Worthington Cook Book. We’ve also published nine interviews with town residents from 2018, recorded during the Worthington 250 celebrations, plus an article about Frankie’s Place in West Worthington, an article about town legend Guy Thrasher, and an exhibit of vintage postcards. Select from our long list of articles here.
Donation of Russell H. Conwell materials. The family of John and Marion Sweeney has donated a massive, privately printed, three-volume biography of RHC along with one of his signature stamps and other materials. Other recent donations are listed on our membership and donations page.
Membership Drive. 2024 has been a busy year as usual for our all-volunteer board. We helped with genealogical inquiries, organized an expedition for the R. H. Conwell School, digitized hundreds of historical documents, and made our digital archive more accessible. Please join our organization and support our core mission of preserving Worthington history at our membership and donations page.
WHS Facebook group! Our Facebook discussion group is bustling, with 800 members and counting. Here is the link to join the group and share photos and memories.
DVD Interview with Rolande & Robert Schrade. In the interview, recorded in 2008 at the Academy in South Worthington, the Schrades discuss moving to Worthington, purchasing the Academy building, their musical dynasty, and their renowned summer concert series, Sevenars. The 68-minute DVD, produced by Edward & Helen Pelletier, also includes a tour of the Academy’s three floors. The DVD is available for $30 (proceeds divided equally between WHS, the Pelletiers, and the Schrade family) by downloading an order form at our Publications & DVDs page or by contacting us at contact@worthingtonhistoricalsociety.org.
Just discovered this website. Wonderful information! Thanks to you all for putting it together.
I’m curious about the extreme southwest corner of Worthington, specifically an area called Bradshaw Rd, and perhaps OsbornRd. 1876 map shows a small unnamed cemetery, and a home site listed to EE Frissell and a G Cratty. Another name that seems to be in that area in 1854 is Luther Granger.
I’ve looked on Family Search and Find a Grave, hoping there would be some info on their lives.
If you have any info on these people, I would love to hear about it!
Tom Hoffman
Tom,
I do a lot of research in local cemeteries and am curious about the cemetery you have referenced in the 1876 map. I live in Huntington, not far from South Worthington and would like to see what I can find.
I did find a small cemetery on Route 112, near the end of Goss Hill and contacted the landowner. He reset some stones, fenced in the markers and erected a sign naming it the Little River Cemetery. I uploaded it to Find-a-grave but have yet to identify who is buried there.
Can you send me the map?
Lois
Hi Lois,
That cemetery is not an official Worthington Cemetery–my guess is that it is mostly footstones from another cemetery, possibly the one across the street, Converse Cemetery. If you look at Worthington, Massachusetts Vital Statistics to 1850 (available online) you’ll see that it is not listed and there are no burials there. Plus, it is so close to the river that it seems no one would have thought that a suitable place to bury a body.
Pat Kennedy, Cemetery Comissioner
Am interested in learning more about a mill in Worthington presumably owned and run by a Stevens family. It is said that they made parts of musical instruments. I’m thinking that this must have been in th late 1800s.
Thanks for sharing information that you have or might be available.
Bill Green
Cambridge, MA
Ynotbgreen@comcast.net
Hi Bill, the mill was located in an area called Stevensville, now it is Rte. 143. It was located close to the border with Chesterfield and the building still exists, though not as a mill. They made drums shells and other round wooden objects. If you click on our archives page and search for Stevens, you will see some relevant photos. Sorry for the later response — just saw your inquiry. Diane Brenner
Hello.
I just made a donation, and would like it to be recorded as a family membership.
Thank you, and keep up the good work.
The So. Worthington Church Association is currently applying for Historical Building status and we are organized also to plan fundraising events for this amazing architectural gem built in the early 19th century. The building needs costly updates, like electricity and plumbing. If anyone is interested in helping us with our efforts to preserve this historical beauty, let me know. Thanks!
This is to confirm my e-mail address as judydowd14@gmail.com