OUR CORE MISSION
1) to promote interest in the history of Worthington, Massachusetts, through research, publications, and public events;
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.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Evan Spring
Vice President: Pat Kennedy
Treasurer: Ed Lewis
Secretary: Kate Bavelock
Directors: Janet Dimock, Jim Downey, Joel Dundorf, Kate Ewald, Evan Johnson, and Walter Wright
To reach a board member, please email us at contact@worthingtonhistoricalsociety.org.
ACTIVITIES
Our regular activities include hosting talks, walks, social gatherings, and other events; adding documents to our digital archive; publishing an online journal and other web content; moderating a Facebook discussion group; assisting with inquiries about genealogical research and Worthington history; and recording oral histories.
ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM
Today’s events and daily life, however trivial they may seem, are tomorrow’s history. A hundred years from now, our great-grandchildren may be curious to know how we built houses, graded dirt roads, baked bread, played music, ran businesses, and celebrated weddings and homecomings. Whatever you would like to share, we would love to hear about it.
Through its Oral History archive, the WHS documents the lives and activities of Worthingtonians. Participants can choose audio or video formats. A preliminary interview is conducted to explain the process, identify topics of interest, and sign release forms. The interview sessions are conducted in a relaxed and informal fashion. In some cases a friend or relative can conduct the interview, with WHS personnel on hand. Oral history interviews are free for participants, with donations always welcome. Participants can review the interview recordings before final editing, and will receive a digital copy. For questions or suggestions, email us at contact@worthingtonhistoricalsociety.org.
HISTORY OF THE WORTHINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
In 1933 a meeting was called at the home of the Reverend and Mrs. James H. Burckes to consider organizing a historical society for Worthington. Walter Stevens acted as moderator, and the Rev. Burckes was asked to draw up a constitution and bylaws to be presented two weeks later at a meeting in Town Hall. At this meeting, Judge Elisha H. Brewster was elected the first President, with Lester F. Stevens as Secretary and Dr. Francis A. Robinson as Treasurer. The Editorial Committee was comprised of Walter L. Stevens, Edward J. Clark, and George Hinchley.
The July 1954 annual meeting was held in the living room of Clarence A. G. Pease, a General Motors executive. Mr. Pease did not like the “bright work” featured on cars of the late 1940s and 50s, and had chrome-free gray Chevrolets crafted for him.
The Worthington Historical Society incorporated in 1961, when Lois Ashe Brown was president. Mrs. Brown obtained free microfilms of the town’s vital records from the Church of the Latter Day Saints, in exchange for copies of the town’s own genealogical files. That same year, shelves in the Town Hall vault were assigned for the safekeeping of the Society’s papers. The next president was Eva Fairman, who wrote several papers that were eventually included in the WHS publication Papers on the History of Worthington.
The Capen/Riverside School, a beautifully preserved 19th-century schoolhouse with vaulted ceiling, was donated to WHS by Henry H. Snyder and restored under WHS president Mrs. David Whitmarsh. Some of the Society’s archives were stored there, while the rest were kept in the upper floor of the Worthington Library, which the WHS hoped to convert to a museum.
WHS president John Payne prioritized the writing of a Worthington history, and began photocopying papers from the Town Hall vault for researchers to consult at the library. Elizabeth Payne chaired the editorial committee, and in 1983 the Papers on the History of Worthington was first published. In 1992 the IRS granted the Society a tax exemption under IRS Code 501(c)(3), making contributions tax-deductible.
For many years WHS meetings and events took place at the Capen/Riverside School. Under the direction of president Edward (Ted) Claydon, the present WHS building was constructed at Worthington Corners on land donated by Merwin and Arlene Packard in 1992. Scott Heyl drew up the architectural plans, and many local builders and interested citizens donated their work and expertise. The building is modeled after the West Worthington Chapel, which is no longer standing. A grand opening was held on June 13, 1999.
In 1961, a total of 431 historical items were catalogued and listed in the WHS accession book. Today that figure is well over 5,000. Other WHS projects of recent years (besides the usual schedule of talks and seasonal hikes) include genealogical research, gravestone restoration, an oral history program, numerous publications and DVDs, and an online publication, WHS Journal.