This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Natick Historical Society, and the organization is ready to celebrate. The garden level of the Bacon Free Library in South Natick has been the historic home of the NHS since the building was completed in 1880 and has been renovated in exciting ways over the last five years.
“The light streaming in through our 12-foot windows brightens a refreshed museum space that is now ready for the community to connect over research, artifacts, and exhibits,” says NHS President Mike Pojman. “We look forward to welcoming the public back and gathering at the museum this spring.”
The NHS has evolved its mission since incorporation in 1873, but the core remains the same: to build community by inspiring connections to local history.
Executive Director Niki Lefebvre explains that “the founders of the NHS sought to bring remnants and relics of the world – past and present – to Natick. Today, our focus is right here in Natick. We believe that strong connections to local history build strong communities.” As she sees it, the early work of the NHS established a foundation for the organization’s mission today.
Lefebvre points out how vital the dedication of the NHS leadership and its many volunteers over time is to the work of the NHS today, especially regarding the collections. “Our collections include land documents, manuscripts, photographs, and artifacts that tell us about Natick across centuries. We have the vision of our founders and 150 years of committed volunteers to thank for that.” The museum reopens this April with items on exhibit ranging from Natick High School memorabilia to 18th-century land documents.
“We’re working hard today to make sure the NHS is well positioned to be a good steward of local history for another 150 years,” Lefebvre says. That work includes fundraising to ensure a solid financial footing, refining the collections, and, most importantly, developing relationships with Natick Nipmuc people and highlighting underrepresented voices from Natick’s past. “The time has long since come to tell stories about Natick that embrace this community in all its historical complexity. We owe that to all people who have called Natick home across the centuries, including those who lived here before the mission community was established in 1651.”
For more information on the Natick Historical Society and up-to-date plans for the April reopening events, follow them on Instagram (@natickhistoricalsociety) or sign up for the e-news at www.natickhistoricalsociety.org.