Northbridge Historical Society Collections
At the Fletcher House, 1 Elm Place Whitinsville
These collections can be viewed by contacting Carol H. Brouwer 508-476-2893
or e-mailing [email protected]
2007.01. Nora Carr Collection. Nora Carr was a Northbridge resident, and was instrumental in the establishment and incorporation of the Northbridge Historical Society. She was also active in municipal affairs, and was active in the Village Congregational Church.
2007.02. Social Services Collection. The Whitinsville Samaritan Association was organized in the 1890s to provide nursing care for ill or bedridden patients in Whitinsville. Hospital. The Association also provide information and assistance in maintaining good health. In the late 1900s a parallel organization was organized, the Village Relief Association, which provided services for the needy beyond the scope of the Samaritan Association. Both of these organizations were active into the 1940s. In the 1940s the Northbridge Nursing Association began as an outgrowth of the earlier Samaritan Association, and provided skilled nursing services to home-bound patients.
2007.03. Northbridge, Mass. Military Collection. Northbridge and Whitinsville men have volunteered for military service throughout our country's history. Returning veterans have been honored with parades, monuments, and public appreciation for their services. Notably in Northbridge, Veterans of the two World Wars have been especially so honored
2007.04. Stereograph Collection. Stereographs were made between ca. 1850-1915, and provide a three-dimensional picture of life and scenes of the mid to latter part of the 19th century. The stereograph collection provides scenes from Whitinsville, New England, as well as scenes from many parts of the United States and other parts of the world The collection consists of approximately 700 stereographs.
2007.05 Whitinsville Photograph Collection. The collection comprises photographs and some photographic postcards taken from the late 1800s to the mid 1950s, and includes buildings of various types, scenes and views, transportation, railroad accidents, rail and trolley transportation, and group photographs of Northbridge groups.
2007.06. Whitin Machine Works Collection. Whitin Machine Works was established in 1831 on the Mumford River in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, manufacturing preparatory machinery for the cotton industry. At its peak, about 5000 employees were on the payroll. After World War II, the company became publicly owned, and operations began to move south. Operations in Whitinsville ceased around 1980.
2008.01. Daughters of the American Revolution, Abigail Batcheller Chapter Records. Abigail Batcheller Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was organized in November 1903 with 20 members; and held monthly meetings until the organization dissolved in 1964.
2008.02. Northbridge High School Collection. Northbridge High School, established by the Town in 1865; collection includes clippings and historical papers and artifacts.
2008.03. Battle of Balls Bluff Scrapbook. Among the units engaged in the Battle ofBall 's Bluff was Company H of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, raised in Northbridge.
2008.04. Clara Dyer Scrapbooks. Scrapbooks made by Clara Dyer, 1902-1998, one as a schoolgirl around 1915, two relating to World War II, the death of President Roosevelt, and other topics of the mid-1940s.
2008.05 Northbridge Historical Commission Scrapbook. Scrapbook of clippings and snapshots relating to activities of the Northbridge Historical Commission, 1980s-1990s.
2008.06. Plant and Tree Scrapbook. Scrapbook of clippings of articles about native plants and trees.
2008.07. Whitinsville Musical Association Records. Whitinsville Musical Association established 1895 to foster and encourage the musical and dramatic talent of Northbridge of which Whitinsville is the population center.
2008.08. Whitinsville Girl Scout Collection. The collection comprises clippings and photographs of Girl Scout activities in Whitinsville during the 1950s.
2008.09. School Class Photographs Collection. The collection comprises class andfaculty group pictures from Northbridge schools between 1889 and 1900.
2008.10. World War II Years Collection. The collection highlights various aspects of life during the World War II years, including rationing in the Unites States, military awards and insignia, clippings relating to the war, and currency including occupational currency from several countries involved in the war.
2008.11. Blackstone Valley Mills Collection. Organized in 1921, the Blackstone Valley Mills Association was an organization for the management class of the textile mills. The Association disbanded in 1939, and reorganized as the Tri-State Textile Association.
2008.12. School Textbooks Collection. The collection comprises elementary school penmanship books from ca. 1900 and other period school texts.
2008.13. Town of Northbridge Collection. The collection comprises miscellaneous municipal records and reports from several sources, including a number of Annual Town Reports.
2008.14. Mary Vandersea Collection. The collection comprises miscellaneous historical documents and items from the 1830s through WWII, including some family papers and materials from the Vandersea family.
2008.15. Clara Dyer Reminiscences. The collection comprises manuscript reminiscences, many in a diary format; photographs, and other materials reflecting the life of Clara Dyer.
2008.16. Clara Dyer Memories. The collection comprises manuscript and typescript reminiscences, photographs, and other materials reflecting the life of Clara Dyer as she was growing up in Northbridge.
2008.17. Clara Dyer Photograph Collection. The collection comprises photographs and clippings reflecting the life of Clara Dyer as she was growing up in Northbridge and as an adult.
2008.18. Northbridge Shoe Factory Collection. The shoe manufacturing industry at Northbridge Center was started in 1827 by Joel Batchelor, who later built a 4 story mill building at the center. The factory closed in 1877, and was demolished about 1900.
2008.19. Deane-Vandersea Wedding Collection. On November 6, 1926 Dorothy Deane and John Vandersea were married in Northbridge; Clara Dyer was maid of honor.
2009.01. Goldthwait Family Papers. Legal documents, letters, and miscellaneous papers relating to the Goldthwait family of Northbridge, 18th to 20th centuries.
2009.02. Meadow View Gun Club Collection. The Meadow View Gun Club was established in Whitinsville in 1911 as an organization of hunters and fishermen, and was dissolved at the end of 2008.
At the Fletcher House, 1 Elm Place Whitinsville
These collections can be viewed by contacting Carol H. Brouwer 508-476-2893
or e-mailing [email protected]
2007.01. Nora Carr Collection. Nora Carr was a Northbridge resident, and was instrumental in the establishment and incorporation of the Northbridge Historical Society. She was also active in municipal affairs, and was active in the Village Congregational Church.
2007.02. Social Services Collection. The Whitinsville Samaritan Association was organized in the 1890s to provide nursing care for ill or bedridden patients in Whitinsville. Hospital. The Association also provide information and assistance in maintaining good health. In the late 1900s a parallel organization was organized, the Village Relief Association, which provided services for the needy beyond the scope of the Samaritan Association. Both of these organizations were active into the 1940s. In the 1940s the Northbridge Nursing Association began as an outgrowth of the earlier Samaritan Association, and provided skilled nursing services to home-bound patients.
2007.03. Northbridge, Mass. Military Collection. Northbridge and Whitinsville men have volunteered for military service throughout our country's history. Returning veterans have been honored with parades, monuments, and public appreciation for their services. Notably in Northbridge, Veterans of the two World Wars have been especially so honored
2007.04. Stereograph Collection. Stereographs were made between ca. 1850-1915, and provide a three-dimensional picture of life and scenes of the mid to latter part of the 19th century. The stereograph collection provides scenes from Whitinsville, New England, as well as scenes from many parts of the United States and other parts of the world The collection consists of approximately 700 stereographs.
2007.05 Whitinsville Photograph Collection. The collection comprises photographs and some photographic postcards taken from the late 1800s to the mid 1950s, and includes buildings of various types, scenes and views, transportation, railroad accidents, rail and trolley transportation, and group photographs of Northbridge groups.
2007.06. Whitin Machine Works Collection. Whitin Machine Works was established in 1831 on the Mumford River in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, manufacturing preparatory machinery for the cotton industry. At its peak, about 5000 employees were on the payroll. After World War II, the company became publicly owned, and operations began to move south. Operations in Whitinsville ceased around 1980.
2008.01. Daughters of the American Revolution, Abigail Batcheller Chapter Records. Abigail Batcheller Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was organized in November 1903 with 20 members; and held monthly meetings until the organization dissolved in 1964.
2008.02. Northbridge High School Collection. Northbridge High School, established by the Town in 1865; collection includes clippings and historical papers and artifacts.
2008.03. Battle of Balls Bluff Scrapbook. Among the units engaged in the Battle ofBall 's Bluff was Company H of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, raised in Northbridge.
2008.04. Clara Dyer Scrapbooks. Scrapbooks made by Clara Dyer, 1902-1998, one as a schoolgirl around 1915, two relating to World War II, the death of President Roosevelt, and other topics of the mid-1940s.
2008.05 Northbridge Historical Commission Scrapbook. Scrapbook of clippings and snapshots relating to activities of the Northbridge Historical Commission, 1980s-1990s.
2008.06. Plant and Tree Scrapbook. Scrapbook of clippings of articles about native plants and trees.
2008.07. Whitinsville Musical Association Records. Whitinsville Musical Association established 1895 to foster and encourage the musical and dramatic talent of Northbridge of which Whitinsville is the population center.
2008.08. Whitinsville Girl Scout Collection. The collection comprises clippings and photographs of Girl Scout activities in Whitinsville during the 1950s.
2008.09. School Class Photographs Collection. The collection comprises class andfaculty group pictures from Northbridge schools between 1889 and 1900.
2008.10. World War II Years Collection. The collection highlights various aspects of life during the World War II years, including rationing in the Unites States, military awards and insignia, clippings relating to the war, and currency including occupational currency from several countries involved in the war.
2008.11. Blackstone Valley Mills Collection. Organized in 1921, the Blackstone Valley Mills Association was an organization for the management class of the textile mills. The Association disbanded in 1939, and reorganized as the Tri-State Textile Association.
2008.12. School Textbooks Collection. The collection comprises elementary school penmanship books from ca. 1900 and other period school texts.
2008.13. Town of Northbridge Collection. The collection comprises miscellaneous municipal records and reports from several sources, including a number of Annual Town Reports.
2008.14. Mary Vandersea Collection. The collection comprises miscellaneous historical documents and items from the 1830s through WWII, including some family papers and materials from the Vandersea family.
2008.15. Clara Dyer Reminiscences. The collection comprises manuscript reminiscences, many in a diary format; photographs, and other materials reflecting the life of Clara Dyer.
2008.16. Clara Dyer Memories. The collection comprises manuscript and typescript reminiscences, photographs, and other materials reflecting the life of Clara Dyer as she was growing up in Northbridge.
2008.17. Clara Dyer Photograph Collection. The collection comprises photographs and clippings reflecting the life of Clara Dyer as she was growing up in Northbridge and as an adult.
2008.18. Northbridge Shoe Factory Collection. The shoe manufacturing industry at Northbridge Center was started in 1827 by Joel Batchelor, who later built a 4 story mill building at the center. The factory closed in 1877, and was demolished about 1900.
2008.19. Deane-Vandersea Wedding Collection. On November 6, 1926 Dorothy Deane and John Vandersea were married in Northbridge; Clara Dyer was maid of honor.
2009.01. Goldthwait Family Papers. Legal documents, letters, and miscellaneous papers relating to the Goldthwait family of Northbridge, 18th to 20th centuries.
2009.02. Meadow View Gun Club Collection. The Meadow View Gun Club was established in Whitinsville in 1911 as an organization of hunters and fishermen, and was dissolved at the end of 2008.
