Stone House Museum
Introduction
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Images
The 1827 home of the Stone House Museum
Visitors tour the museum's dining area.
Docents work in the museum's kitchen garden
Backstory and Context
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Founded in 1903, the Belchertown Historical Association has been collecting and displaying historical artifacts in their Stone House Museum for almost 100 years. The house contains period furnishings, clothing and textiles, such as hand-sewn quilts and woven blankets, and most of the items were either owned or made by Belchertown residents. The museum also features a unique collection of pottery, china and ceramics from Staffordshire, Bennington, and Wedgewood.
The carriage barn, known as the Ford Annex due to the fact that it was built with money donated by Henry Ford, houses various carriages and sleighs, to include a stagecoach and hearse. It also displays 19th century farm, ice cutting and cobbler tools, spinning wheels, and looms. Outside, the docents plant and maintain a remembrance flower and traditional kitchen garden.
The historical association also hosts a lecture series throughout the year and past lectures have included “Boys in Blue: Belchertown’s Civil War Soldiers,” “Railroads in Belchertown,” and a poster series entitled “World War I: The Home Front.” Finally, the museum contains an extensive archives collection regarding the history of Belchertown, a genealogy database and back issues of the Belchertown Sentinel.