Welcome to the Hatfield Historical Society website in Hatfield, Massachusetts. Check out upcoming and past Events, virtual exhibits (see below), featured items from the Town of Hatfield's Collections (also below), items to purchase in our museum shop (under the Contact Us tab) and our blog, "bird by bird." We look forward to seeing you!
(If you're looking for the Hatfield Museum & History Society in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, that's not us!)
(If you're looking for the Hatfield Museum & History Society in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, that's not us!)
Hatfield Historical Museum (2nd floor)
39 Main St., Hatfield, MA 01038 Open Tuesdays (1-2:30 pm); the last Saturday of the month (9:30-11:00 am); and by appointment. Closed in December and January and on holidays, including Thanksgiving weekend. Curator: Meg Baker Collections Assistant: Meredith Baker |
Speaker Series for 2024! Save the Dates!
We are pleased to announce the speaker events for this year, all to take place at the Congregational Church at 41 Main St in Hatfield - right next door!
March 21 - Those We Can Trace: Indentured Servant Children in Hatfield
Susan Maciorowski will give presentation on her transcriptions of indenture records in the collection, in a program co-sponsored by the Whately Historical Society.
May 30 - Annual Meeting of the Hatfield Historical Society, with a program on Calvin Coolidge and the Road to the White House, by Julie Bartlet Nelson, head of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library & Museum, at the Forbes Library in Northampton MA.
June 27 - Connecting Threads: Hatfield Needleworkers from the Revolution to WWI
Marla Miller and Meg Baker will present their respective work on the Dickinson textile that will be on exhibit in Washington DC this year!
September 19 - Hatfield 1677
Local author Laura Rader will present a talk on her debut novel on the anniversary of the 1677 raid on Hatfield. She will read from the book, and copies will be available for purchase.
Keep an eye on your mail boxes, physical and digital, for more info, and if you're not on our mailing list, consider joining the HHS or emailing us with your interest!
March 21 - Those We Can Trace: Indentured Servant Children in Hatfield
Susan Maciorowski will give presentation on her transcriptions of indenture records in the collection, in a program co-sponsored by the Whately Historical Society.
May 30 - Annual Meeting of the Hatfield Historical Society, with a program on Calvin Coolidge and the Road to the White House, by Julie Bartlet Nelson, head of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library & Museum, at the Forbes Library in Northampton MA.
June 27 - Connecting Threads: Hatfield Needleworkers from the Revolution to WWI
Marla Miller and Meg Baker will present their respective work on the Dickinson textile that will be on exhibit in Washington DC this year!
September 19 - Hatfield 1677
Local author Laura Rader will present a talk on her debut novel on the anniversary of the 1677 raid on Hatfield. She will read from the book, and copies will be available for purchase.
Keep an eye on your mail boxes, physical and digital, for more info, and if you're not on our mailing list, consider joining the HHS or emailing us with your interest!
Our 2023 autumn business fundraising campaign is going on now!
We're asking local businesses to consider lending their company’s support to HHS, to help fund the coming year. Donations will help our staff and volunteers to manage and maintain our Historical and Farm Museums, implement museum exhibits and public programs, and care for Hatfield's history. Won't your business join in?
Donations of any size are welcome, and we recognize this important support with a series of premiums. Our “Partners” page lists businesses that contributed $250 or more in 2022, to fund projects this year.
Donations may be mailed to the Hatfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 168, Hatfield MA 01038. You can also go to our “Donate” page and give via PayPal - please let us know who to contact to thank you for your support!
Donations of any size are welcome, and we recognize this important support with a series of premiums. Our “Partners” page lists businesses that contributed $250 or more in 2022, to fund projects this year.
Donations may be mailed to the Hatfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 168, Hatfield MA 01038. You can also go to our “Donate” page and give via PayPal - please let us know who to contact to thank you for your support!
Check out our newest virtual exhibit, GOAL! Celebrating Smith Academy's 1993 & 2000 Field Hockey Champions! including a link to the recorded 2023 program featuring team members and Coach Sherry Webb.
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Return to Hatfield
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Current Exhibits:
Booze, Schmooze and News: Remembering Hatfield Taverns and Clubs
Hatfield Vietnam Veterans Share Their Stories
Through Marian's Eyes: A Red Cross Canteen Worker Recounts World War I
Out of the Darkness: A History of Illumination in Hatfield
Some Things Never Change: Kitchen tools through time
Booze, Schmooze and News: Remembering Hatfield Taverns and Clubs
Hatfield Vietnam Veterans Share Their Stories
Through Marian's Eyes: A Red Cross Canteen Worker Recounts World War I
Out of the Darkness: A History of Illumination in Hatfield
Some Things Never Change: Kitchen tools through time
Links to Virtual Exhibits:
1) The Lost Slides of L.H. Kingsley
2) Nothing But Net - Smith Academy Falcons in 1960 and 1961
3) Fifty Years Later -- Hatfield Vietnam War Veterans Share Their Stories.
4) Celebrating Multi-generational Family Farms
5) GOAL! Celebrating Smith Academy's 1993 & 2000 Field Hockey Champions
The last two are ongoing projects, and we'd like to add your stories!:
Hatfield Tobacco Stories
and the Hatfield Covid-19 Collection
1) The Lost Slides of L.H. Kingsley
2) Nothing But Net - Smith Academy Falcons in 1960 and 1961
3) Fifty Years Later -- Hatfield Vietnam War Veterans Share Their Stories.
4) Celebrating Multi-generational Family Farms
5) GOAL! Celebrating Smith Academy's 1993 & 2000 Field Hockey Champions
The last two are ongoing projects, and we'd like to add your stories!:
Hatfield Tobacco Stories
and the Hatfield Covid-19 Collection
Hatfield Farm Museum
7 Billings Way (off Main St.), Hatfield, MA Open Saturdays Memorial Day - Columbus Day (12- 2 pm) and by appointment, in season. Curator: George Ashley For queries, click on "Contact Us" link above. |
Current Exhibits:
Farm Tools and Agricultural Work
Farm Tools and Agricultural Work
To visit one of Hatfield's two museums on a day not normally open, please contact us two weeks (or more) in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate you. If you are hoping to research a particular family, site or topic, it would be helpful to know that ahead of time. Thank you. We look forward to seeing you!
Our six fall 2021 virtual programs, covering transcribing handwritten documents and doing historical research on families and houses, can now be viewed on our YouTube channel. You can also watch our Veterans Day program there -- sharing stories from some of Hatfield's Vietnam War veterans. Check our Events and/or our Volunteers pages for descriptions and how to sign up as a volunteer..
Support the Hatfield Historical Society by voting for us in Florence Bank's Customers' Choice Community Grants. You don't need to wait until year-end, you can vote right now, type in Hatfield Historical Society, and be done with it! For more info or to vote, click HERE.
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To help us continue saving and sharing Hatfield history, please consider a donation or adding the Historical Society to your estate plans.
For Membership, please note which level, under Special Instructions. For all transactions, make sure to check the box to forward your address to the Society. Thank you! |
What businesses are saying about HHS
"My 88-year-old Mother is a proud Air Force Veteran. The Hatfield Historical Society has done a great job collecting and sharing veterans stories, including hers from the Vietnam War and my Uncle Kenny’s from the Korean War. They’ve also done so much to save our town’s farming history, tobacco included, as well as memories from growing up here – like skating on Hatfield ponds and celebrating Smith Academy champions. If they weren’t doing this work, it wouldn’t get done and our stories would be lost. I'm thrilled to support this important and well-led organization."
– Janet Casey, President & Founder, Marketing Doctor
Response to HHS May program and website, "A Family Affair: Celebrating Multi-Generational Farms in Hatfield":
“What a lovely presentation. I’m so glad we made time to be there. Thank you! Several customers at our farm stand commented about seeing this presentation online and how nice it was. Farms are such an important part of our community, and the Hatfield Historical Society’s program will help keep that knowledge and history alive. It’s so nice to see farmers recognized.”
– Jim and Jan Golonka, Golonka Farm
“As a long-time resident of 40 years in Hatfield, I’ve experienced first-hand the benefit of the Hatfield Historical Society. They serve an indispensable role in preserving the long and valuable history of our small town. From profiles of famous residents (Sophia Smith) to historical records and genealogy listings of generations of Hatfield families, they are an invaluable resource to our residents. They help preserve all that is special in the people, places, and land of our unique community.”
– Lisa Ekus Founding Partner, The Ekus Group
– Janet Casey, President & Founder, Marketing Doctor
Response to HHS May program and website, "A Family Affair: Celebrating Multi-Generational Farms in Hatfield":
“What a lovely presentation. I’m so glad we made time to be there. Thank you! Several customers at our farm stand commented about seeing this presentation online and how nice it was. Farms are such an important part of our community, and the Hatfield Historical Society’s program will help keep that knowledge and history alive. It’s so nice to see farmers recognized.”
– Jim and Jan Golonka, Golonka Farm
“As a long-time resident of 40 years in Hatfield, I’ve experienced first-hand the benefit of the Hatfield Historical Society. They serve an indispensable role in preserving the long and valuable history of our small town. From profiles of famous residents (Sophia Smith) to historical records and genealogy listings of generations of Hatfield families, they are an invaluable resource to our residents. They help preserve all that is special in the people, places, and land of our unique community.”
– Lisa Ekus Founding Partner, The Ekus Group
Thank You Local Businesses and Groups!
Many thanks to the following supporters for their generous donations,
which will make 2024's programs, exhibits, social media and more, possible.
Please thank them with your patronage and let them know you appreciate it!
Companies who donated at a higher level are also listed on our Partners page,
where you can directly link to their business websites.
Leadership Circle
USA Waste & Recycling / The Antonacci Family Foundation
USA Waste & Recycling / The Antonacci Family Foundation
Benefactors
Hatfield Lions Club
Dave Wickles Trucking
Aquadro Insurance
Hatfield Lions Club
Dave Wickles Trucking
Aquadro Insurance
Patrons
Richardson's Candy Kitchen
Paciorek Electric
Honeypot Farm
All Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning Inc
Szawlowski Farms Agricultural Foundation Inc.
Thayer Excavating, in Memory of Linda Thayer & Joan A. Thayer
Richardson's Candy Kitchen
Paciorek Electric
Honeypot Farm
All Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning Inc
Szawlowski Farms Agricultural Foundation Inc.
Thayer Excavating, in Memory of Linda Thayer & Joan A. Thayer
Advocates
Raynor Doors
Tri-state Truck & Trailer Marketing Doctor Clean Air Lawn Care Chestnut Mountain Tree Farm Teddy Smiarowski Farm Lavallee Trucking & Excavating |
Golonka Farm
Mountainside Maple Lincoln Real Estate Shea Landscaping Monadnock Media Wohl Family Dentistry Richards Fuel & Heating |
“As a small business owner, I recognize the importance of preserving history – many of our famous recipes were passed down from the former owners, the Richardsons. Our families are also deeply entrenched in the history of Hatfield, with my family having been here for well over 100 years, and my husband’s family farming here since 1661! The entire valley is so rich with history and we are fortunate to be able to enjoy it all – thanks to the efforts of organizations like the Hatfield Historical Society. |
The Hatfield Historical Society gratefully acknowledges and thanks Hatfield residents for their past support through our town's Community Preservation Act. CPA funding has allowed us to inventory the collection of the Hatfield Historical Museum, rehouse artifacts in archival enclosures, preserve or restore historically significant at-risk items, apply for and administer grants and share the collection with the community in multiple ways.
A Sampling of Items from the Hatfield Historical Museum collections
Click on each image to see a larger version and caption.
Hatfield Historical Society, 39 Main St., P.O. Box 168, Hatfield, MA 01038 [email protected]
Hatfield Historical Society Copyright 2022. Header art by Monica Vachula.