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!)
Dickinson Memorial Hall, built in 1894 to house items important to Hatfield history, now holds the public library on the 1st floor and the museum on the 2nd floor.
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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 |
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!
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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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C. J. Scott's 1970 painting of Benjamin Waite and Stephen Jennings returning to Hatfield with their rescued families.
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Current Exhibits:
Return to Hatfield
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
Return to Hatfield
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
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
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
The last two are ongoing projects, and we'd like to add your stories!:
Hatfield Tobacco Stories
and the Hatfield Covid-19 Collection
The Farm Museum is housed in a restored tobacco shed between the elementary school and the cemetery, behind Memorial Hall
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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..
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We are grateful to the Mass Cultural Council for on-going support through a Cultural Sector Recovery Grant!
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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 2023'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
Szawlowski Farms Agricultural Foundation Inc.
USA Waste & Recycling / The Antonacci Family Foundation
Szawlowski Farms Agricultural Foundation Inc.
Benefactors
All States Materials Group Charitable Fund
at Community Foundation of Western MA
Bardwell Woodworking & Remodeling,
in Memory of Cory and Helen Bardwell
Czelusniak Funeral Home
Thayer Excavating, in Memory of Joan A. Thayer
Express Plumbing & Heating
All States Materials Group Charitable Fund
at Community Foundation of Western MA
Bardwell Woodworking & Remodeling,
in Memory of Cory and Helen Bardwell
Czelusniak Funeral Home
Thayer Excavating, in Memory of Joan A. Thayer
Express Plumbing & Heating
Patrons
Richardson's Candy Kitchen
All Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning Inc
Center School LLC, Roberts Builders
UMass 5 College Credit Union
Richardson's Candy Kitchen
All Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning Inc
Center School LLC, Roberts Builders
UMass 5 College Credit Union
Advocates
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Ahearn Funeral Home Chestnut Mountain Tree Farm The Lisa Ekus Group Greenfield Savings Bank Webber & Grinnell Insurance |
Golonka Farm Good Stock Farm Lincoln Real Estate Snow & Sons Landscaping Wohl Family Dentistry |
“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. |
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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 hatfieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Hatfield Historical Society Copyright 2022. Header art by Monica Vachula.