Our purpose is to inspire and promote community interest in and appreciation for the history of Worthington, Massachusetts. We identify, select, gather, preserve, maintain, catalogue and make accessible to the public, historical documents and significant memorabilia from the town.

Once again, it's time to JOIN or RENEW your membership. Individual memberships cost $10.00, family memberships cost $20.00. And this would be a good time to consider contributing a little extra. As is the case for everyone, our expenses, especially for basic maintenance, collection preservation, printing and the website, are increasing, while incomes are staying the same or worse. If everyone would consider giving just a little more (donations are fully tax-deductible) we would be more than appreciative.

Remember, you don't have to live here to join. We hope that anyone with an interest in Worthington history will consider supporting us financially.
Letters have been sent out to everyone living in Worthington with a form and return envelope included or you can access a membership form by clicking on the "Membership" link to the left. Or, if you prefer, you can use the PayPal links below to join, renew or donate on-line.

We depend on your support and donations in any amount are ALWAYS WELCOME. Thank you. The Worthington Historical Society is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations to the WHS are tax-deductible.

An exhibit on farming and farm implements. There is also be an exhibit of recent photographs by Kate Ewald showing local farms and barns and a chicken or two. Also, a scale miniature room box, recently donated by Arlene and Charles Cudworth, created by Alice Cudworth Steele sometime in the 1960s.

Available for order: "Robert Epperly: Pilot and Antarctica Service", a video created by Ed and Helen Pelletier , of Berkshire Hills Productions, showing an interview conducted by Bob Randall with Bob Epperly at the Historical Society in October 2010. Exciting tales of a Navy pilot in Asia and Antarctica during the 1950s. Special order. Please call Pat Kennedy, 238-5560

And for the Annual Meeting, on Sunday, September 24th and exhibit and talk on the Bartlett and Higgins Basket Factories in Worthington and Chesterfield

Now available on DVD. $15.00; please use "Donate" button below or call Pat Kennedy at 238-5560 to order.

The video is about an hour long, two parts, and it focuses on the story of the Cooks' arrival in Worthington in the early 1970s and their decision to live off the land as simply as possible. They describe their maple syrup business, their wreath making and wood harvesting ventures, raising their kids off the grid with almost no modern conveniences (they powered their single lamp at night with a car battery) and Karin's life as an artist. It will be of interest to anyone interested in sustainable living in the Northeast.

The magnificent Worthington Millennium Quilt was unveiled at the WHS annual meeting on September 26th, 2010: a center panel with a map of Worthington surrounded by hundreds of images representing the changing seasons during the millennium year; along with four side banners containing twenty individual blocks showing some important places in town. Ten years in the making, this awesome labor of love was presented by seven of the many women who had worked on it including Leona Arthen, Pat Kennedy, Althea Mason, Laurie McAnulty, Elodi McBride, Helen Pelletier, and Maryse Pommenville. They described the evolution of the project including the huge number of hours that went into its planning, design and execution; and pointed out the many details that help make this both a beautiful work of art and an important historical "document." Unable to attend were Nancy Babcock, Joyce Bartlett, Damaris Fernandez-Sierra, Marge Frew, Judy Gibson, Diane Meehan, Debbie Phillips, Karen Rowe, Lisa Schroeder, Willow Shire, Nancy Smith, Jane Tesla, and Nancy Wyman; and, two of of the original participants, Connie Dorrington, and Anne Ewald now, sadly, deceased.

The quilt will be on display indefinitely and anyone who wants to see it should contact Diane Brenner by email or phone: 238-5593 or contact any of the other directors to arrange a time to visit.

We have created 21 Millennium Quilt note cards from Ed Pelletier's photographs of the twenty blocks and the center panel. These can be ordered for $2.25 each or $10.00 for 5 (10% discount on five or more to any WHS member, postage extra). Each card is printed on heavy matte or glossy paper and comes with envelope in a plastic wrapper. You can click here to see the ORDER FORM, the individual cards are visible on the second page of the form. Please mail orders to the WHS, P.O. Box 12, Worthington, MA 01098 or call or email Diane Brenner (see above) to arrange a pickup.

Click on the Cemetery Projects link in the Navigation List to your left to see images from the 2009 cleanup at Center Cemetery, led by Aaron Rutz, and of the 2010 cleanup at North Cemetery, supervised by Kai Nalenz, who has also been working on the repairs at the cemetery in Chesterfield center.

In addition to photographs, the WHS database contains numerous artifacts ranging from ox yokes to christening dresses, diaries and account books. These have been catalogued in our archives database which is now partially searchable. Just click on the word "Archives" in the list to your left.

Please be aware that access isn't yet complete. If you are looking for an item and can't find it, please contact us directly. Also, you will see on the list the word "OMEKA." We are in the process of moving our databases into this more cohesive, visually elegant, streamlined and shareable format. This is an ongoing project, so there are glitches and rough spots that need to be fixed, but you are invited to check in and see how we are progressing.

Revised index (as of 10/22/09) to Papers on the History of Worthington is available for downloading. Click here to access the PDF Version.

We are open by appointment. Please call Diane Brenner (238-5593) or Pat Kennedy (238-5560) to arrange for a visit. You can also contact us by email.