Our core mission: 1) to promote interest in the history of Worthington, Massachusetts; 2) to gather, catalog, and preserve documents, artifacts, and digital media of significance to Worthington’s history; and 3) to make our archives accessible to the public.

 

Announcements

Documenting the pandemic.The COVID-19 pandemic is a worldwide event, but Worthington has its own story to tell in our collected voices. The Worthington Historical Society would like to document this once-in-a-lifetime (hopefully) experience through our individual stories. Once we are free to sit face-to-face, Kate Ewald will post an invitation to schedule audio recorded interviews. Also please consider writing down your thoughts and experiences. Anything is welcome: a journal, a meaningful observation or conversation, a story of illness or joy, even the simplest everyday story about a project, activity or recipe that helped you through these challenging and sometimes inspiring days. Stories can be submitted in any format, hardcopy or digital.To submit materials, email (with attachments, if desired) to contact@worthingtonhistoricalsociety.org or mail to P. O. Box 12, Worthington, MA, 01098.

 

Read recent posts in our WHS Journal online. WHS has published nine interviews with town residents from 2018, recorded during the Worthington 250 celebrations, plus an article about Frankie’s Place in West Worthington and an exhibit of vintage postcards. Select from our long list of articles here.

 

 

Donation of Russell H. Conwell materials. The family of John and Marion Sweeney has donated a massive, privately printed, three-volume biography of RHC along with one of his signature stamps and other materials. Other recent donations are listed on our membership and donations page.

 

 

 

Membership Drive. Despite the pandemic and the postponement of all events in our building, 2021 was a busy year as usual for our all-volunteer board. We helped with genealogical inquiries, posted exhibits and interviews online, digitized historical documents, and made our digital archive more accessible. Please join our organization and support our core mission of preserving Worthington history at our membership and donations page.

 

 

WHS Facebook group!  Our Facebook discussion group is bustling, with 392 members and counting. Here is the link to join the group and share photos and memories.

 

 

 

 

Free tickets to Historic Deerfield. Courtesy of WHS, the Worthington Library loans out two sets of four free tickets to Historic Deerfield, the renowned colonial village museum dedicated to the history of the Connecticut River Valley. 

 

 

DVD Interview with Rolande & Robert Schrade. In the interview, recorded in 2008 at the Academy in South Worthington, the Schrades discuss moving to Worthington, purchasing the Academy building, their musical dynasty, and their renowned summer concert series, Sevenars. The 68-minute DVD, produced by Edward & Helen Pelletier, also includes a tour of the Academy’s three floors. The DVD is available for $30 (proceeds divided equally between WHS, the Pelletiers, and the Schrade family) by downloading an order form at our Publications & DVDs page or by contacting Pat Kennedy at pkennedy@worthingtonhistoricalsociety.org.