We are grateful to The Local Seen/PACTV for producing a wonderful segment on our Historical Clothing and Textiles Conservation Project. This feature highlights the significance of our remarkable historic clothing collection and the critical work being done to preserve it for future generations.The segment includes informative interviews with textile conservators Katy O’Donnell and Renee Walker-Tuttle, PAS Executive Director Patrick Browne, and PAS President Andrea Daly. Together, they provide an in-depth look at the project’s goals, challenges, and the exciting path forward.
We’ve included a snippet here, but invite you to watch the full segment and learn more about this transformative initiative by visiting the following link: https://youtu.be/7J3AInaEWnk. Thank you to The Local Seen/PACTV for helping us share the story of this important project with the community!
We invite you to help us in preserving Plymouth’s history by making a donation to our Annual Fund.
Donations to our Annual Fund directly support our core operations. In the coming year, we’re focusing on conserving our historic clothing and textiles collection and undertaking essential preservation projects at our historic properties. Your contribution today will directly impact these initiatives, ensuring that Plymouth’s stories endure for future generations. The Plymouth Antiquarian Society is the leading historic preservation organization in the town of Plymouth, operating the 1809 Hedge House, the 1749 Spooner House, and the 1677 Harlow House.
During this season of giving, please consider making a special donation to support our mission. Click the link below to donate via our website. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a significant difference.
Thank you for your continued dedication to preserving Plymouth’s history. Your generosity builds a stronger future for Plymouth’s past. From all of us at the Plymouth Antiquarian Society, we wish you a warm and joyful holiday!
Please click below to give online or send a check to P.O. Box 3773, Plymouth, MA 02361.
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society’s headquarters, the 1809 Hedge House Museum, has seen a good deal of exterior work in July thanks to a matching grant from Preservation Massachusetts, in partnership with The 1772 Foundation. The grant, for which the Society applied in February and was awarded in May, offsets half the cost of the complete repainting of the north side of the main house and the entire carriage house. The project not only improves the aesthetics of this historic structure but, more importantly, ensures that the building envelope is secure and the underlying woodwork and architectural features are protected from the elements. The painting adheres to the 19th century color scheme of the house determined through careful analysis of extant paint layers several years ago.
Preservation Massachusetts and The 1772 Foundation are organizations that work together to preserve historic buildings in Massachusetts. Preservation Massachusetts is a non-profit organization that aims to preserve the state’s cultural and historic heritage. The 1772 Foundation is a national organization that works to ensure historic buildings and farmland are passed on to future generations. Since 2020, the two organizations have partnered on a matching grant program. This year the Hedge House was one of sixteen historic sites that were awarded matching funds.
The Hedge House is one of Plymouth’s finest examples of federal architecture. Built in 1809 by shipowner William Hammatt, the house was originally located on Court Street, where Memorial Hall is today. In 1830 merchant Thomas Hedge, one of Plymouth’s early industrialists and entrepreneurs purchased the house and enlarged it. When the house was threatened with demolition in 1919, it was rescued by the newly formed Plymouth Antiquarian Society and moved to its current location in 1924. It has been operated as a museum and the headquarters of the Society ever since.
PAS Executive Director Patrick Browne accepts the 2024 dissertation prize from Society of Civil War Historians President Dr. Lesley Gordon and Prize Committee Chairman Dr. Kevin Adams.
The Board of Trustees of the Plymouth Antiquarian Society are pleased to congratulate new Executive Director, Dr. Patrick Browne, on receiving the Anne C. Bailey Dissertation Prize of the Society of Civil War Historians. The SCWH recognized Patrick at their conference in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 20, 2024.
The Anne C. Bailey Dissertation Prize is awarded biannually to the best dissertation that takes the U.S. Civil War era as its main focus. The prize committee praised Patrick’s dissertation, entitled, “Architects of Civil War Homecoming: Northern Relief Workers and Returning Union Veterans,” for its compelling argument and extensive research.
According to Prize Committee Chairman, Dr. Kevin Adams of Kent State University, “Browne’s dissertation will become an essential study for specialists as we see it is likely to prompt a series of community studies throughout the North.” Patrick’s work focuses on northern civilians and their struggle to aid recently discharged Union soldiers during the thick of wartime crisis and in the years after the war.
Preservation of our three historic houses is a year-round, often behind the scenes, effort but you can see a more visible project going on right now at the 1677 Old Harlow Fort House.
Work to replace the 1677 Harlow Old Fort House roof, and siding on the adjacent kitchen/bathroom building (ca. 1970), is underway. Reardon and Snow of Scituate is performing the work, and come highly recommended by our Preservation Committee for the work they have done with PAS in the past.
We are using approximately $19,000 from our “Harlow Tip Top Fund” to complete this much needed preservation. Additional repair priorities on windows, doors, and more identified in our 2024/2025 Systems Replacement Plan, will require approximately $34,000 more.
Will you consider donating to help replenish the Harlow Tip Top Fund? All gifts will help fund continued preservation of our historic and beloved 1677 Harlow Old Fort House. Your contribution provides vital support to our nonprofit organization, as we continue to care for our historic houses and collections, provide free educational programs, and create opportunities for community engagement.
Please click below to give online or send a check to P.O. Box 3773, Plymouth, MA 02361.
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society is proud to participate in First Fridays Plymouth, an initiative highlighting arts and culture in the Plymouth Bay Cultural District. On the first Friday of every month (May through October) from 5 to 8 PM, our Spooner House Museum will be open for free mini tours.*
*Venue change – the Hedge House will be open for Friday, July 5th only. The Spooner House will not be open on July 5th.
Entry into this special opening will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the small size of the rooms, visitors may be asked to wait outside until space is available to enter. Thank you in advance for your patience!
We have partnered with three Spiritual Organizations – Go Beyond the Gates, Kindred Spirits and Silver Moon Tarot – to offer tarot card readings at the Spooner House Museum (27 North Street) on select Fridays in 2024. Proceeds will benefit the preservation of our historic Spooner House Museum. Join us, in the spirit of fun, to gain insight into the past, present or future and to support PAS.
Readings will be offered at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm and each hour is limited to 6 people. After you choose and purchase your hour, you will be notified of the exact time of your individual 10 minute reading. You are invited to a mini-tour of the Spooner House and to explore the backyard garden before or after your reading. Please be aware that this event requires climbing stairs.
Friday, May 3 – 5 pm, 6 pm, 7 pm
Friday, June 7 – 5 pm, 6 pm, 7 pm
Friday, August 2 – 5 pm, 6 pm, 7pm
Friday, September 6 – 5 pm, 6 pm, 7pm
Friday, October 4 – 5pm, 6pm, 7pm
Tickets are $55 per person ($5 discount for PAS members with code). Space is limited and tickets must be purchased in advance. No refunds. To purchase tickets online, click here.
Please note that members may purchase an unlimited number of tickets. However, the member discount will only apply to 1 ticket if you have an individual membership; 4 tickets if you have a family membership; and 10 tickets if you have a life membership. Contact info@plymouthantiquarian.org for the membership discount code.
To learn more about joining the Plymouth Antiquarian Society, click here.
If you would prefer to purchase tickets via the phone, please call the office at 508-746-0012. If you have any questions please email info@plymouthantiquarian.org.
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society announces the appointment of Patrick Browne as its new Executive Director. He will take the helm of the 105-year old institution on May 27th. Previously, Browne served as Executive Director for both the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society and Pilgrim Hall Museum. Most recently, he has been a Lecturer in the History Department at Boston University where he has taught many courses on the history of early New England.
Dr. Browne holds a Ph.D. in History from Boston University and received both his B.A. in English and M.A. in History from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His many professional and community activities include serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Plymouth 400, the Plymouth County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce. He was founding Chairman of Backroads of the South Shore, a consortium of South Shore historical museums.
“Dr. Browne’s passion for history, extensive leadership experience with historical organizations and museums, and in-depth knowledge of the region’s history makes him exceptionally suited to lead our Society,” Antiquarian President Andrea Daly said in a statement.
“Having researched, lectured on, and written about the history of the South Shore for decades, the idea of furthering the work of the Plymouth Antiquarian Society is truly exciting to me and I look forward to contributing to the continued celebration and preservation of Plymouth’s history,” Browne said.
“Dr. Browne will lead us at a strategic moment for the Society, which is embarking on an ambitious 5-year strategic plan,” said interim Executive Director Dr. Walter Powell. “We are excited to benefit from his expertise in the management of historic properties, collections, and development.”
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society is Plymouth’s largest organization dedicated to preserving historic houses and landmarks, serving as Plymouth’s historical society – the gateway to our community’s post-Pilgrim history.
Plymouth Antiquarian Society’s Interim Executive Director, Dr. Walter Powell (right), welcomes newly appointed Executive Director, Dr. Patrick Browne (left), on the front steps of the 1809 Hedge House.`