The Plymouth Antiquarian Society’s 74th old-fashioned Summer Fair will be held on Saturday, August 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the historic Hedge House, 126 Water Street, Plymouth. Shoppers can browse the fair tables for attic treasures and collectibles, second-hand books, gifts, crafts, and vintage and contemporary jewelry. Some of Plymouth’s finest home cooks contribute fresh-made goods to the Bake Table. It all takes place under a tent on the Hedge lawn, making this a rain-or-shine event.

The Antiquarian Fair also features a raffle with chances to win a 10-ft. kayak with paddle, a tour and beer tasting for 10 people courtesy of Mayflower Brewing Company, kid’s bicycles, specialty-themed gift baskets, and more. Raffle tickets are now available at $1 each or 6 for $5 at the Antiquarian Society main office at the Hedge House. Call 508-746-0012 or email info@plymouthantiquarian.org to arrange a time to stop by and purchase your raffle tickets. Tickets may also be purchased on the day of the event. The drawings will be held at 5 p.m. on August 24. Winners do not need to be present for the drawing but all prizes must be picked up in Plymouth.

The historic 1809 Hedge House will be open for tours during the event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 per adult, $5 per child, $5 for Plymouth resident adults, and $2 for Plymouth resident children. Members of the Plymouth Antiquarian Society are admitted for free.

All proceeds support the Plymouth Antiquarian Society’s mission to preserve and share local history. Founded in 1919, the Plymouth Antiquarian Society is Plymouth’s largest organization dedicated to preserving historic houses and landmarks. Serving as Plymouth’s historical society, the nonprofit organization interprets the community’s post-Pilgrim history in three historic museums dating from the late 17th to the early 19th century.

The Plymouth Antiquarian Society is seeking a Bookkeeper to ensure the smooth and compliant financial operation of the organization. The Bookkeeper is an independent contractor who reports to the Executive Director. This is a year-round, part-time (4-6 hours/week) position with flexibility in scheduling.

Responsibilities include:

• Manage Society’s bookkeeping using QuickBooks Online
• Ensure timely payment of all bills
• Prepare and make bank deposits
• Process and record credit card and other online transactions
• Reconcile monthly statements, including investment accounts
• Assist the Director in the completion of tasks related to the annual financial review by an outside accountant
• File quarterly sales and use tax returns and annual 1099s for independent contractors
• Maintain financial records and ensure accurate financial reporting in compliance with all legal guidelines and established accounting principles

Qualifications:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting preferred
• Excellent knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles and processes
• Demonstrated skill working with financial information and maintaining records for nonprofit organizations
• Proficiency with QuickBooks Online, Excel, and Word required
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and security of all organizational records
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, ability to work independently, professional manner, and positive attitude are all essential

Pay: $25.00/hour

How to Apply:

For consideration, please email your resume, cover letter, and references to Executive Director Patrick Browne at pbrowne@plymouthantiquarian.org. 

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.

Happy Preservation Month!

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.

Thank you in advance for your continuing support!

Dr. Walter Powell, Interim Executive Director

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!

On Friday, May 19, the 1809 Hedge House and the 1749 Spooner House will be open to members of the Vernacular Architecture Forum, who will be in Plymouth for their annual conference. We are looking forward to welcoming them to our historic houses and learning from them as they examine architectural features and consider historic uses.

If you would like to volunteer during this special opening, please email info@plymouthantiquarian.org or call 508-746-0012.

About the Vernacular Architecture Forum (VAF)

The Vernacular Architecture Forum is the premier organization in North America studying ordinary buildings and landscapes. It was established in 1979 to promote appreciation and scholarship of vernacular structures. VAF is an interdisciplinary organization composed of scholars from many fields, including history, architectural history, geography, anthropology, sociology, landscape history, historic preservation, and material culture studies.

About the VAF Conference

VAF hosts an annual conference to share scholarship, hold board and committee meetings, and learn first-hand about the conference location through tours of its architectural and landscape heritage. 

An estimated 250 VAF members will attend this year’s conference in Plymouth. For more information on the event, visit https://www.vafweb.org/VAF-2023-Annual-Meeting.

To ensure the safety of staff and guests, the Antiquarian Society’s historic house museums will close on days with high heat and humidity. Please see below for announcements of changes to our schedule. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please call 508-746-0012 with any questions.

Sunday, August 7: The Hedge House and the Spooner House will not be open.

Saturday, August 6: The Harlow House and the Hedge House will not be open.

Friday, August 5: The Spooner House and Hedge House are closing at 3pm due to extreme heat. The Hedge House will not be open for the First Friday Art Walk. The Mayflower Brewing Beer Garden will not be held at the Hedge House.

Friday, July 22, Saturday, July 23 & Sunday, July 24: All museums closed.