The Middleton Historical Society is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1954 to preserve, research, and communicate the cultural and political history of the Town of Middleton. The Middleton Historical Society is situated in the Lura Woodside Watkins Museum, which houses an extensive collection of 18th, 19th and 20th century artifacts.
The Middleton Historical Society owns, maintains, and operates the Lura Woodside Watkins Museum offering lectures, cultural events and special programs for its members and community members. Presently, the Museum manages more than 2000 photographs, 100 rare books, 250 letters, 115 diaries, 100 newspaper clippings, Vital Records, and 1000 artifacts unique to Middleton from the early 1700s and later. Collection realia includes 18th and 19th century ceramics and glass; household items such as cooking equipment, pewter goods, early fireplace equipment; furniture; Civil War relics from battlefields; textiles and clothing; tools and industrial items; Indian artifacts; toys and personal items.
The Society often assists scholars, genealogists, and avocational historians find published and non-published information about family history and local historical points of interest.
The Society meets monthly to plan special events and to prepare for educational programs offered to local schools. The Society presents programs for Middleton students and interested citizens from Middleton and the surrounding communities covering the history of Middleton and aspects of the pre-electrical age, home and farm life. Members re-enact history by dressing in "period costume" and re-enacting various home arts and industries during the Colonial to pre-World War I years. The Society has conducted historic home tours of the town and supports monthly guest speakers from state historical associations, archivists, and museum curators.
The organization of the Middleton Historical Society consists of the following offices: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Educational Program Chairman, Museum Curator. All officers, with the exception of the Curator, are elected annually. The Curator serves at the will of the Officers.
_______________________________________________________________________ One South Main Street/ P.O. Box 98 Middleton, MA 01949-0198 978-774-8132