Old Sturbridge Village

by Kent McCallum, Thomas Neill (Photographer)

Old Sturbridge Village is an outdoor museum in Massachusetts that depicts life in a working community of the 1830s. Presenting a portrait of the village based on photographs, artifacts and detailed research, this book, published in the year of its 50th anniversary, takes readers from the rustic farmhouse kitchen to the genteel parlour in the finest house on the village common, and from the blacksmith's shop with its ringing hammers to the rural printing office with its bookstore. It stops along the way to examine and explain home furnishings and decorative arts, costume and dress, food and cooking utensils, and implements and devices of many kinds. Eight chapters focus on the historical background of changing New farming, with its seasonal tasks and customs; women's lives and their households; mill neighbourhoods with their sawmills and gristmills; artisans and rural industry; the village centre, more attuned to changes emanating from the cities; community events; and the story of Old Sturbridge Village itself, which is a major influence in the field of historic preservation and restoration.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Catherine Wylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really beautiful, coffee type table book that packs a great deal of history of New England and Old Sturbridge Village in the early 19th Century, along with many beautiful photographs.

I read it before I took a cross-country road trip, with one of my main goals being to visit Old Sturbridge Village. This is something I had wanted to do for years because my ancestors on my grandmother's side are descended from the Freeman family.

The book really helped me appreciate how difficult life really was and all the energy that went into basic survival, what running a household and farm was like, and how industry affected the growth of Old Sturbridge, and what progress looked like for my ancestors.

I learned that most New Englanders in the 1830's were descended from the original Puritans.

There was some very personal information about the Freeman family harships that also helped me verify some of my genealogy research. Other families and their homes are featured in the book. I am also related to the Cheney's and it was interesting to learn about their clockmaking enterprises.

When I went to visit Old Sturbridge Village, it was like experiencing the pictures in the book coming to life. I felt more things were in reach through the book than the village, as the church graveyard was roped off to prevent people from ruining fragile ground.

It was interesting to also read about how Old Sturbridge Village was preserved and now runs as a living history museum, with people working there as if it were the 1800's.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about a favorite place of ours. It would be great if there was an updated version published. This one was published in the mid-1990's.

[Kate Hornstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photos of OSV and detailed history of how a living history museum is created.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lavishly illustrated coffee table type book is a great way to learn more about Sturbridge Village. It begins telling the history of the era (1830's New England). It then tell the history of many of the buildings and farms. Finally the book explains how the Village came into being. Well worth a read.