Volunteers Needed to Live Life in the 1820s

The Andover Historical Society is looking for volunteer guides to assist with the annual school program, where you perform activities done as they were in the 1820s.

Historical Society X-Mas Tree Planning Begins Wednesday

The Andover Historical Society calling out to the public for those interested in decorating a Christmas Tree for their annual exhibit this year.

Believe it or not, it's time to start planning the winter events and among them includes the annual Christmas Tree Exhibit at the Andover Historical Society. This will be the fifth year it has been run and the society is looking to bring back past tree decorators as well as welcome new ones. The charge is simple: decorate a history-inspired Christmas tree that will be showcased during the December exhibit. There is space for 30 trees this year and if you're interested organizers are hoping you'll attend a meeting tomorrow. The Historical Society is holding a meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, July 25 at 3 p.m. at 97 Main Street, the AHS headquarters. The inspiration objects are on display as part of our Top 40 Andover exhibit. A full list of …

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History of the American Cookbook This Thursday

A culinary historian will visit Andover Thursday to give a lecture on the history of one of the most widely-published types of books in the world.

Join Joe Carlin, culinary historian, author, and instructor on Food History at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts (CSCA) in Cambridge, Massachusetts for a talk on the history of cookbooks at the Andover Historical Society on Thursday evening.  The first cookbook published by an American for Americans was American Cookery by Amelia Simmons. Published in 1796 it was in its own way a culinary Declaration of Independence from British foodways. Today, cookbooks are one of the largest published book categories in the world. This illustrated lecture will trace the evolution of the American cookbook. This talk will cover the development of the charity cookbook; cook booklets that promote new foods and appliances; ethnic cookery; and celebrity …

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Andover Farmers' Market Opens Saturday

The Andover Historical Society Farmers' Market opens this Saturday, June 30.

It's finally time to start getting your produce fresh and locally grown again at the Andover Historical Society's Farmers' Market on Main Street. The farmer's market opens this Saturday, June 30, at 12:30 p.m. The market is open from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Saturday, from June 30 to Oct. 6. The market is held in the lawn of the Andover Historical Society building at 97 Main Street. Find out more information by calling 978-475-2236 or visiting http://andoverhistorical.org/market. Here are a list of the vendors that will be selling at the farmers' market this weekend.

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Take a Closer Look at Andover's WWII Stories

The Andover Historical Society is featuring many WWII relics on display this Saturday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This was submitted by the Andover Historical Society. This Saturday, April 7,  relics of World War II will be on display during an open house event at the Andover Historical Society.  View photos, memorabilia, propaganda and more of the World War II era.  This one time exhibition will feature a small collection of WWII era objects and archival materials that demonstrate Andover's involvement on the home front and abroad. Most striking, a gas mask and canvas carrying bag along with many photos reveal the reality of warfare.    Also on display, a WWII collection owned by Doug Culver of WWII Consulting. Doug provides identification for museums, historical societies, theater productions, and other organizations, as well as private individuals…

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Christmas Trees are Back at the Historical Society

Come stop by the Andover Historical Society to check out their 20-plus Christmas trees on display.

This press release was provided by the Andover Historical Society. The snow may have started falling in October here in New England, but now that the month of December is arriving, we’re truly ready to celebrate the Christmas season! Join us at the Andover Historical Society for an explosion of festive decorations at this year’s History-Inspired Christmas Tree exhibit, running through December 31. Twenty trees are featured in the popular exhibit, each decorated by a volunteers from the Andover community, including Andover Fire Rescue and Memorial Hall Library, and numerous members of the Andover Historical Society. With trees inspired by such personal items as feather boas, shaving kits, and even curling irons from the Society’s historical…

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Bewitched in Andover

Find out whether ghosts lurk in the Amos Blanchard House and more among new spooky programs at the Andover Historical Society.

This was submitted by the Andover Historical Society. Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble! In 1692, Andover was involved in one of American history’s most infamous events, the Salem witch trials. In fact, Andover has the distinction of having the most confessed witches and the highest number of children arrested during the trials. Between July 15 and Sept. 17, 1692, 48 of the 158 people accused of witchcraft in Essex County were from Andover, a town with a population of only 600. Marking Andover’s involvement in the witch trials, the Andover Historical Society has scheduled a series of bewitching events sure to enchant you throughout October. Have you ever wondered what ghosts may lurk in Andover? On a hot …

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Then and Now

IMAGE GALLERY: A Summer of Then and Now

Check out all of the 'Then and Now' features over the summer.

Historical photos in Andover Patch's "Then and Now" features over the summer ranged from roadsides to intersections to buildings to fields. Check out all of the historic photos matched with their current versions.  All historic photos are provided by the Andover Historical Society and the Library of Congress digital collections. 

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Then and Now

Now - Haverhill Street Crossing the Shawsheen

The historic photo posted yesterday depicted Haverhill Street in the area where it crosses the Shawsheen River.

The historic photo posted yesterday depicted Haverhill Street in the area where it crosses the Shawsheen River in 1960 (and also near the intersection of North Main Street). It was a part of a series of photos during the development of Shawsheen Plaza.  Thanks to all that participated in this week's feature and make sure to check it out next Saturday. This historic photo was provided by the Andover Historical Society.

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Explore the Spinning Wheel

The Andover Historical Society is bringing in an expert on the spinning wheel in September.

This press release was provided by the Andover Historical Society. Come learn about the treasures inside the Andover Historical Society.  Join Florence Feldman-Wood, editor and publisher of The Spinning Wheel Sleuth, Thursday Sept. 8, 6:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m. for Treasures in the Attic: Historic Spinning Wheel Collection. During this informative program, Florence, a spinner and weaver for more than 30 years, will discuss the antique spinning wheel collection and textile processing objects preserved at the Andover Historical Society. Florence Feldman-Wood researches various aspects of old spinning wheels, such as structure and history for her quarterly newsletter.  She had the unique opportunity to study, in depth, the spinning wheels at the …