Museum
Local History –
as the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution approaches…
Doctor Estes Howe’s Revolutionary War Notebooks
“Disease killed more than twice the number of American troops that died in combat during the Revolution. Historian Joseph Ellis suggests that Washington’s decision to have his troops inoculated against smallpox was one of his most important decisions. Dr. Estes Howe, one of Belchertown’s first physicians, was a surgeon in Rufus Putnam’s regiment during the first years of the conflict and these notebooks provide an interesting look into 18th-century field medicine. Book I records the treatments he dispensed, with the names of the soldiers who were sick or wounded. It includes a list of the troops he inoculated against smallpox. Both notebooks contain important and detailed notes about units and commanders, troop movements, and the day to day life of a soldier.” Read the rest of the story at https://revolutionhappenedhere.org/items/show/10
The Belchertown Historical Association has contributed to “Revolution Happened Here: Our Towns in the American Revolution,” a new project by the Pioneer Valley History Network that brings together our region’s historical societies and museums to create an online exhibit that tells the story of the American Revolution as it unfolded in western Massachusetts. Visitors to the “Revolution Happened Here” website can explore how the American Revolution, while a globally transformative event, was fundamentally a grassroots movement – intrinsically local and intensely personal.
The project was funded through grants from Mass Humanities and Revolution250.
While the museum remains closed for the near term, we wlecome interested individuals to contact us for ways they might be able to connect.
The Museum Committee is looking for help with House Tours. We are always looking for interested individuals who would be available on Saturday from 2—5pm through October. If we have enough volunteers, it will not be a chore. It really is fun and interesting. Information on the history of the house, its inhabitants and contents will be provided to you. Please call Amy Moran at 413-323-0016 and let her know which Saturday you would be available. Thank you!! It takes a community to manage our historic Stone House Museum!
There are numerous opportunities to help! Even a couple of hours can be a great contribution to the success of our organization and mission. We need people to make calls, make signs, help with planning/setup, collect admission fees, handout fliers, etc. Many of these activities can be done from your home or while you perform your own day-to-day activities. And, many of these activities do not require you to be involved at the actual day of the event. We have many options for your children to be involved as well. No prior experience or knowledge is necessary.