ROWLEY — The Historical Society of Rowley is inviting all residents to come out and take part in its 90th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the society's Main Street headquarters.
There will be food, merriment and representatives from neighboring towns once incorporated within Rowley's borders, and the historic 1677 Platt/Bradstreet house, barn and shoemaker's shop will be open to the public.
Tours will be offered from 3:30 to 5 p.m. to familiarize people with the origins of the 200-member society and to introduce them to a priceless collection of historic artifacts acquired by the society from the time of their organization in 1918. According to local historian and society member Robert Merry, the story of this first group of historic preservationists is a compelling one, as they saved one very old home from the wrecking ball and in turn provided a museumlike setting in which a local family's treasured heirlooms could be viewed and enjoyed by future generations.
Since the United States-owned National Trust for Historic Preservation wasn't formed until 1949, one has to imagine the residents of 1918 Rowley were uniquely aware of their rich heritage and ahead of the curve for their time in attempting to save the Platt/Bradstreet home from sale and eventual demolition.
Robert Merry, past chairman of the Historical Society, said when the house was offered for sale, most believed the house would be torn down and the property sold strictly for its land value, so a small group of citizens mobilized to form the society, basing their organization on one recently formed in neighboring Ipswich. The organizer of Ipswich's society met with the Rowley group and informed them how they should proceed in order to accomplish their goals.
"Within 30 days after that meeting, they'd actually formed the Historical Society and received through subscriptions enough money to buy the house," said Merry. "So that's what they did. They bought the house."
After purchasing the home the society launched a fundraising effort known as Rowley Prowley and offered tea and baked goods for sale at the home of a resident who granted them access while she "summered" in New York. It was a communitywide effort and resulted in the society raising enough money to restore the house to its former state.
"Once they got the historical house to a point where they could move into it, then they moved the tea house operation to the historical house," said Merry.
According to Merry, members sought to restore half the house in 17th-century style, and the other half they dedicated to the style of the 18th century.
"You can tell that the house had additions put on and upgrades done," said Merry. "When they restored it, they restored it back to those two periods."
Having a new home resulted in many local families entrusting their photographs, furnishings and artifacts to the society, a process that has continued to present day. In the 1920s the family of Albert Hicken donated Mr. Hicken's shoemaker shop and all his tools and furnishings to the society, and great efforts were made to move the Hicken's building to the society's Main Street property where it sits today. Additional buildings located on-site are the ladder house and old Payson shoemaker shop.
In 1999 the society completed work on the property's new barn, which was a rebuild of the old barn (1776) that once stood at the same location, but couldn't be completely salvaged due to its poor condition. Today the barn houses old farming tools and equipment used throughout the past 300 years in the town of Rowley.
The upcoming 90th celebration takes place on the evening of the society's semi-annual membership meeting, whereby all of its 200-plus members are invited to the property to be apprised of the state of the society. The house is also open for several open house weekends throughout the year and during the Christmas season when the house is decorated as it might have been back in the day.
"Of course in the old days (residents) were Puritans who didn't celebrate Christmas," said Merry. "We kind of stretch it a little bit."
Members and non-members alike are reminded to bring a main dish or accompaniment if they plan to stay for the 5 p.m. potluck dinner following the tours. The society will provide beverages and dessert, and the annual meeting will take place at 7 p.m.
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