• Welcome History Enthusiasts!
  • Events Calendar
    • Get Event Notices by Email
    • Past Events — 2015
    • Past Events 2014
    • Past Events 2013
    • Past Events 2012
    • Past Events 2011
    • Past Events 2010
  • Sites
    • Agawam Historical & Firehouse Museum
    • AMHERST HISTORY MUSEUM
    • ASHFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
    • ASSOCIATION FOR GRAVESTONE STUDIES
    • BUCKLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
    • CONNECTICUT VALLEY HISTORICAL MUSEUM, Springfield
    • CONWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
    • CUMMINGTON HISTORICAL COMMISSION
    • KINGMAN TAVERN MUSEUM
    • FORBES LIBRARY, NORTHAMPTON
    • GOSHEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
    • HADLEY FARM MUSEUM
    • HATFIELD FARM MUSEUM
    • HATFIELD HISTORICAL MUSEUM
    • HISTORIC DEERFIELD
    • HISTORIC NORTHAMPTON
    • JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN MASS., South Deerfield
    • JONES LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTION, Amherst
    • KEEP HOMESTEAD MUSEUM
    • LEVERETT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
  • Annual Themes
    • 2014: Made in the Valley
    • 2013: The Connecticut River & Its Tributaries
    • 2012 Theme: Disasters in the Valley
    • 2011 Theme: Remarkable Women
    • 2010 Theme: Folk Art
    • 2009 Theme: Vacationing in the Valley
  • Shop
    • Republican Heritage Book Series
    • GOLD HEAD CANE PIN ORDER FORM
  • Cool Things Blog
  • Gatherings & Workshops
  • Special Projects
    • Preview of “East Meets Western Mass.”
    • Chinese Educational Mission
    • California Gold Rush Connections
    • Passport to Local History
  • Finding Aids Project
  • Resources
  • About / Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Get Involved
  • Future of Our Past

Pioneer Valley History Network

Celebrating Local History in Western Massachusetts

SOUTHWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

SouthwickThe Southwick Historical Society, Inc. was created in 1971 by a group of interested citizens.  Since that time we have purchased two acres of land at 86 and 88 College Highway which has become the Society’s home, housing both the Joseph Moore House and the Charles J. Gillett Cigar Factory.  The Moore House was built in 1751 by Joseph Moore who later served and died in the American Revolution. This home, the last known house in the Massachusetts – Connecticut state line “jog,” was located in four towns, three counties, two colonies and two states.

The newly preserved Charles Gillett Cigar Factory was built in 1872 and is the only remaining building of its type in the Connecticut River Valley which has been known for decades for the quality of its tobacco. Charles J. Gillett stored tobacco and manufactured cigars from this factory.  The Gillett cigars were sold under various names and shipped around the country.  Stop by and see artifacts which represent both the agricultural and industrial history of Southwick including a wagon built over 100 years ago by Henry R. Barnes in his shop located across the road from, and south of, what is now the Southwick Town Hall, (formerly the Consolidated School built in 1928). See equipment used in the harvesting of ice from the spring-fed Congamond Lakes, tobacco equipment from the many fields scattered around the town and other interesting artifacts.

Each year our youth are encouraged to become more aware of the unique features of Southwick and its history through a Society-sponsored annual field trip around town. We also provide information and research relative to other aspects of Southwick’s story.

Both sites are open 2 – 4 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month, June through September.

Southwick Historical Society, Inc.
86-88 College Highway
Southwick, MA

www.southwickhistoricalsociety.org

Return to Locations to learn about other Pioneer Valley History Network organizations.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

  • DONATE to PVHN

    Donate Button

    Please note: your donation is to the Pioneer Valley History Network, not a member organization.

  • Cool Things Blog

    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • July 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2017
    • September 2014
    • December 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • November 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×
    %d bloggers like this: