The 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
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