Medallion for the Lancaster Massacre
One of the unexpected treasures we discovered during our visit to the Thayer Memorial Library was the Historical Museum located on the upper floor. Established in 1863, even before the construction of Memorial Hall, the museum preserves an eclectic collection of artifacts that tell the story of Lancaster and its people. From Civil War memorabilia and Native American tools to maps, photographs, clothing, and household objects, the museum provides a fascinating glimpse into nearly four centuries of local history.
Among the objects on display was a small keepsake fashioned from what was identified as “Rowlandson Pine.” Embedded in the wood is a medallion commemorating the Lancaster Massacre of February 10, 1676, when Native warriors attacked the frontier settlement during King Philip’s War. The attack resulted in the destruction of much of Lancaster and the capture of Mary Rowlandson, whose subsequent captivity narrative, The Sovereignty and Goodness of God, became one of the earliest and most influential books published in colonial America.
The Historical Museum at the Thayer Memorial Library serves as a remarkable repository of those memories, ensuring that the people and events that shaped Lancaster continue to be remembered by future generations.
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The Birthplace of Luther Burbank
Displayed in the Lancaster Historical Museum is a photograph of the Burbank family home as it appeared in 1928. Although the house was demolished in 1936, its story did not end there. Recognizing its historical significance, Henry Ford purchased timbers and other materials from the structure and reconstructed the home in 1937 at Greenfield Village […]
Nathaniel Thayer Estate
Driving through South Lancaster, I was surprised to come upon one of the grandest estates in central Massachusetts: the Nathaniel Thayer Estate, later known as Thayer Hall. Set amid expansive lawns and towering trees, the stately yellow mansion immediately conveyed the elegance and prosperity of nineteenth-century New England. Although many visitors associate South Lancaster with […]
Colonel Washburn’s Civil War Uniform
Among the many treasures preserved in the Historical Museum at the Thayer Memorial Library, one artifact particularly caught my attention, a remarkably well-preserved Civil War uniform belonging to Colonel Francis Washburn. More than 160 years after the war, the dark blue coat, sword belt, and boots provide a tangible connection to one of Lancaster’s most […]
