The Harwich Historical Society in the historic community of Harwich, Massachusetts was founded in 1953 to “preserve, collect and interpret Harwich history.” Not untypical of many small town historical societies, but this small museum has done a superb job of following its mission. Housed in a Greek Revival style school building constructed in 1844 by Sydney Brooks, first known as Pine Grove Seminary, it later became a public school run by the town. In 1988, the building was acquired by the Harwich Historical Society and it became the Brooks Academy Museum.

Brooks Academy Museum

Visiting the museum was a treat as they have packed an enormous amount of history into a rather compact set of spaces. The “main” exhibit is all about Cranberry culture as Harwich claims credit as the home of the commercial cranberry growing industry.  A diorama, and a collection of tools used in the growing and shipping of cranberries as well as photographs and documents tell this fascinating story of the little red bitter fruit that is a plant native to America grown in nearby “bogs.” The story of the people who came to harvest, or glean, the berries is told as well, these were local people as well as imported labor from the Cape Verdean Islands who became respected members of the community.

A separate exhibit tells the story of the Railroad which first came to this area of Massachusetts known as Cape Cod in the 1840’s. The railroad carried fish, agricultural goods, cranberries and people to Boston. The exhibit and large model railroad layout detail this history and follow the line from Orleans to Hyannis where the line then connected to Boston. The railroad was intimately intertwined with the cranberry industry which shipped tens of thousands of 100 pound “cranberry barrels” each year.  The exhibit connects the railroad with other industries that were spurned by the growth of cranberry cultivation.

Other exhibits cover maritime history-Harwich was home to many seafaring men; local businesses such as the cobbler, the blacksmith and the barrel maker; and the Cape League minor league baseball team Harwich Mariners, from which have sprung many major league players. Each of these stories (and more) is well documented with photographs, documents, art and artifacts.

Museum Director, Desiree E. Mobed keeps the doors open for the public but there is much more going on behind the scenes.  This summer several high school interns brought the museum catalog up to date using Past Perfect Museum software; the museum collaborated with the town library to digitize the pages of a local newspaper that was printed 1872 to 1949; a new HVAC system was installed; a weekly farmers market has opened on the grounds; and programs, tours and fund raising events continue on a regular schedule.

Outside the museum, visitors can admire the architecture of the Brooks Academy building, visit the Town Powder House which held powder for the militia during the Revolution and the War of 1812, and walk the small but picturesque historic district surrounding the Town center and the museum.

This is truly a small museum with a big heart. For more information about the museum visit them on the web at www.harwichhistoricalsociety.org

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