Write History Class
Learn proper research and documentation technique to:
define a research question,
create an argument narrative,
learn about primary and secondary sources,
learn to verify sources to support a historical claim.
Bringing Bluebirds Back: A Community Conservation Project
The Ashburnham Historical Society is proud to support community projects that connect our youth with history, nature, and conservation. In collaboration with Eagle Scout Kai, a resident of Ashburnham, and a dedicated Cushing Academy student, we are excited to install six bluebird houses on Cushing Academy’s property behind the Ashburnham Police Department. This location a designated bird sanctuary, provides the perfect habitat for these vibrant native birds, whose populations have faces challenges due to habitat loss. By fostering this project, we not only help restore an essential species to our local environment but also promote youth involvement in meaningful, hands-on conservation efforts. This partnership between the Historical Society, our local Scouts, and Cushing Academy exemplifies the power of community collaboration, ensuring that Ashburnham remains a place where history, education, and nature thrive together.
Research Projects
Collection Archiving
Selections of the 1791 Meeting House Museum collection are currently being cataloged in an excel digital data base and digitized for sharing online with interested communities and the broader public.
Visit our Flickr page for historic pictures of Ashburnham.
WHOA! Women’s History Of Ashburnham
is an exciting research project led by the Ashburnham Historical Society, uncovering the bold, brilliant, and trailblazing women who helped shape our town. From entrepreneurs to activists, teachers to rebels, their stories have long been waiting to be told-and this summer, we’ll begin to bring one of them them to life! With the help of community researchers, we’re diving into gathering local stories, and piecing together a fascinating exhibit at the Meeting House Museum. Stay tuned for a summer celebration of Ashburnham’s spirited women!
Unearthing the location of “The Children of the Woods Tavern” Project
Local student works with the Historical Society
Ashburnham’s Children of the Woods Tavern
The developer and proprietor of the Children of the Woods Tavern was Nathan Melven, born June 1729 in Concord, Massachusetts. He married Anna Foster in 1752 and went on to have at least 3 sons and 6 daughters with her.
In 1760, in what was then called Dorchester Canada, Nathan Melven acquired a piece of land from Moses Foster. Dorchester became the town of Ashburnham in 1765. In 1767, Nathan acquired his tavern license, and within seven years of acquiring the property, he built the tavern and got it into operation. This was the 3rd licensed tavern in this area and the first tavern licensed under the town name of Ashburnham. The tavern sat along Northfield Road, the first to run through Dorchester. The location of cellar holes indicates that within half a mile, 7 houses and a schoolhouse were located. In 1865, the tavern was destroyed, likely due to a fire. All other taverns in the area burned in 1911 from a great fire. After that, all that was left was a massive forest.
Behind the name Children of the Woods Tavern
An old story goes that a family was traveling west on Northfield Road in a stagecoach and stopped at the tavern for the night. The children ran off to play in the woods but never returned.
Today: The tavern foundation sits near where Stowell Road meets Old Pierce Road. A roughly 50-meter trail leads into the site, which in a recent project, was cleared out and made more accessible. The site is in great condition and shows a stone kitchen foundation, cellar hole, indoor well, and chimney foundation.
Our sincerest apologies for the error in the spelling of Nathan’s last name. Many thanks to the party of interest. We always welcome information that allows us to be historically accurate.