Articles from the Portal -

Articles from the Portal

The Medfield Historical Society publishes a monthly newsletter, The Portal, containing articles about our events, our collections, and people and places of the distant and not-so-distant past. Below are selected articles from past newsletters. Looking for a specific topic? Use the search function below to search by subject, author or date. Click to sign up for our free monthly newsletter, The Portal.

His Great Granddaughter Writes About E.V. Mitchell, Medfield’s Hatter

June 1, 2022 Edwin Vinald (E.V.) Mitchell (1850-1917) was the grandfather of my mother, Suzanne Mitchell Bryce, better known by everyone as “Sue.” No Mrs. anything, just “Sue.” In her youth, she was also known as “Sue the Swimmer” for her trophies; once she received a congratulatory note addressed simply to

Willliam Pitt Wentworth, Elusive Architect of the Former Medfield State Hospital

May 1, 2022 The National Register of Historic Places includes at least six structures designed by William Pitt Wentworth in the late 19th century, including, of course, what we know as Medfield State Hospital. Although there are thousands of photos of the hospital buildings, there appears to be no photo

Common Practice in 1839; Seems Quaint in 2022

May 1, 2022 Listed on the National Register of Historic Places* in 1976, First Parish Church on North Street is of course a familiar Medfield landmark. It is the third building erected on the site by colonists who settled on what was the ancestral land of the Wampanoags. The

Gone Fishing, Like You, Like Me

Apr 1, 2022 It might be hard for some people to imagine, with all the attention on social media, that going fishing in the waters of Medfield is still a fun adventure for the young and the young at heart. So, for a while, forget about the pandemic and let your

Medfield’s Extraordinary Women

Mar 1, 2022 March is National Women’s History Month—a time when we recognize the contributions and accomplishments of women through the ages. We thought it only fitting that we should recognize some of Medfield’s extraordinary women.Hannah Adams (1755-1831) is undoubtedly Medfield’s most famous woman. An early American historian and pioneer

Progress on Medfield’s Rail Trail

Mar 1, 2022 Rail trails were the subject at the Feb. 7 historical society Zoom presentation by noted expert Craig Della Penna, with about 30 people participating. Christian Donner, who has been active in Medfield’s rail trail development from the beginning, summed up Medfield’s rail trail project in this article.In the

The Largest Artifact in Our Collection — Lowell Mason’s Piano

Mar 1, 2022 Lowell Mason was Medfield’s most famous and accomplished native son, and it’s somehow fitting that his piano is the biggest artifact in the historical society’s collection.Lowell Mason (1792-1872) was born in Medfield. He is known as the father of public school music education in the United States, and

The Origins of Valentine’s Day

Feb 1, 2022 Every February 14, across the United States and in many places around the world, loved ones exchange candy, flowers and gifts, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where did our present-day traditions come from?The history of Valentine’s Day—and the

Celebrating and Remembering Some of the Fads from 1950s and 60s — Part II

Feb 1, 2022 Continuing from last month, here’s some nostalgia for some of the great fads from the 1950s and 60s. Clothes, hairstyles, toys, and television shows all have their fifteen minutes of fame.The faddish 1960s turned out to be very productive years for the clothing and fashion industry. At

Medfield’s Hat Factory in the 20th Century

Feb 1, 2022 Medfield was a center for hat making for over a century, until June 8, 1956. It reached a peak under the ownership of “Col.” Edwin V. Mitchell, who came on the scene about 1877 and retired in 1910. At one point Mitchell’s was the second-largest straw hat

Thanks and Rest in Peace Vine Lake Preservation Trust

January 6, 2022 In 1999 a newly prepared, 130-page Medfield Historic Preservation Plan cited Vine Lake Cemetery as a major but somewhat neglected historic asset in town.In 2002, David Temple, chair of the Medfield Historical Commission, successfully applied to the Massachusetts Historical Commission for a survey and planning grant to

From Hooves to Wheels: The Odyssey of a Family Business

January 6, 2022 Thanks to Claire Shaw for her recent snippet about our family’s long-standing livery service. The snippet prompted the Historical Society’s David Temple to contact me about writing a deeper dive into the story of Newell’s Livery.How many small-town taxi companies, do you suppose, have ever been featured

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