Historic Boxford is a collaborative partnership between Boxford’s two unique historical organizations: The Boxford Historical Society and the Boxford Historic Document Center. You may not know that these two non-profits are actually separate organizations!

Boxford Historical Society

The Boxford Historical Society was founded in October 1937. In 1942, Miss Gertrude French bequeathed her home, the historic 1760 Holyoke-French house, to the Boxford Historical Society to serve as its headquarters. Today, the Boxford Historical Society maintains the Holyoke-French house and preserves a large collection of historic objects from Boxford families. The Historical Society hosts many fun community events, including the Apple Festival and the Grand Illumination. The Apple Festival is an artisan craft fair that takes place on the third Saturday in September. It features live music, food and drink vendors, and tours of the Holyoke-French house. The Grand Illumination is an annual winter celebration that takes place on the third Sunday of December. This small-town event captures the festivity of the season, as carolers make their way down Elm Street and sing to candles being lit in each home. The finale is the lighting of the Holyoke-French house, followed by refreshments. Join us to make memories and to meet old and new friends as our community comes together!

Boxford Historic Document Center

The Boxford Historic Document Center first opened its doors on July 4, 1976 as part of Boxford’s efforts to celebrate history during the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution. It is located at 173A Washington Street in a small brick building which served as the West Boxford library from 1930-1973. The Document Center is a research archive with a climate-controlled storage area that houses Boxford’s historic documents, books, and photographs. The Document Center offers research services, educational programming, such as lectures, walking tours, and printed publications about Boxford history. In addition to the physical preservation of papers and photographs, our goal is to share Boxford history using photos and other interesting finds from our collection, and to provide answers to all questions about Boxford, past and present. Check out our social media links to view a wealth of Boxford town history! Research visits are free and the archive is open to the public on Wednesdays from 9:00-4:00 and on the first two Saturdays of each month from 10:00-3:00.

Why did we form Historic Boxford?

Historically, East Boxford and West Boxford were considered to be very separate communities, and residents often identified strongly with one side of town or the other. The Historical Society is located at the Holyoke-French House in downtown East Boxford, while the Document Center is in the small brick building next to Second Church in the heart of West Boxford. Although both organizations were both founded to serve the entire town, each was largely patronized by the residents who lived nearby. Today, all of Boxford’s school children attend the same schools, and people travel more for work and recreation, so the town feels like a smaller place than it once did. The Boards of both organizations feel that after nearly 50 years of separate identities, it is time for us to work together to provide the town with historical resources that can be easily accessed in one place.

Neither the Boxford Historical Society or the Boxford Historic Document Center is funded by the town of Boxford. Both are entirely supported by private fundraising and donations. To donate, please click below. Thank you for your support!