Old Home Week Events
August 3-10, 2025
The Society has many events scheduled for our Town’s annual Old Home Week: Souls of Sandwich Past, Foraging Walk, Collection Day, Excursion and Picnic at Chestnut Manor at the Isaac Adams Homestead, and Open House at the Lower Corner Schoolhouse.
Sunday, August 3
Open House – Lower Corner Schoolhouse
Where: Lower Corner Schoolhouse, 22 Schoolhouse Road
When: 11:00 AM – 2:oo PM
Experience a slice of history and see how education looked in days gone by. Our schoolhouse offers a charming and educational glimpse into early American school life. From chalkboards to wooden desks, you’ll see firsthand how students of all ages learned together under one roof. Refreshments. All are welcome!
“Meet the Souls of Sandwich Past”
Where: Baptist Meetinghouse parking lot, 12 Church Street
When: 4:00 PM
~ An interactive conversation at the Rural and Old Baptist cemeteries with figures from historical Sandwich. Meet at the parking lot. Program is rain or shine.
Tuesday, August 5
“Old Plants for Modern Humans” – Foraging Walk
Where: Chapman Sanctuary & Visny Woods, 740 Mt. Israel Rd.
When: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
* Rain date: Wednesday, August 6.
~ Come enjoy a leisurely walk through the Chapman Sanctuary and Visny Woods with Jenna Rozelle Darcy (jennarozelle.substack.com) to learn how you can easily identify and bring ancestral plants into your modern life for food, medicine, utility, and habitat. Humans have co-evolved with landscapes, but today are often disconnected from them. We are lucky to still have intact landscapes to engage with in New Hampshire. Let’s take a close look at the forest and meadows of this sanctuary, with its historic plants, and talk about how we can simultaneously tend to our human health, and that of our surroundings.
*Advance registration required / Fee: $10
CLICK: Google form to register.
Wednesday August 6
Open House at the Grange Hall
Where: 36 Maple Street (parking across the street in the Sandwich Fairgrounds parking area.)
When: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
~ Step inside a true symbol of grassroots tradition and neighborly spirit. Our Grange Hall has long served as a gathering place for farmers, families, and friends – where ideas were shared, dances held, and communities strengthened. Refreshments. All are welcome!
Elisha Marston House Museum, Barn & Gift Shop
Where: 4 Maple Street
When: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM,
House, barn and gift shop are open.
Summer Exhibit: “Conversations on Conservation”
Thursday August 7
Open House at the Quimby Transportation Museum
Where: 16 Maple Street
When: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
~ See where history comes alive through the power of transportation!
Elisha Marston House Museum, Barn & Gift Shop
Where: 4 Maple Street
When: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM,
House, barn and gift shop are open.
Summer Exhibit: “Conversations on Conservation”
Friday, August 8
Open House at the Quimby House & Museum:
Where: 27 Maple Street
When: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
~ The Alfred Quimby Fund trustees invite you to visit their evolving house, office space and museum, where the past meets the present as they work to transform this special place into a living museum to honor and celebrate Alfred Quimby, the Sandwich Fair and the Quimby School.
Open House at the Quimby Transportation Museum
Where: 16 Maple Street
When: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
~ See where history comes alive through the power of transportation!
Elisha Marston House Museum, Barn & Gift Shop
Where: 4 Maple Street
When: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM,
House, barn and gift shop are open.
Summer Exhibit: “Conversations on Conservation”
4th Annual Collectors’ Day!
Where: Grange Hall, 36 Maple Street
When: 12:00 – 3:00 PM
We want to see your collection(s)! Do you collect vintage hand tools, cut glass, photographs, antique books, dolls, baskets, coins, spoons, art, stamps, rocks, games, ephemera, cameras, bottle caps, lace, miniatures, autographs, jewelry … something unusual? You name it, it would be of interest to one and all!
Collections give insight into the history, life and culture of people over an extended period of time. It is part of human desire to keep memories alive, to be caretakers of these objects. Collections also nourish our own curiosity for life in these or bygone times. ~ What have you been drawn to collect? Has anyone else seen it or know about it? Would you like to share? We would love to see it and talk about it with you!
Interested? Advance registration is required. Please complete our application no later than August 6. More details in the APPLICATION.
Saturday August 9
Open House at the Quimby Transportation Museum
Where: 16 Maple Street
When: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
~ See where history comes alive through the power of transportation!
Elisha Marston House Museum, Barn & Gift Shop
Where: 4 Maple Street
When: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM,
House, barn and gift shop are open.
Summer Exhibit: “Conversations on Conservation”
Sunday August 10
Annual Excursion and Picnic
Where: Isaac Adams Homestead, 284 Wentworth Hill Road (follow signs)
When: 12:00 – 2:00 PM
Bring lunch and a chair; desserts and drinks provided. Program: History of the The Isaac Adam Homestead (f.k.a. Chestnut Manor) and Lower Corner.
SANDWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
SANDWICH, MA
The Sandwich Historical Society in Sandwich, Massachusetts was established in 1910. Its mission is to collect, preserve, and share the history of Sandwich and its people. The Society maintains a museum and research library, and offers educational programs, talks and walking tours to the public.
The Society’s museum is located in the historic Dexter Grist Mill, which was built in 1790. The museum contains artifacts, photographs, films, and documents from Sandwich’s history, including items from the town’s maritime and agricultural past. The Society also maintains an extensive research library, with over 8,000 volumes, maps, and newspaper articles.