Museum Overview
About the Museum
Our house was built in 1869 by John Smith, an officer of the Cambridge Valley Bank. In 1881, it was sold to William McKie, who, along with his wife, had a daughter, Katherine. Katherine inherited the house in 1901. The house was sold in 1929 to the McFarland family, who deeded it to the Cambridge Historical Society.
The house is a splendid example of period architecture, featuring a mansard roof, wrap-around verandah, and ornate exterior moldings. The front door contains leaded glass windows and opens into a spacious hallway, which features both a beautifully curved stairway leading to the upper floors and a period, framed, floor-to-ceiling mirror with a marble shelf.
Rooms in the museum include displays of 19th Century Cambridge-made Barton Furniture, Revolutionary and Civil War memorabilia, fire fighting exhibits, as well as early china, pewter, glassware and antique kitchen utensils. In period examples of 19th Century textiles: quilts, homespun coverlets and bedding, period clothing and accessories. Upstairs rooms include a beautiful period master bedroom, a children's room and a resource room.
The Rooms
Rooms in the museum include displays of 19th century Cambridge-made Barton Furniture, Revolutionary and Civil War memorabilia, fire fighting exhibits, as well as early china, pewter, glassware and antique kitchen utensils. In period examples of 19th century textiles: quilts, homespun coverlets and bedding, period clothing and accessories. Upstairs rooms include a beautiful period master bedroom, a children's room and a resource room.
The Board
Board of Trustees
President: Carolynn Duffy • Kendall Dwyer
Vice President: Eric Strebel •. Joanna Lederer Barnes
Treasurer: Caroline Goss • Dan Perlman
Secretary: Allison Wheeler • Paul Walker
Financial Secretary: Kathleen Lacasse
Committees
Archives and Museum Collections
• Archivist
Building & Grounds
Bylaws
Communications
Community Engagement
Education and Programming
Finance and Development
Nominating
Ex Officio (non voting)
• Lois Sheaff
Historian: Beverly Collamer
Our museum’s goals:
The Museum's goals are to preserve and protect the great Cambridge area's history, both in physical and written form. We engage with families offering items for short-term exhibit or permanent display to be used for educational insight and saved for posterity.
Historical reference deals with a range of genealogy from the past to current events and can be found in letters, written articles, stories remembered and objects.
The Historical Society is provisionally chartered by the State Department of Education and follows the guidelines set forth for Museums and Archives, thereby protecting items in our custody.
Every person, family or activity shapes the history of life. There are no insignificant events. We welcome all to become a part of the Historical Society's Story!
