Overview
Medical and Dental Instrument Box of Dr. Levi Sawyer.
Some citizens put together a book on Bolton history that was published on the 200th birthday of the Town in 1938. Many of the people who collaborated on writing and researching the book, and other citizens interested in history, continued to get together after the publication. They met at the Historical room of the Whitney Memorial Library. A small collection of donated items relating to the history of the Town and its people accumulated. The group formally incorporated as the Bolton Historical Society in 1962. In 1988, Esther Whitcomb published her definitive history of the Town, “About Bolton”, which coincided with the Town's 250th birthday.
Mrs. Florence Sawyer, a charter member of the Society, deeded her home to the society in 1970. The Bolton Historical Society has been physically located in this building since that time. Charles Rich, a former owner of the house, purchased the Ballroom wing of the famous Holman Inn in 1874, and moved it east down the Great Road where it became the nucleus of a small two over two home for him and his family. The large barn and the blacksmith shop behind the house, as well as other wings were added by other owners over time. Florence and Perley Sawyer bought the house in 1931 and were the last private owners.
The Society holdings are many and varied, an example shown to the left of Dr. Oliver Everett's instrument box. The majority were acquired through the kindness of local donors and this continues to be the primary means of acquisition of new items. We have household items, tools, clothing, photographs, furniture, toys, personal memorabilia, and a wealth of other diverse objects. Over the years the sheer number of objects reached the size where it was impossible to know what was (and was not) present. A major cataloging project was launched in 2000, and is about 85% completed.
Mrs. Florence Sawyer, a charter member of the Society, deeded her home to the society in 1970. The Bolton Historical Society has been physically located in this building since that time. Charles Rich, a former owner of the house, purchased the Ballroom wing of the famous Holman Inn in 1874, and moved it east down the Great Road where it became the nucleus of a small two over two home for him and his family. The large barn and the blacksmith shop behind the house, as well as other wings were added by other owners over time. Florence and Perley Sawyer bought the house in 1931 and were the last private owners.
The Society holdings are many and varied, an example shown to the left of Dr. Oliver Everett's instrument box. The majority were acquired through the kindness of local donors and this continues to be the primary means of acquisition of new items. We have household items, tools, clothing, photographs, furniture, toys, personal memorabilia, and a wealth of other diverse objects. Over the years the sheer number of objects reached the size where it was impossible to know what was (and was not) present. A major cataloging project was launched in 2000, and is about 85% completed.
Florence Sawyer
Florence Sawyer celebrating her 83rd birthday
Florence Sawyer has been a critical person in the history of both the Bolton Historical Society and the town of Bolton. Mrs. Sawyer was a charter member of the Bolton Historical Society and in 1970 she gifted her house to the society to use as a historical museum. An interesting twist of this gift was that Mrs. Sawyer was still living in her house at that time! Mrs. Sawyer confined herself to three rooms of the house while the Bolton Historical Society worked to restore the rest of house to use as a Museum. When Mrs. Sawyer died in 1973 at the age of 89, the Bolton Historical Society assumed control of the entire house and dubbed it the "Sawyer House".
Mrs. Sawyer was a prominent and beloved figure in Bolton and was affectionately nicknamed "Bolton's First Lady" by her many friends and students. Mrs. Sawyer dedicated her life to the children of Bolton despite being unable to have children herself. She was a leader in the Local 4-H club for over twenty years where she taught classes on handicrafts, sewing, and dance. Her most popular class was a Friday night dance class at the town hall where she taught eager students Ballroom and Square dancing. In addition to her work with 4-H, Mrs. Sawyer was also involved with the Emerson School where she would assist the school nurse in times of need. In 1967, she donated 16 acres of land to the Town of Bolton to be used for the expansion of Emerson School grounds. In gratitude for this gift, when the town expanded Emerson School to a second building in 1996, they named the new building Florence Sawyer School in her honor.
Mrs. Sawyer was a prominent and beloved figure in Bolton and was affectionately nicknamed "Bolton's First Lady" by her many friends and students. Mrs. Sawyer dedicated her life to the children of Bolton despite being unable to have children herself. She was a leader in the Local 4-H club for over twenty years where she taught classes on handicrafts, sewing, and dance. Her most popular class was a Friday night dance class at the town hall where she taught eager students Ballroom and Square dancing. In addition to her work with 4-H, Mrs. Sawyer was also involved with the Emerson School where she would assist the school nurse in times of need. In 1967, she donated 16 acres of land to the Town of Bolton to be used for the expansion of Emerson School grounds. In gratitude for this gift, when the town expanded Emerson School to a second building in 1996, they named the new building Florence Sawyer School in her honor.