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Norwell Historical Society
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF NORWELL

For thousands of years, the land that encompasses what is today Norwell was inhabited by indigenous people. These natives grew crops, foraged, hunted, and fished in the Assinippi and North River areas. 

READ MORE...

WATCH VIDEOS (produced by Norwell Spotlight TV)

Tour the Jacobs Farmhouse

Cuffee, Flora, & the Grandison family of Mt. Blue

Cuffee, Flora, & the Grandison family of Mt. Blue

Take a virtual tour of the Society's Museum.

Cuffee, Flora, & the Grandison family of Mt. Blue

Cuffee, Flora, & the Grandison family of Mt. Blue

Cuffee, Flora, & the Grandison family of Mt. Blue

Learn more about this eminent African-American family from the Mount Blue area.

The William Briggs House

Cuffee, Flora, & the Grandison family of Mt. Blue

Cheever Tavern--2021 Norwell Historical Commission Preservation Award winner

Home to shipbuilders in the Church Hill/Stetson area, take a tour of this historic home.

Cheever Tavern--2021 Norwell Historical Commission Preservation Award winner

127 Main Street--2021 Norwell Historical Commission Preservation Award winner

Cheever Tavern--2021 Norwell Historical Commission Preservation Award winner

The Norwell Historical Commission worked with the Society to create this video highlighting the history and significance of 690 Main Street--today's Cheever Tavern.

127 Main Street--2021 Norwell Historical Commission Preservation Award winner

127 Main Street--2021 Norwell Historical Commission Preservation Award winner

127 Main Street--2021 Norwell Historical Commission Preservation Award winner

The Norwell Historical Commission worked with the Society to create this video highlighting the history and significance of the barn and the house at 127 Main Street--the Eunice Clapp Farm.

840 Main Street--2021 Norwell Historical Commission Preservation Award winner

127 Main Street--2021 Norwell Historical Commission Preservation Award winner

127 Main Street--2021 Norwell Historical Commission Preservation Award winner

The Norwell Historical Commission worked with the Society to create this video highlighting the history and significance of the house at 840 Main Street--the Capt. Thomas Southworth house.

DISCOVER MORE WITH THESE LINKS

Norwell Historical Society 2021 Scavenger Hunt

Norwell Historical Society 2021 Scavenger Hunt

Norwell Historical Society 2021 Scavenger Hunt

Get out of the house, drive around Norwell, and learn some history! Click HERE to begin.

Norwell Town Reports

Norwell Historical Society 2021 Scavenger Hunt

Norwell Historical Society 2021 Scavenger Hunt

The State Library of Massachusetts has most of Norwell's (1888+), South Scituate's (1849-1887), and Scituate's (1848 and before) Annual Reports. Here is the LINK that brings you there.

NHS yearbooks

Norwell Historical Society 2021 Scavenger Hunt

Old maps of Norwell

The Norwell Public Library has posted many old yearbooks to the Digital Commonwealth.  Here is the LINK to the site.


Old maps of Norwell

Researching your home

Old maps of Norwell

The 1857 Walling Map of Plymouth County shows South Scituate in detail--zoom in closely at this LINK. The 1879 map of South Scituate can be viewed at this LINK. The 1903 Norwell map is viewable at this LINK.

Researching your home

Researching your home

Researching your home

If you would like to research the history of your Norwell home--in order to get a historic plaque or just for fun--the Historical Society has a Guide for Researching Your Historic Home at this LINK.   

Search for old homes

Researching your home

Researching your home

The Massachusetts Historical Commission maintains a database of historic homes in Norwell and throughout the Commonwealth called MACRIS. To view the listing, use this LINK.

Research deeds

Connect with the Stetson Kindred of America

Connect with the Stetson Kindred of America

The Plymouth County Registry of Deeds has a database of documents from 1686 until today. Remember: if you are searching for a deed in Norwell prior to 1888, you must search in the town of Scituate.

Connect with the Stetson Kindred of America

Connect with the Stetson Kindred of America

Connect with the Stetson Kindred of America

The Stetson Kindred of America (founded in 1905) is a non-profit organization made up of descendants of Cornet Robert and Honour Stetson. To view their brochure, use this LINK. 

READ NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORIES

The Norwell Historical Society sponsors regular Neighborhood History Parties where neighbors are invited to a historic home to learn about the area in which they live. The following are the write-ups on those neighborhoods where we have had events. Would you like to have a Neighborhood History Party in your area? Please contact the Society HERE and let us know!

Norwell Village History Talk (pdf)Download
Upper Main Street Area Talk (pdf)Download
Church Hill Talk--Stetson (pdf)Download
Church Hill Talk-Tiffany Road (pdf)Download
Jacobs/Assinippi Area Talk (pdf)Download
Ridge Hill History Talk (pdf)Download
Norwell Homes Area History Talk (pdf)Download

VIEW SOCIETY BROCHURES

The Norwell Historical Society produces various brochures and pamphlets (sometimes in conjunction with other organizations such as the NSRWA or the Norwell Cemetery Committee.)  

NHS Brochure--2017 (pdf)Download
Driving Tour of Houses Associated with North River Shipyards Brochure (pdf)Download
Driving Tour of Civil War Soldiers Brochure (pdf)Download
North River Shipyards Brochure (pdf)Download
Historic Cemeteries Brochure (pdf)Download

READ INTERESTING ARTICLES

A few interesting articles from our Archives have been transcribed and linked here. 

Historic info on the Elnathan Cushing House (pdf)Download
Article on Lucy Stewart (pdf)Download
Article on Rev. Samuel May (pdf)Download
Valley Swamp Recollections (pdf)Download
Turner Recollections of Jacobs Farm (pdf)Download
Jacobs Family History (pdf)Download
Rock-Ribbed Republicans (pdf)Download
May Day Basket Instructions (pdf)Download

Read Norwell Historical Society Newsletter (2023+)

Winter 2023 newsletter (pdf)Download

Read Norwell Historical Society Newsletters (2020-2022)

December 2022 newsletter (pdf)Download
Fall 2022 newsletter (pdf)Download
Summer 2022 newsletter (pdf)Download
Spring 2022 newsletter (pdf)Download
Winter 2022 newsletter (pdf)Download
December 2021 newsletter (pdf)Download
Fall 2021 newsletter (pdf)Download
Summer 2021 newsletter (pdf)Download
Spring 2021 newsletter (pdf)Download
Winter 2021 newsletter (pdf)Download
December 2020 newsletter (pdf)Download
Fall 2020 newsletter (pdf)Download
Summer 2020 newsletter (pdf)Download
Spring 2020 newsletter (pdf)Download
Winter 2020 newsletter (pdf)Download

Read Norwell Historical Society Newsletters (2017-2019)

The Society prints regular newsletters for its members. If you would like to receive a printed copy
of our newsletter, become a member HERE. Below are links to past issues.

December 2019 newsletter (pdf)Download
October 2019 newsletter (pdf)Download
Summer 2019 newsletter (pdf)Download
Spring 2019 newsletter (pdf)Download
February 2019 newsletter (pdf)Download
December 2018 newsletter (pdf)Download
Fall 2018 newsletter (pdf)Download
Summer 2018 newsletter (pdf)Download
Spring 2018 newsletter (pdf)Download
February 2018 newsletter (pdf)Download
December 2017 newsletter (pdf)Download
October 2017 newsletter (pdf)Download
Fall 2017 newsletter (pdf)Download
Spring 2017 newsletter (pdf)Download
Winter 2017 newsletter (pdf)Download

Read Norwell Historical Society Newsletters (2014-2016)

December 2016 newsletter (pdf)Download
Fall 2016 newsletter (pdf)Download
Summer 2016 newsletter (pdf)Download
Spring 2016 newsletter (pdf)Download
Winter 2016 newsletter (pdf)Download
December 2015 newsletter (pdf)Download
Fall 2015 newsletter (pdf)Download
Summer 2015 newsletter (pdf)Download
Spring 2015 newsletter (pdf)Download
February 2015 newsletter (pdf)Download
December 2014 newsletter (pdf)Download
October 2014 newsletter (pdf)Download
June 2014 newsletter (pdf)Download
April 2014 newsletter (pdf)Download
February 2014 newsletter (pdf)Download

Read Norwell Historical Society Newsletters (2012-2013)

December 2013 newsletter (pdf)Download
October 2013 newsletter (pdf)Download
June 2013 newsletter (pdf)Download
April 2013 newsletter (pdf)Download
February 2013 newsletter (pdf)Download
December 2012 newsletter (pdf)Download
October 2012 newsletter (pdf)Download
Summer 2012 newsletter (pdf)Download
May 2012 newsletter (pdf)Download
March 2012 newsletter (pdf)Download

Read Norwell Historical Society Newsletters (2010-2011)

December 2011 newsletter (pdf)Download
October 2011 newsletter (pdf)Download
September 2011 newsletter (pdf)Download
June 2011 newsletter (pdf)Download
May 2011 newsletter (pdf)Download
March 2011 newsletter (pdf)Download
December 2010 newsletter (pdf)Download
October 2010 newsletter (pdf)Download
September 2010 newsletter (pdf)Download
June 2010 newsletter (pdf)Download
March 2010 newsletter (pdf)Download
January 2010 newsletter (pdf)Download

Read Norwell Historical Society Newsletters (2006-2009)

December 2009 newsletter (pdf)Download
October 2009 newsletter (pdf)Download
June 2009 newsletter (pdf)Download
April 2009 newsletter (pdf)Download
February 2009 newsletter (pdf)Download
December 2008 newsletter (pdf)Download
October 2008 newsletter (pdf)Download
June 2008 newsletter (pdf)Download
February 2008 newsletter (pdf)Download
December 2007 newsletter (pdf)Download
October 2007 newlsetter (pdf)Download
June 2007 newsletter (pdf)Download
April 2007 newsletter (pdf)Download
February 2007 newsletter (pdf)Download
November 2006 newsletter (pdf)Download

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