History Harvard, Massachusetts

1 history

1.1 shakers
1.2 fruitlands
1.3 fiske warren tahanto enclave
1.4 st. benedict center
1.5 st. benedict abbey

history

europeans first settled in later became harvard in 17th century, along road connecting lancaster groton formally laid out in 1658. there few inhabitants until after king philip s war, in groton , lancaster attacked , substantially destroyed. on next 50 years population grew until had reached point adequate support church. new town including parts of lancaster, groton, , stow incorporated in 1732, subject proviso inhabitants settle learned , orthodox minister among them within space of 2 years , erect house publick worship of god. uncertain how town obtained name, though willard family, among first settlers , largest proprietors in new town, had several connections harvard college.

in 1734, town considered have 5 districts or villages. these oak hill, bare hill, still river, old mill , shabikin, present day devens.

one notable enterprise based in harvard benjamin ball pencil company produced of first writing instruments made in united states. operated in old mill district 1830 1860. despite , other limited manufacturing, town economy based on agriculture until middle of 20th century. past prominently visible in number of apple orchards. residential bedroom community workers @ companies in boston , suburbs. harvard has had relatively quiet history, has attracted several non-traditional communities have given history flavor.

harvard shaker village c.1905



fruitlands museum, 2008


the shakers

one part of town site of harvard shaker village, utopian religious community established. during period of religious dissent, number of harvard residents abandoned protestant church in harvard. built in 1769 house later became known square house. shaker founder mother ann lee met group in 1781 , group joined united society of believers in christ’s second appearing, or shakers.

it first shaker settlement in massachusetts , second settlement in united states. harvard shaker village historic district located in vicinity of shaker road, south shaker road, , maple lane. @ largest, shakers owned 2,000 acres of land in harvard. 1890, harvard community had dwindled less 40, peak of 200 in 1850s. in 1917 harvard shaker village closed , sold. 1 shaker building open public, @ fruitlands museum; remaining surviving buildings in private ownership.

nationally, 19 shaker communities had been established in 1700s , 1800s, in northeastern united states. community locations ranged maine kentucky , indiana. shakers renowned plain architecture , furniture, , reached national peak membership in 1840s , 1850s. shaker community s practice of celibacy meant maintain population, necessary have new outsiders join. improving employment opportunities provided industrial revolution on middle decades of 1800s diminish attractions of joining shaker community. today, 1 church society remains open, run last shakers @ sabbathday lake shaker village in new gloucester, maine.

fruitlands

amos bronson alcott relocated family, including ten-year-old daughter, louisa may alcott, harvard in june 1843. , charles lane attempted establish utopian transcendentalist socialist farm called fruitlands on slopes of prospect hill in harvard. experimental community lasted 7 months, closing in january 1844. fruitlands, called because inhabitants hoped live off fruits of land, purchasing nothing outside world, saw visits likes of henry david thoreau , ralph waldo emerson. louisa may alcott used experience @ fruitlands inspiration novel little women.

clara endicott sears, summer estate situated on prospect hill, restored fruitlands , opened museum in 1914. on grounds of fruitlands museum there shaker house, relocated there harvard s shaker village sears in 1920. first shaker museum ever established in united states. in addition, sears opened gallery on property dedicated native american history. sears became interested in native americans after nipmuck arrowheads found around property on prospect hill, nipmuck indians had called makamacheckamucks.

originally, sears fruitlands property spanned 458 acres (1.85 km), in 1939, 248 acres (1.00 km) seized eminent domain expansion of fort devens. of 2010, land part of oxbow national wildlife refuge.

fiske warren tahanto enclave

fiske warren, follower of henry george, attempted establish single tax zone in harvard in 1918. enclave bought land communally , attempted manage land according george s principles. enclave failed after warren died in 1938. house added national register of historic places in 1996.

st. benedict center

father leonard feeney jesuit priest held literal interpretation of doctrine ecclesiam nulla salus . st benedict center @ harvard college in cambridge made numerous converts in 1940s, among them avery cardinal dulles, son of john foster dulles, secretary of state in eisenhower administration. feeney excommunicated in 1953. cardinal medeiros of boston visited feeney on deathbed , apologized heavy-handed way had been treated ecclesiastical authorities 30 years before. branch of saint benedict center located in still river, on west side of harvard.

st. benedict abbey

in still river there abbey of benedictine monks branched st. benedict center. there 6 brothers , 7 priests. focus on reverently saying both novus ordo , tridentine mass , chanting divine office in latin. current abbot right reverend xavier connelly, osb, elected june 16, 2010.