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"Groton Industires" Exhibut and Open House at the Groton History Center
“GROTON INDUSTRIES” EXHIBIT FEATURED AT THE GHC’S MARCH 18 OPEN HOUSE
Like many New England towns, from the late eighteenth into the early twentieth century, Groton was a bustling self-sufficient community. West Groton, in particular, became a lively center of industries, powered by the Squannacook River, whose influence, trade, and presence extended well beyond the town’s borders.
The Groton History Center’s Open House on March 18 coincides with the launch of “Groton Industries,” an exhibition featuring rare artifacts, photographs, and documents from a few of the town’s businesses and flourishing mills. These include the Groton Leatherboard Company, the Hollingsworth and Vose Papermill, and the A. H. Thompson and Sons Sawmill, makers of wooden reels and boxes. Each in its innovative way made a brilliant contribution to manufacturing in this young country.
The exhibition includes several prominent local businesses including Boynton’s Baking Company in its flourishing two downtown locations (the bakery on Court and Main streets, the cracker-making enterprise on Elm Street), owned and operated from 1874 to 1910 by succeeding generations of the Boynton family; Britt’s Airfield in West Groton, active between 1941 to 1952; the soapstone quarry, on what is now the Shepley Hill Conservation Land, and the numerous small ice houses, remaining relics of Groton’s extensive ice industry.
The show offers insights into the enduring hops industry common to this area where hops still grow wild here and there along the backroads.
This exciting exhibit, on display through August, draws on the Groton History Center’s extensive archives augmented by artifacts and documents on loan from the collection of Earl J. Carter, longtime Groton resident, and a former curator at the Groton History Center.
Come see the show at GHC’s first spring Open House on Saturday, March 18, from 11 am to 2 pm. in the beautifully restored Governor George S. Boutwell House, 172 Main Street. This event is free and open to the public (donations welcome). For more information or to schedule a visit outside the GHC’s Open Houses (others upcoming on the Saturdays of April 15 and May 20), contact [email protected] or call 978-448-0092.
Event Links
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/1604106-0
