The Harvard Historical Society will once again participate in Freedom’s Way “Hidden Treasures,” sharing its own “treasures” with the public on May 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the meetinghouse, 215 Still River Road.
The monthlong event is part of Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area’s ongoing celebration of the natural, cultural, and historical richness within the heritage area and features a unique variety of regional treasures for the public to explore. Historical societies and other organizations in the 45 communities that share a common sense of place are invited to present a free program, which is scheduled and supported by Freedom’s Way.
A Shaker desk is on short-term loan to the Harvard Historical Society from a private owner in Connecticut. (Courtesy photo)
The Historical Society is featuring a Shaker desk that is on short-term loan from a private owner in Connecticut. It affords the opportunity to showcase the Shakers of Harvard and Shirley villages—utopian visionaries and experimenters with new ideas about religion and relationships within their community and with the outside world. Shaker founder Mother Ann first came to Harvard in 1781, where a different religious group had already built what is known as the Square House. Over the next few years, she drew them to her beliefs and established the first Shaker community in Massachusetts and the second in the country. The Shirley community followed in 1793. Some elders of the Harvard village spent equal time in Shirley.
Since Shaker brothers and sisters were required to keep a journal, they may well have sat at a desk like this to make daily entries. While experts agree this desk is authentically Shaker, not much is known about its origin. It was found in Shirley at what became, after the state bought the property from the few remaining Shakers in 1909, The Industrial School for Boys, specifically “troubled and delinquent boys.” In fact, some of those same boys scrawled their names on the pull-out supports for the desk’s writing surface, proof of their “delinquency” but also evidence the desk resided at the Shirley Shaker Village. It may also have been in Harvard at one time.
A beautiful simplicity
The beautiful simplicity of the piece attests to its Shaker craftsmanship. The Shakers designed furniture with great care because making something well was in itself an act of prayer. Traditional pieces were utilitarian, designed to be efficient for their intended use. Often the design was innovative in its attempt to be serviceable.
In addition to the desk, the society will display from its permanent collection two portraits of Harvard Shakers who might well have used a desk like this—and perhaps this very one. In the spirit of Shaker egalitarian ideals, where women took on spiritual leadership roles alongside men, one is Sister Olive Hatch and the other Brother Simon Tuttle Atherton. Both were prominent and industrious members of their community, and Sister Hatch was a part of the ministry.
A PowerPoint presentation created by board member Melissa Marteney, with pictures and some information about the desk and descriptions of the duties and personalities of Hatch and Atherton, will be looping on a screen in the sanctuary. The desk and other Shaker items will be on display in Sturdy Hall, and Shaker expert Roben Campbell will be on hand to answer questions.
There is usually more than one Hidden Treasures program on the same day in a particular area, so visitors can attend more than one activity. In the case of Harvard, the Conservation Trust will be inviting exploration of its “treasure”—a vernal pool—also on May 22.
For a complete schedule and description of communities participating in the Freedom’s Way event, go to discoverhidden treasures.org.
