The Dorchester Historical Society is an all-volunteer organization with a 21 member board. The Society collects, preserves, and shares Dorchester history. It maintains a vigorous schedule of monthly programs during the academic year, usually slide lectures or walking tours. It owns 5 buildings on 2 separate campuses that are open to the public for tours: the James Blake House (1669); the Lemuel Clap House (1712, 1765), the William Clapp House (1806); Barn (1850), Carriage House (ca. 1870). The Society has collections of artifacts, some in thematic exhibits: Dorchester bottles, Baker Chocolate, Dorchester Pottery Works, Gleason Pewter, and Huebener bricks. The Society has collections of manuscripts, prints, maps, postcards, photographs, books, furniture, paintings, sculpture, textiles – vintage clothing and fabric arts including samplers and other needlework, and agricultural and carpentry tools. The Society’s buildings have all had exterior restorations during the last 15 years, several with awards from preservation organizations. The Blake House is restored to its appearance in 1895 when it was moved from its original location to Richardson Park. At the time of its move, it was restored to what was believe to be a 17th-century appearance. The recent restoration allows the Society to interpret both the 17th-century in Dorchester and the Arts & Crafts period re-interpretation of the house. The Lemuel Clap house presents as a Georgian mansion from the mid-18th-century, while the William Clapp House has its original appearance of a Federal-era townhouse built by a well-to-do farmer and businessman in an agricultural setting. We believe a visit is well worth your while. Check our schedule before making the trip.
195 Boston Street
Dorchester, MA 02125