About the Museum

For a glimpse into the life of each of the four lost villages, visit the Whitaker-Clary House, Prescott Church Museum, and Carriage Shed at the historical society’s site. The content and length of tours vary according to visitors’ interests and time.

Nearly every object in the museum’s collection has been donated by families of the nearby villages and four “lost” towns–or their descendents. Some are elegant with charming stories, such as the wedding gowns of three New Salem sisters who promised each other as young girls to marry at the same time. Other objects are as ordinary as an old pair of shoes or a canning jar. But all tell a unique story, representing the everyday lives, the celebrations, and the heartaches of the 2500 displaced residents and the 7500 before them whose graves were relocated.

The Whitaker-Clary house, Prescott Church museum, and the Carriage Shed are open June through September.  Our open hours are Wednesdays and Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00.  Appointments for genealogy and other research can be scheduled year-round by arrangement.
 
Group Tours are available other days of the week by appointment.  Please contact us for details.
Prescott Church

Prescott Church

The church, built in 1837, spent its first 100 years on the Prescott Peninsula. In the 1930’s, at the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir, it was moved to South Main Street in Orange and be-came the Prescott Historical Society. In 1986, it was moved again to the present location. It is, arguably, the best travelled church in the country.

Prescott Church

Whitaker-Clary House

The main museum building, the Whitaker Clary House was purchased from the Massachusetts District Commission (MDC, now DCR Watershed Division) in 1961 for $1.00 plus $35 for processing the deed. The building was available because the MDC had abandoned the plan to destroy all properties on this westerly side of the road.

Prescott Church

The Carriage Barn

the 1930’s, at the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir, it was moved to South Main Street in Orange and be-came the Prescott Historical Society. In 1986, it was moved again to the present location. It is, arguably, the best travelled church in the country.