Welcome. Housed in the 1823 Abigail Hooper Trask House, the Museum invites you to experience Manchester-by-the-Sea’s fascinating past through restored period rooms, paintings and sculptures by master artists, collections from the town's furniture era and maritime history, educational programs, speakers, and exhibits.
Hours:
Wednesday through Friday, 10 AM to 3 PM; Saturday, 11 AM to 4 PM.
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Next Lecture
Furniture-Making in Manchester: A Surprising Story
Before Manchester-by-the-Sea, there was mill-town Manchester. Brock Jobe, Professor Emeritus of the Winterthur Museum in Delaware, dives into Manchester's history as a furniture-making center. During the early-to-mid nineteenth century, cabinetmaking was the town's chief industry, and its business leaders facilitated a lucrative trade with the American South. Similar to the products of other Massachusetts furniture-making communities, Manchester-made pieces have had a wide-ranging impact.
In 2000 Brock Jobe was appointed professor of American decorative arts in the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture after a 28-year career as a museum curator and administrator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Colonial Williamsburg, the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (now Historic New England), and Winterthur. He has authored or edited seven books, written dozens of articles, and given hundreds of lectures. Brock retired from his professorship in June 2015 but retains an office at Winterthur and continues to study, write, and lecture about American furniture. In 2022, he co-organized a three-day conference devoted to the history of decorative inlay and marquetry in Europe and America. Currently Brock serves as President of the Decorative Arts Trust and remains a dedicated volunteer at Winterthur.
Location: First Parish Community Hall, 1 Chapel Lane, MBTS
Date: Thursday, May 15
Time: 7 PM
Doors open at 6:30 PM for socializing and refreshments
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Welcome aboard, Kady!
This January, we welcomed Kady McGann to our staff as museum assistant. A little about her: She is passionate about all things history! Childhood museum visits with her parents turned into a deep interest in the past, leading her to study history at Umass Amherst. After graduating, Kady spent time working at the Newbury Town Library, in Byfield, MA, where she reorganized their local history collection (when she wasn't getting book recommendations from patrons.) She is currently on track to graduate from Salem State University with a Master's in history this spring. Kady is a lifelong resident of Georgetown, MA, with fond memories of spending her childhood summers along Cape Ann's coast. She is excited to serve the Manchester-by-the-Sea community and to help the MBTS Museum continue its work of preserving local history.
Recalling a Merry Christmas Season
As we look back on 2024, the Museum recalls a successful Christmas season with the return of its traditional holiday events and festive decorations (thanks to Constance Leahy and the Manchester Garden Club) at the Abigail Hooper Trask House.
On Friday, December 6, we welcomed up to 181 people with our holiday open house during the Christmas by the Sea Holiday Stroll. On the following Thursday, December 12, our Holiday Tea (with tea hostess Sue Parker) presented a lovely service of afternoon tea, sandwiches & pastries, piano music (by Kathleen Adams, music director at Annisquam Village Church), and carol singing. Later that day, we welcomed at least 95 members and supporters to our evening Holiday Party with good food, good company, and the musical prowess of the Bob Landoni trio.
'Summers by the Sea' Exhibit Extended
If you haven't seen "Summers by the Sea," you still have time. The popular exhibit, examining Manchester-by-the-Sea's transformation from a furniture-making mill town to an international summer-resort destination, is extended through Fall.
Image: Masconomo House hotel
Celebrating a Year of Success
The Museum celebrated a year of success with its annual meeting on Thursday, September 26, starting at 5:45 PM with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to commemorate the restoration of the Museum’s front-entrance portico. The portico, which was part of the house during Abigail Hooper Trask's ownership, was removed in the 1930s and restored this year through the generous contributions of Capital Campaign donors and Community Preservation Committee funds.
Following a reception accross the street at Chapel Hall, the Museum held its business meeting, welcomed new officers and thanked departing Museum trustees for their hard work and dedication over the past year.
Last, but not least, Matthew Swindell (Associate Director) closed the evening with his well-received lecture, "Manchester vs. the Trolley," delving into the issues and battle lines of a fascinating period, "one of the most trying periods of the town's history," during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it was electrified by the controversial proposed trolley.
The Fire Engines Inside Seaside No. 1
Thanks to all who stopped by our Open House at Seaside No. 1 during Festival by the Sea.
More than 200 visitors came to learn about the town’s two antique fire engines — the Torrent, a hand pumper built in 1832, and Seaside No. 2, a horse-drawn steam pumper acquired in 1902. Check back here for future open house dates.
Winslow Homer's Answer to Controversy
Thanks to a gift from Christine Virden of MBTS, the Museum has added to its permanent Collection a wood engraving of Winslow Homer’s iconic “Eagle Head, Manchester, Massachusetts (High Tide),” depicting three young women emerging from a swim in the ocean at Singing Beach. It was published in the August 6, 1870 edition of Boston's periodical Every Saturday.
A few months earlier, at a New York show, Homer first exhibited his oil painting* of the same name and subject matter. The painting was panned by critics. They were disturbed that, as one wrote, the figures were “exceedingly red-legged and ungainly...” So, Homer edited the image for Every Saturday. In this version (shown at left), the young women's bare legs were covered with leggings, and the dog was replaced with a swim cap.
Homer (1836–1910) began his career as an illustrator, creating images of current events for newspapers and other periodicals in Boston and New York. Homer sometimes adapted his illustrations into watercolors and oil paintings. He also reused the imagery of his paintings — such as “Eagle Head” — in his engravings.
The more than 150-year-old engraving of Winslow Homer's “Eagle Head” is part of our summer exhibit -- “Summers by the Sea: Masconomo House Hotel & the Resort Era.”
* Winslow Homer's oil painting is in The Met's Collection.