The Berkley Historical Society

The Berkley Historical Society The Berkley Historical Society works to preserve the unique history of Berkley, Massachusetts. Preserving and Sharing the history of Berkley, Massachusetts.

06/01/2026

Monday Moments from the Museum…
I wanted to share this fun history from Dighton. What specialized crops do you remember from Berkley? I know my favorite sweet corn ever came from Stetson Farm!

Thank you to Malloch Construction for building and installing our new cornice! We appreciate all you do to support Berkl...
05/28/2026

Thank you to Malloch Construction for building and installing our new cornice! We appreciate all you do to support Berkley and the Historical Society!

Monday Moments from the Museum…Today we honor all those who serve. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to...
05/25/2026

Monday Moments from the Museum…

Today we honor all those who serve. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to protect our freedom, safety and security.

Monday Moments from the Museum…As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday we would do well to remember all who served to m...
05/18/2026

Monday Moments from the Museum…

As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday we would do well to remember all who served to make and keep us free. On June 28 we will see an exciting celebration on the Common. We will have re-enactors and displays and demonstrations which will bring history alive! Check out the Celebrations page for more info.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CXEFDUiaC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Berkley Historical Society Museum has a wonderful military display which includes uniforms and memorabilia from many local residents. This display includes the authentic Civil War uniform and kit from our own Levi Crane. And when you drive over Rt. 24 on Padelford St. your notice the dedication to Hollis Jennings. Our display also includes an extensive collection of artifacts of this young man whose life was cut so short. Other notable and ordinary residents are honored here.

Stop by every Tuesday from 10AM to 1PM.

Monday Moments from the Museum…This antique dresser box or trinket box served as the decorative outer case for the chamb...
05/04/2026

Monday Moments from the Museum…

This antique dresser box or trinket box served as the decorative outer case for the chamberstick set or travel "go-to-bed" chambersticks were sometimes sold in matched sets with a protective or decorative box, especially during the Victorian era. The monogram on the lid suggests it was a personalized item, possibly part of a larger vanity or dressing table set.

The Box Appears to be made of silver plate (possibly "quadruple plate") over a base metal like copper or brass. The yellowish areas on the lid are where the silver plating has worn away, revealing the metal underneath—a common sign of age.
The Chamberstick: This is a portable candle holder designed with a dish base to catch wax. The detached cylindrical piece is the candle nozzle. The ringed piece is a snuffer or extinguisher used to safely put out the flame.
Such sets were designed for both function and portability. The chamberstick would be used for nighttime illumination, often for the short walk to a bedroom, which is why they are sometimes called "so to bed" candlesticks. When not in use, the candle holder and its components could be stored inside the matching monogrammed box to keep them clean and protected.

Come visit us on Tuesdays from 10-1 and take a peak at all our illuminating artifacts!

Monday Moments from the Museum…This flintlock tinder lighter with an attached candle holder, unlike a functional firearm...
04/27/2026

Monday Moments from the Museum…

This flintlock tinder lighter with an attached candle holder, unlike a functional firearm, was used in the 17th-18th centuries to ignite tinder for starting fires or lighting candles.
Pulling the trigger causes the hammer to strike the flint against the steel, creating sparks that fall into a pan designed to hold tinder.

You can see this wonderful example of the many artifacts at our museum every Tuesday from 10-1.

Monday Moments from the Museum. Today we still deal with snake oil salesmen but now the internet brings that information...
04/20/2026

Monday Moments from the Museum.

Today we still deal with snake oil salesmen but now the internet brings that information right to your smart phone!

History is riddled with ‘remedies’ which later proved to be more harmful than helpful. We have examples of the Vapo-Cresolene vaporizer on display in the museum along with so many other interesting artifacts. More than you can possibly see in one visit. Come visit Tuesdays 10-1.

This vaporizer was one such device. Coal tar is one of the byproducts of industrial processes that convert coal into coke or gas. Coal tar and its derivatives have been used in ointments, shampoos, analgesic drugs, and disinfectants. One of its forms, cresol, was marketed as "Vapo-Cresolene" beginning in 1879. The Vapo-Cresolene vaporizer was sometimes called a lamp because it is similar in appearance to a kerosene lamp, and used the same fuel to heat the liquid cresol with an open flame. The company claimed that inhaling the resulting fumes would cure numerous respiratory diseases, including pneumonia, whooping cough and diphtheria. These claims were debunked by a report of the American Medical Association in 1908. Despite this, the product and its vaporizers continued to be sold as late as the 1950s.

04/14/2026

Monday Moments ...
Key Historical Events for April 13:

1964: Sidney Poitier wins Best Actor for Lilies of the Field.
1970: Apollo 13 mission suffers a critical failure when an oxygen tank explodes.
1742: George Frideric Handel’s Messiah is performed for the first time.
1668: John Dryden is appointed the first official English Poet Laureate.
1962: Baseball legend Stan Musial sets a new National League record with his 1,869th run.
1983: Zsa Zsa Gabor marries her eighth husband.

And Recent Historical Notables: 😄
2026 : The Stratolaunch, the world's largest plane, conducted its first flight from the Mojave Desert.
2026 : Reports indicate a potential first DoorDash delivery to the White House.

Come visit the Berkley History Museum on Tuesday between 10 am and 1 pm and find yourself immersed in Berkley History. Volunteers are on hand to answer any question or listen to your stories about Berkley history..... The Museum is at 2 No. Main St. Berkley, MA directly across from the Safety Building.
See you soon!

04/14/2026

Monday Moments ...

Key Historical Events for April 13:

1964: Sidney Poitier wins Best Actor for Lilies of the Field.
1970: Apollo 13 mission suffers a critical failure when an oxygen tank explodes.
1742: George Frideric Handel’s Messiah is performed for the first time.
1668: John Dryden is appointed the first official English Poet Laureate.
1962: Baseball legend Stan Musial sets a new National League record with his 1,869th run.
1983: Zsa Zsa Gabor marries her eighth husband.

And Recent Historical Notables: 😄

2026 (Ref): The Stratolaunch, the world's largest plane, conducted its first flight from the Mojave Desert.
2026 (Ref): Reports indicate a potential first DoorDash delivery to the White House.

Address

2 North Main Street
Berkley, MA
02779

Opening Hours

10am - 1pm

Telephone

+15082942600

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Berkley Historical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to The Berkley Historical Society:

Shortcuts

Share