Annual Society Programs

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Education Week – 18th Century Days

Each year since 1972, the Society has hosted Education Week, also known as 18th Century Days, for Holliston’s third graders. More than three hundred children spend a day in the spring at the Asa Whiting House. Society members and HEPTSA volunteers teach them traditional crafts and skills such as open hearth cooking, candle making, herbs, cross-stitch, and stenciling.
Parent volunteers make a commitment to present one workshop topic to four groups of children during the course of a morning or afternoon. During Orientation Night, which is held one or two weeks prior to that year’s 18th Century Days, volunteers receive instruction on the topic they will teach as well as tips on presenting the material. In addition, for those who want to “dress the part” (it is not required but a lot of fun!), hints on dressing in 18th century style will be shown. The Society has a collection of reproduction clothing that volunteers may wear for their scheduled day.

Society Fund Raisers

Father’s Day Breakfast Cruise

Hot rods, mods, and antique cars gather at the Society to show off and compete for judges’ trophies. A full hot breakfast (scrambled eggs, fresh sausage, buttermilk pancakes, choice of beverage, donuts,”chef’s special”) and snacks are available.

Harvest Fair

Our annual Harvest Fair takes place on the grounds of the Asa Whiting House and features handmade New England crafts, antiques dealers, a silent auction table, food for sale in the barn, special activities for children, and more. Our silent auction table features many goods from participating crafters as well as services by area businesses.
Members of the Society in period costume conduct tours of the Asa Whiting House where items from the Society’s collections are on display. You may also visit the Society’s library.

Oktoberfest

The Society celebrates this German tradition with an authentic menu, singing (in English), and a 13-piece band.
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Holliston Education Lecture Series

Lecture Series

Our annual lecture series brings historians from the surrounding area to Holliston to speak on a wide range of topics from Holliston in the Civil War and Civil War medicine, to the history of women in Holliston, to baseball in Holliston, and historic ironwork and wallpapers.

Revised 01/16/2022