Buttonwoods Museum — Attraction in Haverhill

Great little museum that covers Pentucket before the Puritan settlers moved north from Massachusetts Bay Colony (Boston) in 1640, life as an agricultural community with some small sawmills and gristmills run by abundant water power, as well as Maritime-related industries. Thr industrial revolution of the 19th century transformed as it became known as the “Queen Slipper City of the World!” producing many styles of ladies (men & kids) shoes. As Haverhill grew rapidly during the 19th century, the city developed woolen mills, tanneries, and continued as a significant Eastern shipping and shipbuilding center. The town was home to a significant shoe-making industry for many decades. By the end of 1913, one-tenth of the shoes produced in the United States were made in Haverhill. The necessity of mill workers brought many young, single women from rural New England & Québec to work in the factories, but to keep up with demand significant European & French-Canadian moved to Haverhill changing the city with new cultures & customs - when remain in this multicultural mid-sized city. The shoe industry manufacturing declined in the Great Depression & post WWII. By 1970s, Haverhill & area was transforming into a suburban bedroom community within Greater Boston, particularly with respect to the many technology firms on Rotes 128 & I-495. This small museum in a historic home adequately covers all of these evolutions in Haverhill 380+ years since settled by the Puritans. A unrecognized gem in the city. I highly recommend you go see for yourself! Great spending a rainy afternoon...

Nice museum; unfortunately the first thing we were told when we arrived was that most exhibits and buildings were closed due to renovations from flooding and other issues. We got a personal tour of what was available, which included the main entry hall, one large room with various artifacts, and a separate original homestead building. There was only one staff member there so he had to lock up one building in order to take us to the other. We hope to return once renovations are complete to better...

Thomas Spitalere told me: " ok, you gotta go," on the evening I volunteered for the Festival of Trees. He laughed with his other worker about me, and made me feel uncomfortable. His physical presentation and hiegene, is not well. He is sarcastic and rude about others, and also generally speaking. He never called me back, so I can donate artifacts, and I believe he then blocked my number, so it does not ring furthermore. Thomas has no respect, even as being neighbors...