Tucked away in time, there is a wealth of knowledge and history hiding in plain sight, right on Main St. in Cummington. The Kingman Tavern Museum is like a living time capsule. Its dedicated rooms and displays offer insights into the daily life of folks residing here between the late 1800’s and into the early 20th century.
These objects show us the commonality of the human experience, as well as the stark differences of time and technology. This trove of artifacts is attended by a small but dedicated team, primarily volunteers, and only opens its doors for a few months of the year.
“See the little day star moving. Life and time are worth improving. Seize the moments while they stay. Seize and use them. Lest you loose them. And lament the wasted day.”
– Poem from a Cross Stich Sampler wrought by Sally Cordelia, 1824
Aside from the sign out front, the museum can be rather unassuming, fitting in naturally as a beautiful New England farmhouse. Outside, the barn has recently had some of its old boards replaced, but it still holds its iconic stature. The handful of additional outbuildings each hold unique objects and aspects of the historical farmstead, from a horse-powered cider press to an Old Creamery wagon. The main building itself is extensive – its rooms seem to multiply as you explore further through each doorway.
Walking into the museum, the farmhouse could feel like any old home for a moment, until the space seems to shift, as if transported back in time. The kitchen sink has a hand pump, the cast iron wood stove is equipped with a waffle iron and toaster, among other accessories and utensils.
The floors are painted with patterns, as if to resemble rugs, and the walls have intricately stamped designs that predate wallpaper. It quickly becomes apparent that there are none of the modern amenities folks so often take for granted. As you move through the space you will also notice the carefully displayed miniatures of rooms, each meticulously recreated by Alice Steele from stories her parents and grandparents told her of rural New England life. Many of the miniature rooms have been used to model the rooms they reside in, from dance hall to music room, adding to the sense of walking into a piece of history.
Along the walls you’ll also find portraits of the families who lived here, from the Streeters, to the Warners, to the Kingmans – many of which were created by Ashfield native Edwin Romanze Elmer. These families are to thank for so much of the depth of the Museum’s collection, between donations and initiative. The late Bill Streeter was specifically instrumental in bringing in donations.
It’s said the old timers would laugh and joke “Oh, here comes Bill Streeter, better hide your heirlooms or he’ll talk you out of them for his new Museum!” If the name Bill Streeter rings a bell for you, it may be because he operated the Cummington General Store from 1954 through 1962. Coincidentally, that store was located in the same building in which his great-great grandfather Henry co-founded the Cummington Cooperative Creamery. And if that business name sounds familiar, it may be that you’re acquainted with the Old Creamery Co-op, which currently operates in the same space. The Kingman Tavern Museum even boasts an Old Creamery wagon, used to deliver dairy from that same Co-op as far afield as Boston and New York.
The stories of Cummington and the surrounding towns pour out of every nook and cranny of this incredible local resource, and it wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of folks like Carla Ness and her crew of historians. Most of these folks work simply for the love of the museum, and there is no shortage of work to do. Currently, there is a major push to digitize the records and account for the collection. Recently, they were able to locate a woman’s great-great-great-grandmother’s wedding dress, which had been stashed in a box under a bed for safe keeping.
Without the institutional knowledge held by Carla, they might not have known where it was. The ongoing digitization of their inventory will ensure that future generations of donors and staff will have easier access to this sort of information. And the new space will provide a safe haven for artifacts, such as clothing or paper, which can be easily damaged if not kept in the correct conditions.
The institution has also recently finished renovations on a climate-controlled archival space, ready to be filled with a few good sized flat files. This represents a large investment in preserving the many wonders under the care of the museum which time, sunlight, and humidity all work against. When historians from Old Deerfield and the Smithsonian have visited they’ve been impressed with the preservation and quantity of the collection. Recently the museum had a visit from a Roving Archivist, a state program intended to help connect professional archivists with the stewards of historical records in Massachusetts. After the visit they received a 45-page booklet outlining things they can do to help preserve their collection, and were quite relieved to hear from folks at Historic Northampton that they had also received a long ledger. But this is a fantastic guiding light, especially for the care of paper and ephemera, and the staff at the Kingman Tavern now has the ability to reach out to the Roving Archivist with follow up questions.
The whole museum is chock full of incredible pieces which we can contrast with modern equivalents. Just look at the old lead-acid batteries set in glass, attached by knob and tube wiring to an old 32 volt Delco generator from the 1920s. There’s a set of scales used by towns to standardize common weights and measures, accompanied with the measure of cord wood which had a plethora of regional standardizations marked. Perhaps the most complete experience is the General Store. Entering into the space it is easy to imagine oneself back in time, perusing the bolts of cloth, shopping for crackers, or picking up the mail. There’s an old pharmacy, children’s games like checkers, and barrels that would hold pickles, herring, or salt pork. The General Store had all the necessities and needs of those living in rural New England.
These days these sorts of places are educational, great for local school trips or family excursions, as well as reference points for researchers. The town holds an abolitionist history, with connections to the Underground Railroad, and an interesting link to Ohio.
It’s common for folks from around Cincinnati to find they had relatives from Cummington, as 32 Cummington residents moved there around 1854 to help keep new territories from becoming slave states. The residents brought their knowledge of machines and factories, as our area was known for our machinists. So many of these minute details add to the rich history of this area, and the connection is easier to see and understand by experiencing it all together. The Museum is only open in July and August, just a short window to come and experience the closest thing to time travel we’ve got.
This season, The Kingman Tavern Museum is hosting an exhibit about the Westfield River: How it shaped this area, the river’s movement over the years (especially the flood of 1938), and how industry and human interaction have changed it. This exhibit is in conjunction with the Cummington Cultural Council’s annual theme, Year of the River.
Their hours are 2-5pm, from July 12th through August 23rd. The museum offers free tours, and relies strictly on donations and the sale of relevant books and texts to help offset their expenses.
If you’re a local with a keen interest in history and a desire to help out, the museum is frequently in need of project volunteers and donated materials to aid in the mission. (Items like flat files and sturdy wire metal shelving are always in demand!) But most important is for folks to come and see how awesome this local treasure truly is.
