About
How It All Began…
The Oakham Historical Society was organized in 1899 through the influence of Charles M. Packard. Meetings were held at his home until the Fobes Memorial Library opened in 1908. Today, the Historical Association, as it is now known, is located in the Oakham Historical Museum at 1221 Old Turnpike Road. This site, Lot 24 of the original land grant, was owned by the Honorable John Murray of Rutland, a representative to the General Court. However, Murray, being a Loyalist, was run out of town in 1777 and his holdings were confiscated. In 1799 the property transferred to Joseph Fobes.
Mr. Fobes was appointed the town's first postmaster and ran the post office out of his house for 11 years. The cornerstone for the Fobes Memorial Library came from Fobes' property. The Fobes family resided on the farm for three generations until the property was sold to Patrick O'Donnell in 1894. One hundred years later, in December 1994, the property was donated to the Oakham Historical Association by Patrick O'Donnell's great-grandson, Jeffrey Young.
What We Do...
Since the Association's move from the Fobes Memorial Library to its present location, members have spent countless hours sorting through and cataloging thousands of documents, photographs, books, and maps, many of which date back to the mid-1700s. The Association has researched, written, and published two books about different eras in Oakham's history. Printed booklets include the histories of Dean Pond, Green Hollow Cemetery, and 16 vintage homes.
Additional projects have created the Oakham/Coldbrook Springs throw, Cat's Meow collectibles, historic elm tree clocks, hats, magnets, coasters featuring Oakham landmarks, and T-shirts. The Association recently completed a comprehensive inventory of all of its possessions and finished revamping more than 50 photo albums. The Association publishes a quarterly newsletter for its members and offers a 10% discount to members on any purchase.
Members also devote many hours to organizing a variety of events, such as the annual 5th grade walking tour of Oakham center, presentations and talks, harvest buffet and dance, vintage house tours, annual town-wide yard sale, and the memorable recreation of the “March for Independence” taken by 50 patriots in 1774 from Oakham to Worcester—an impressive 16.5 miles!
In 2003 the Association organized a 100-year reunion for alumni who attended school in the Town Hall classrooms (1875-1975).
Members participate in community activities on Memorial Day, Oktoberfest, and Block Party events sponsored by the Parks & Recreation Committee, the church holiday fair, and occasional events at the library. Members were also an integral part of the town's 250th Anniversary celebrations in 2012.
In 2019 after 3-1/2 years of a major fundraising campaign to construct a new onsite building in which to house the Museum's large artifacts, the Young Family Annex was celebrated at its Grand Opening on October 27.
The Museum is maintained by the Oakham Historical Association and contains over one thousand items related to the Town's history. The Association's purpose is to preserve Oakham's history for future generations.
The Oakham Historical Society was organized in 1899 through the influence of Charles M. Packard. Meetings were held at his home until the Fobes Memorial Library opened in 1908. Today, the Historical Association, as it is now known, is located in the Oakham Historical Museum at 1221 Old Turnpike Road. This site, Lot 24 of the original land grant, was owned by the Honorable John Murray of Rutland, a representative to the General Court. However, Murray, being a Loyalist, was run out of town in 1777 and his holdings were confiscated. In 1799 the property transferred to Joseph Fobes.
Mr. Fobes was appointed the town's first postmaster and ran the post office out of his house for 11 years. The cornerstone for the Fobes Memorial Library came from Fobes' property. The Fobes family resided on the farm for three generations until the property was sold to Patrick O'Donnell in 1894. One hundred years later, in December 1994, the property was donated to the Oakham Historical Association by Patrick O'Donnell's great-grandson, Jeffrey Young.
What We Do...
Since the Association's move from the Fobes Memorial Library to its present location, members have spent countless hours sorting through and cataloging thousands of documents, photographs, books, and maps, many of which date back to the mid-1700s. The Association has researched, written, and published two books about different eras in Oakham's history. Printed booklets include the histories of Dean Pond, Green Hollow Cemetery, and 16 vintage homes.
Additional projects have created the Oakham/Coldbrook Springs throw, Cat's Meow collectibles, historic elm tree clocks, hats, magnets, coasters featuring Oakham landmarks, and T-shirts. The Association recently completed a comprehensive inventory of all of its possessions and finished revamping more than 50 photo albums. The Association publishes a quarterly newsletter for its members and offers a 10% discount to members on any purchase.
Members also devote many hours to organizing a variety of events, such as the annual 5th grade walking tour of Oakham center, presentations and talks, harvest buffet and dance, vintage house tours, annual town-wide yard sale, and the memorable recreation of the “March for Independence” taken by 50 patriots in 1774 from Oakham to Worcester—an impressive 16.5 miles!
In 2003 the Association organized a 100-year reunion for alumni who attended school in the Town Hall classrooms (1875-1975).
Members participate in community activities on Memorial Day, Oktoberfest, and Block Party events sponsored by the Parks & Recreation Committee, the church holiday fair, and occasional events at the library. Members were also an integral part of the town's 250th Anniversary celebrations in 2012.
In 2019 after 3-1/2 years of a major fundraising campaign to construct a new onsite building in which to house the Museum's large artifacts, the Young Family Annex was celebrated at its Grand Opening on October 27.
The Museum is maintained by the Oakham Historical Association and contains over one thousand items related to the Town's history. The Association's purpose is to preserve Oakham's history for future generations.