Louise Reeves Art Collections

Old Sturbridge Village

Old Sturbridge Village was created as a living museum representing life as it would have been in the 1830's. All 59 buildings are authentic, having been collected and rebuilt on 200 acres of land acquired by the Wells family. The Wells, had amassed extensive collections of antiques (the collection filled over 45 rooms). In 1935, the Wells family began the Wells Historical Museum which would be charged with storing the artifacts. In July 1936 the Museum's trustees met to determine the how the collections would best be presented to the public. AB Wells wanted to create a small cluster of buildings in a horseshoe around a common. His son George B proposed "a revolutionary idea." George suggested a "live" village with the artifacts housed in various houses and buildings. There would be shops and workers-for this they would need water power. Within a week of the meeting, the museum purchased David Wright's farm, which had working mills and a mill pond which still powers the mills today. The village opened to visitors in 1946 and today is a living museum, where visitors can become part of the experience. While tours are given, the town is designed so that one can walk freely, engage the townsfolk in conversation and even help work the farm.