Harvard, Massachusetts

:This article is about the town of Harvard, Massachusetts. Harvard University is located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

History

Harvard was first settled in 1704 and was officially incorporated in 1732. Part of the town originally belonged to "The Plantation of Groton," but broke away from Groton, MA.

Related Topics:
1704 - 1732 - Groton, MA

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Harvard Shaker Village:

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"Hands to work, hearts to God."

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The town was site of Harvard Shaker Village, a utopian religious community established in 1791, one of 19 scattered between Maine and Kentucky, and as far west as Indiana. The sect, renowned for plain architecture and furniture, reached its peak membership in the 1840s. But greater employment opportunities introduced by the Industrial Revolution would entice away some potential and practicing Shaker members. Others became disaffected with the church's insistence on celebacy, self-abnegation, and communal ownership of property. The flock dwindled.

Related Topics:
Shaker - Utopian - Religious - 1791 - Maine - Kentucky - Indiana - Sect - Architecture - Furniture - 1840s - Industrial Revolution - Communal

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Like others, Harvard Shaker Village eventually closed. Today, only one church "society" remains open, run by the last Shakers at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village http://www.shaker.lib.me.us/. Numerous others now operate as museums, including Hancock Shaker Village http://www.hancockshakervillage.org/ and Canterbury Shaker Village http://www.shakers.org/.

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• Shaker Historic Trail, National Park Service: http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/shaker/har.htm