Our Work
A Multidimensional Approach to Historical Stewardship and Public Education
The work we do at the Town of Somerset Historical Society is designed to be comprehensive and multifaceted, touching every aspect of our community’s cultural life. We approach historical stewardship with the understanding that history is not just about the past—it is about how we understand ourselves today and how we build our collective future. Our efforts are divided into several key areas of focus, each aimed at engaging a different segment of our population and fulfilling a specific part of our mission. From the rigorous academic work of archival preservation to the joyful, hands-on discovery found in our youth programs, we strive to create a holistic environment where history is accessible to everyone. We believe that by providing a diverse range of ways to interact with the past, we ensure that every member of the Somerset community can find a personal connection to our shared heritage. Our work is a continuous process of discovery and sharing, as we uncover new layers of Barker’s story and find innovative ways to bring those stories to light for our neighbors.
Education and Learning
Providing comprehensive educational opportunities for students and lifelong learners
Our education and learning initiatives are carefully designed to cater to a wide range of interests, ages, and skill levels within our community. We collaborate closely with local school districts to provide curriculum-aligned programs that bring history out of the dusty textbooks and into the vibrant, real world. Our workshops cover a vast array of topics, from advanced genealogical research techniques to the hands-on preservation of physical family heirlooms like photos and textiles. We believe that learning is a lifelong, continuous journey, and we are committed to providing the professional resources and expert guidance necessary for every member of our community to discover the fascinating, often hidden stories that define our region. Through our lecture series and guided research sessions, we help adults and students alike develop critical thinking skills by analyzing primary sources and understanding the context of historical events. Our goal is to create an environment where curiosity is celebrated and where every question leads to a deeper understanding of our shared human experience.
Play and Exploration
Encouraging discovery through hands-on interaction and immersive historical environments
We believe that play and exploration are essential and foundational components of the learning process, especially for our younger visitors who are just beginning to form their worldview. Our society features specially designed interactive exhibits where children can experience what daily life was actually like in Somerset during different eras through dress-up, traditional games, and hands-on demonstrations of 19th-century chores. This immersive approach allows visitors of all ages to engage with history in a way that is both fun, tactile, and highly memorable. By creating an environment that encourages natural curiosity and physical interaction with history, we help foster a deep-seated love of heritage that will last a lifetime. Exploration is the key to understanding the complex nuances of the past, and we provide the safe, encouraging space needed for that exploration to happen. Whether it’s “milking” a wooden cow or trying out a quill pen, these activities create lasting neural connections between the child and their community’s history.
Social and Emotional Development
Fostering a sense of belonging and community through shared historical experiences
The study of history provides a unique and powerful opportunity for social and emotional growth as individuals reflect on the immense challenges and significant triumphs of those who came before them. Our community lectures and group tours provide a safe and welcoming space for residents to connect with one another over shared stories and local pride. By understanding the collective struggles, resilience, and successes of our ancestors, we develop deeper empathy and a stronger sense of social responsibility toward our neighbors today. Our society serves as a vital gathering place where people of all backgrounds can come together to celebrate their shared heritage and build stronger, more resilient community bonds. We believe that knowing one’s history provides a sense of “grounding” that is essential for emotional well-being and a sense of identity. In an era of digital isolation, the historical society offers a physical space for intergenerational conversation and the passing down of wisdom from elders to the youth.
Programs and Services
Serving the community through diverse historical and cultural offerings
Our programs are designed to engage residents across all age groups and backgrounds, from the young children in our elementary outreach programs to the seniors involved in our vital oral history recording projects. We offer a robust and academically sound educational curriculum that covers the agricultural, industrial, and social history of the Somerset region in great detail. Special activities include our highly anticipated annual heritage festival, historic cemetery walks that bring local legends to life, and specialized research assistance in our temperature-controlled archives. We also provide extensive classroom resources and traveling “history trunks” for local teachers and offer customized guided tours for civic groups, historical clubs, and senior centers. Our goal is to ensure that every single member of the community has a meaningful opportunity to engage with their history in a way that is both accessible and intellectually stimulating. We are constantly updating our offerings to include new research and more diverse perspectives on our town’s development. Whether you are a professional researcher or a family looking for a unique weekend outing, our programs and services are designed to inspire a lifelong love of local history and a deep pride in our shared Somerset heritage.
Community and Engagement
Building strong bonds through a shared commitment
Family involvement is the absolute cornerstone of our organization and we offer numerous opportunities for parents and children to explore history together through our weekend workshops and monthly family day events. We pride ourselves on our strong and productive community partnerships with local businesses, schools, and other non-profit organizations, which allow us to expand our collective impact and reach more people than ever before. Our calendar is filled with events and activities designed to celebrate the unique and resilient culture of Somerset, from seasonal lectures and craft fairs to community preservation projects aimed at saving local landmarks. We believe that by working together as a united community, we can ensure that our local narrative remains a vibrant, essential, and protected part of our shared identity. Our engagement efforts extend to local government as well, as we advocate for the preservation of historic zoning and the protection of Somerset’s rural character against urban sprawl. Through this active engagement, we transform the historical society from a static archive into a dynamic community center that is alive with conversation, discovery, and a shared passion for our unique corner of the world.
Testimonials
Voice of the Community: Feedback from Our Visitors and Researchers
We are incredibly proud of the impact we have on the families and individuals who visit the Town of Somerset Historical Society, and their feedback is the greatest testament to the value of our work. Over the years, we have collected countless testimonials from parents, students, and professional researchers who have found a deep sense of connection and discovery within our walls. These stories highlight the power of local history to inspire curiosity, foster family bonds, and provide a lasting sense of belonging in our community. We believe that the authentic voices of our neighbors are the most powerful way to share the magic of what we do, showing how a single artifact or a well-told story can change someone’s perspective on where they live. Our visitors often speak of the warmth of our staff, the depth of our resources, and the joy of finding a piece of their own family’s puzzle in our archives. These testimonials serve as a constant source of inspiration for our team, reminding us every day why the work of preservation is so vital and so deeply rewarding for everyone involved. We invite you to read through these experiences and discover for yourself why the historical society has become such a beloved institution for so many in the Somerset region.
The Town of Somerset Historical Society has been an absolutely incredible and indispensable resource for our family as we’ve worked to uncover our local roots over the past year. My seven-year-old son was completely fascinated by the interactive farm exhibit and hasn’t stopped talking about the “cool” old tools they used to use for harvesting. It is so wonderful to have such a professional, well-maintained, yet warm and welcoming place right in our own backyard where children can learn about their heritage in a way that is truly engaging and fun. We are so incredibly grateful for the dedication of the staff and the sheer wealth of information they make available to the public for free. It has changed the way we look at our town every time we drive past an old farmhouse or an open field. Jane Smith Parent of an Elementary School Student
I was truly amazed at the incredible depth and organization of the archives available at the society when I visited last month to research my family’s deep history in Barker. The staff members were all incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and helpful, guiding me through old plat maps, fragile census records, and local newspaper archives that I never would have found on my own. My teenage son, who is usually hard to impress, actually enjoyed looking through the old black-and-white photographs of his school from over fifty years ago. It’s a rare and truly special thing to find an organization that can bridge the generational gap so effectively through a shared love of local history and storytelling. We spent four hours there and felt like we had only scratched the surface of what there is to learn. Michael Thompson Parent of a High School Student
Our visit to the historical society was without a doubt the absolute highlight of our summer break and my five-year-old daughter still asks me every week when we can go back to see the historic dolls and the old-fashioned kitchen. The educational programs are so well thought out and the staff clearly cares deeply about both the accuracy of the history and the people they are serving. It is a family-friendly environment that manages to be both fun and incredibly informative without feeling like a boring school lesson. We feel so much more connected to our town after seeing the actual physical artifacts and hearing the personal stories of the people who built this community from the ground up. I recommend it to every new family that moves into our neighborhood. Emily Rodriguez Parent of a Preschooler
As someone who recently moved to the Somerset area from out of state, the historical society has been absolutely instrumental in helping me and my family feel at home and connected to our new surroundings. The community events are so welcoming and I’ve learned so much about the traditions, agricultural milestones, and local legends that have shaped this beautiful region. My middle-school-aged children have participated in several of the weekend “junior historian” workshops and have gained a real, tangible appreciation for the hard work and grit of the early settlers. It is a fantastic, high-quality community resource that fosters a true sense of belonging for everyone, regardless of how long they have lived here. It turned a town of strangers into a town with a story that we are now proud to be a part of. David Wilson Parent of a Middle School Student