Middleboro Historical Museum
the Middleboro or Middleborough, as it is
spelled both ways?, began in 1960 in just one small space and
today operates seven historical structures on one acre. The
fabulous museum contains one of the biggest collections of Tom
Thumb memorabilia, with the other buildings housed here
showcasing life in the late 19th century and early 20th, and
comparing it with today's. Their outstanding research
collections include photographs, printed and written materials
and directories. The museum offers excellent educational
programs with many school field trips held throughout the year,
and has great slide programs that are available to various civic
groups around the region. One of the most famous exhibits is the
Tom Thumb Museum housed inside, with a big part of the
magnificent collection being housed at the Zachariah Eddy House
before it was donated to this museum. The famous couple, Tom and
wife, would become P. T. Barnum's circus performers, while
making their home in Middleboro. The older residents here
remember the famous couple coming home and tossing pennies to
the kids in the streets when they rested from their tours with
the circus. Tom Thumb was the stage name of Charles Sherwood
Stratton, a midget, or small person to be politically correct,
or is it?, and his wife, Lavinia Warren, also a small person,
married in 1863. Lavinia was born and raised in Middleboro and
the museum has her wedding dress on display. Their story is a
wonderful success tale about two little people that would travel
the world becoming more famous as they did and allow Charles, or
Tom to become a rich man by the time he was 24 years old. They
would even get a wedding reception at the White House, invited
by Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary. Tiffany of New York would
give them a silver coach as a wedding present, that is on
display here as well, and they were fortunate enough to be able
to construct a mansion in the city, with miniature furniture and
is still standing in the city today.
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