Heritage History
The Wing Family
The tract of land now known as Heritage Museums & Gardens played an important part in the history of the town of Sandwich. In 1677, Lydia Wing Hamilton Abbott was the first resident to live on the land. As the widow Hamilton, she resided with her two sons on a spot near what is now the American History Museum just south of Upper Shawme Pond. She lived there in great poverty despite a second marriage and assistance from her family and the Quakers of the town. After her death, Lydia's brother Daniel Wing, Jr., and his two sons, Samuel and Zeccheus, bought Lydia's little house, now known as Orchard House because of the surrounding orchard of apple trees.
Samuel, his wife and six children lived in the house until the children married and moved away. When Samuel died suddenly, Zeccheus bought out Samuel's children's share of the estate. Zeccheus died in 1784, and in 1794 Orchard House itself was sold, dismantled and reassembled as an ell on a house at 14/16 Grove Street, where it can still be seen today. At present much of the Wing family farm remains part of the grounds of Heritage and Abbott's Orchard is now the parade field of the American History Museum. Although members of the Wing family have not lived on the property for years, their heritage remains a vital part of the history of the Museum.
The Dexter Family
The internationally-known Charles Owen Dexter was the next own of the land. He bought the property, then known as Shawme Farm, in 1921. Mr. Dexter was a successful textile manufacturer in New Bedford. With his uncle and cousin, he established the Beacon manufacturing Company in New Bedford. The company became one of the largest manufacturers of cotton blankets in the United States. A true renaissance man, he was active in civic affairs as well as a photographer, violinist and yachtsman. At the age of 59, Mr. Dexter was told that he wouldn't have long to live. This dire health prediction led him to purchase Shawme Farm. But however, despite the warning, he lived for another 22 years. Beginning in 1921, Mr. Dexter and his wife spent summers at the farm and for the next 15 years he worked in his garden hybridizing plants. He started with vegetables and expanded his interests to rhododendrons. It was for the latter that he became well-known. Mr. Dexter employed a landscape architect, Paul Frost of Cambridge, to turn the wooded farm into a country estate. In 1935, he moved to the farm full-time and commuted to work every day.
During the twenty-two years that he lived at Shawme Farm, he developed between 150,000 to 200,000 seedlings and gave many away. Mr. Dexter was a great hybridizer, but a poor record keeper. He did not record the various plant locations or condition of the plants that he gave to friends. So it was not until after his death that his work as a hybridizer was recognized. Mr. Dexter died in 1943 and following his death, his wife, who had not interest in continuing his work, sold many of the plants.
The Dexter estate changed hands four times between 1945 and its acquisition by Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Lilly III who founded Heritage Museums & Gardens (formerly known as Heritage Plantation). During this period, many large plant specimens were taken out by contractors and sold. Stanley Berns, the owner who sold Shawme Farm to the Lilly's, did attempt to continue some work with rhododendrons. His grounds superintendent from 1959 to 1967 was Jack Cowles, who with his wife, Eveleth, hybridized several plants which have gained recognition in the botanical world.
The Lilly Family
The Lilly family, originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, spent their summer vacations in Falmouth. Where better to found a museum dedicated to his father then on Cape Cod, where he had such happy memories. Mr. Lilly first thought that he would create an automobile museum, but after researching other institutions he decided that it would not have a broad enough appeal. It was after his father's death in 1966 that the idea of creating a public place to house several of the Lilly family collections began to take shape. Josiah Kirby Lilly, Jr., born in 1893, collected things from the time he was a child, beginning with his movie theater ticket stubs. After finishing college in 1914, he joined the family firm of Eli Lilly and Co. He served in France in WWI where he continued to collect things. After the war he returned to work in the family business and succeeded his brother as president in 1948. Later he became chairman of the board; a position he held until he died.
He continued to work on his collections, amassing 20,000 books and 17,000 manuscripts which he gave to the University of Indiana. His gold coin collection, 6113 pieces went to the Smithsonian. After J. K. Lilly, Jr. died, his son bought the antique firearms and military miniature collections from his father's estate. With architect Fenton Scott Barrow and landscape architect Philip Ansell, he planned the buildings and grounds to be a suitable background to showcase the collections. They decided on a replica of the Round Barn from the Shakers of Hancock Village in Pittsfield, Massachusetts for the cars. A replica of the Temple from New Windsor, New York, where George Washington had awarded the first Purple Heart to a soldier wounded in battle, was selected to hold the antique firearms and the military miniatures. Plans were made to add the gatehouse (ticket office and museum store) and the Old East Mill, from Orleans on the Cape. In 1971, to entice more women to the museum, Mr. Lilly bought the Charles I. D. Looff carousel. Housed in a building built especially for its display, the carousel would be joined by three galleries holding American art.
Today the Museum has over 4,000 members and serves over 100,000 visitors annually from around the world. The American History Museum now houses several temporary exhibits. The Carousel Cafe is now located on the grounds, offering a wide range of salads, sandwiches and treat. The Museum Store has been expanded to include a Garden Shop. Other additions to the grounds include a Labyrinth and Sculpture garden.