The town of Harvard has a history of interesting settlements that are well-documented and somewhat unique. If you have ever looked at a town profile you may have read the following phrase, "...the town has been known for a series of unusual sociological and religious experiments...". The question is, what exactly is one to make of all this? In short, Harvard has always been a place where independent thinkers have settled. It seems that there is a genuine climate of acceptance and tolerance which makes Harvard a really great place! Below is a brief history on what have been called the "unique" settlements. This may provide more insight on the town.
The first documented formal religious community in Harvard were the self-sufficient and industrious Shakers. At their peak, in the late 1790's there were around 200 members living on hundreds, maybe even a thousand acres covering the northeast corner of Harvard. Their settlement ended in 1917 but there are in fact a few remaining Shaker properties privately held, along with public conservation lands & trails throughout a wonderful neighborhood known as Shaker Hills and even a Public Golf Course.
The next settlement sprouted near the Nashua River in 1843. The group was a small commune of transcendental intellectuals who formed to "elevate the spirit and pursue wisdom". However, the group did not survive their first winter. Critics felt that their strategy to operate with total self-sufficiency and their vegetarianism contributed greatly to their downfall. Interestingly, on this land now operates a seasonal museum called Fruitlands that preserves both the local Shaker and Transcendental artifacts.
After that, it took over 100 years for the next settlement to take hold in Still River, not far from Fruitlands. In 1958; St. Benedict's Center, Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary arrived. This settlement of conservative Catholics came to town from Cambridge, MA after their founder had been excommunicated by the Church. They began to farm in Still River and this monastic/agricultural settlement has been there ever since. In 1972, the Church removed censures and by that time the settlement had evolved and the Saint Benedicts Abbey took shape. Both settlements exist their today.
There is more to be learned about these different settlements, much of which is preserved by the Harvard Historical Society, Harvard Conservation Trust, and Fruitlands Museum.
