Our Story
Our History
Hersey Farm is a historic 19-acre agricultural estate located at 150 Hersey Street in Hingham, MA. It is the only 18th-century farm still in existence in Hingham and has been owned by the same family since the Revolutionary War era.
Key Features and Historical Significance
- The Toy and Box Shop: In 2007, current caretaker Peter Hersey discovered an intact 19th-century toy-making and coopering shop in a “time capsule” state. It is believed to be the only preindustrial toymaker’s shop still in existence in America.
- Architectural History: The property includes the “1776 House,” built by Reuben Hersey I, and a “bank barn” dating back to at least 1837.
- Cultural Legacy: The farm’s history is the subject of the book Bucket Town: Woodenware and Wooden Toys of Hingham, 1635-1945 by Derin Bray, published by the Hingham Historical Commission.
Current Status and Conservation
- Private Ownership: While it is a historic landmark, it remains a privately owned farm.
- Preservation Efforts: Peter Hersey, the 10th generation of his family to live there, has undertaken a long-term project to restore the farm’s buildings and preserve its pastoral landscape.
- Abutting Land: The farm is a major abutter to town-owned conservation land, which is restricted for watershed protection and natural resource development.
Bucket Town
The Reuben Hersey Toy and Box Shop had stood on Hersey Farm in Hingham, MA, waiting to be discovered, for over a century. In 2007, Peter Hersey, great grandson of Reuben Hersey 3rd, proprietor of the Toy and Box Shop, began restoring his family’s farm. The derelict outbuilding overlooking a bucolic pasture had been declared off-limits at least since his father was a child. Finally able to satisfy his curiosity about its contents, Peter struck off the old, rusted lock and opened the door. After clearing away some stored items, what he was astonished to see was a time capsule – an intact toy making and coopering shop.
