15 Photos That Show What 1940s Life Was Like In Massachusetts

Life in Massachusetts has changed a lot over the years, but some things have stayed the same. Here are a few unstaged photos from the 1940s that show what life in the Bay State was really like almost 80 years ago.

1. A picnic party from the mill towns enjoying the autumn foliage along the Mohawk Trail.

2. Children ice-skating on a January day in Lowell.

3. A woman hanging out her washing in a low-income housing project in Holyoke.

4. From the photographer: "The Forgetta family, Italian vegetable farmers in Andover, Massachusetts. Mr. Forgetta, (right) and his older daughter (at the piano) both work in nearby textile mill in the winter if they can get the work."

5. Locals and tourists enjoying the sunshine. The photographer noted: "lack of bath houses causes a great deal of picturesque dressing and undressing in and behind parked cars."

6. Local talent makes music on a Sunday afternoon under soldiers' monument.

7. Summer residents watch the tourist boat arrive from Boston in Provincetown.

8. Fishermen repair their nets in order to secure the day's catch.

9. Souvenir shops provide an outdoor desk for tourists who want to write "wish you were here" post cards to friends out of state.

10. Women just off the bus fixing their clothing before setting off.

11. Shipyward workers gather at a union meeting.

12. Two women relaxing at a vacation rental cottage in Truro.

13. A woman walking by a store going out of business in Lowell.

14. Employees entering a textile mill in New Bedford.

15. A man cools beer in a stream along the Mohawk Trail.

For more glimpses into Massachusetts’ past, check out these now-and-then photos of Massachusetts to see how much it’s changed.

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These 15 Candid Photos Show What Life Was Like In Massachusetts In the 1940s

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