Whether you enjoy learning the history of your state or just looking at memorabilia from the past, historic photographs have the ability to connect us to a bygone era. If you’ve wondered what it may have been like to live in the Bay State over 100 years ago, these old photographs will give you a glimpse.

1. This photo was taken in South Framingham in 1901 and shows the town office as well as horse-drawn buggies traveling down the street.
State Library of Massachusetts/Flickr
2. Back in Salem in 1905, a parade was held. Here we see the H.M. Bixby float pulled by horses along the parade route.
Salem State Archives/Flickr
3. The Boston Common has been a public park since 1634 and is the oldest city park in the country. In this photo, taken around 1910, you can a few people walking around.
Boston Public Library/Flickr
4. A sweet family photo of John Sousa, his mother, and siblings in 1912 at their home in New Bedford.
trialsanderrors/Flickr
5. A Smith College 1882 class reunion was held in the year 1917. Smith College is a small women's liberal arts college that was founded in 1875.
Richard/Flickr

Related Stories

Discover What Life Was Like In The 17th Century At Pioneer Village, A Living History Museum In Massachusetts

Discover What Life Was Like In The 17th Century At Pioneer Village, A Living History Museum In Massachusetts

 Explore One Of The Oldest Farms On Cape Cod, The 1679 Peterson Farm In Massachusetts

Explore One Of The Oldest Farms On Cape Cod, The 1679 Peterson Farm In Massachusetts

 Celebrate The 400th Anniversary Of Thanksgiving With A Trip To Plymouth, Massachusetts

Celebrate The 400th Anniversary Of Thanksgiving With A Trip To Plymouth, Massachusetts

Paid Content See Plymouth
6. James R. Reynolds was a well-known peddler on Washington Street in Boston. He would sell cat-nip, among other unusual goods, to those who passed by. This photo was taken circa 1925.
Salem State Archives/Flickr
7. Here is a photo of Massachusetts Avenue in Boston taken between the years 1930-1940. Things look a bit different today.
Boston City Archives/Flickr
8. Owned by the United Cooperative Society, this neighborhood grocery store in Fitchburg provided provisions to the surrounding area. This photo was taken in 1935.
Arthur Rothstein/Photogrammar
9. Tobacco fields in Northampton were destroyed by the overflowing of the Connecticut River during the great flood of 1936.
Paul Carter/Photogrammar
10. In 1938, a hurricane ripped through New England, devastating some areas. In this photo, taken somewhere between Worcester and Amherst, we see a farmer clearing debris.
Sheldon Dick/Photogrammar
11. Beach-goers would take the bus to the popular "New Beach" in Provincetown in the summer. This photo was taken circa 1940 and shows a scene similar to what you see today.
Edwin Rosskam/Photogrammar

 

It’s incredible to see historical photos from the past and realize how much things have changed in our society over the past 100 years. Do you enjoy looking at old photos? For more, you can read our post showing candid photos taken in Massachusetts in the 1940s.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Massachusetts

Featured Addresses
Massachusetts, USA