Kristina Fontes, The Herald News
Published March 2, 2024
On March 2, forget about whatever is new.
That day is about the old stuff.
Because it’s National Old Stuff Day.
It’s a day for cleaning out closets, shelves, etc., sure, but also, it’s a day for revisiting old things and rediscovering forgotten treasures.
Because those things are so much more than “old stuff”: They’re history.
History, all of it, in fact, is personal, to someone at least, whether it’s on a grand or smaller scale.
The SouthCoast has its fair share of old stuff and history, and lots of places that have made it their mission, their vocation, to celebrate those things and honor the past.
Here are just some of the places from around the SouthCoast where you can learn about some “old stuff” that tells the history of our communities, and how these treasures inform our present and are still relevant to us today:
Antique shops
Firstly, the SouthCoast is chock-full of antique shops. Check your local listings, and peruse all of the old stuff and quirky finds to your heart’s content.
Battleship Cove, Fall River
Address: 5 Water St.
Hours: Friday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Closed Monday to Thursday
Famously home of “Big Mamie” herself, the USS Massachusetts, Battleship Cove is known as America’s Fleet Museum, and it’s also home to the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., USS Lionfish, PT-617 and PT-796. They’ve also got aircraft. Plus, check out the Maritime Museum, known for its Titanic exhibit and items related to the famous Fall River Line. For the latest hours and updates, visit battleshipcove.org and battleshipcove.org/maritime-museum. The Maritime Museum is open Friday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for the winter.
Heritage State Park, Fall River
Address: Davol Street
Hours: Open sunrise to sunset
Explore some more of Fall River’s waterfront, and dive further into the past, at Heritage State Park. The Visitor Center, 100 Davol St. (in the Capt. Thomas J. Hudner Jr. Memorial Building), has ongoing exhibits, film screenings, and activities to help visitors engage with some local history during their visit. Plus, they’ve got an ongoing Storywalk series. Learn more at mass.gov/locations/fall-river-heritage-state-park.
Fall River Historical Society
Address: 451 Rock St.
Hours: Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Closed Saturday and Sunday
Founded in 1921, the Fall River Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history of the city and sharing it with the public. Due to a major infrastructure project, the museum and shop are currently closed to the public, but the museum shop is available online. To keep up with the latest renovation updates, follow the Fall River Historical Society on Facebook.
Lafayette-Durfee House, Fall River
Address: 94 Cherry St.
Hours: Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m.; Closed Monday to Saturday
Visit the home of Col. Joseph Durfee, who led the Fall River militia during the American Revolution, …