1. Architecture of the 19th Century. During this period, across the Nation, there arose a great number of different architectural styles including Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Second Empire, and Picturesque, in addition to Federal and Stick Architectural styles. All of these were built in this small village within sight of each other, giving the Village a sort of eclectic and distinctly unique look and personality.
2. The Hurricane of 1938 that hit New England resulting in vast floods, downed trees, property damage and the loss of lives in the hundreds. While the Village was spared any loss of life, the devastation was felt just the same.
3. The era of religious fervor evident in the first half of the 19th century, especially in New England, driven in part by the Reverend Miller and the rise of Millerism that predicted the end of the world.  Followers who numbered in the thousands came to be known as Millerites or Ascensionists. A great following resulted. While the return of Jesus Christ and the end of the world never occurred as predicted, a number of new religious sects, some of which are still with us to day did arise. The arrival of Haley's comment before the predicted date further convinced followers of the truth of the prediction. Some followers went crazy or committed suicide prior to the predicted date.
4. Public education on and interest in the arts in the second half of the 19th century increased and was largely driven by the industrial era. Companies needed workers who were able to draw blueprints for machinery and young people saw the opportunity as a way off the farm and out of poverty. The Commonwealth passed laws requiring that drawing be included in public school curriculums. From this there arose many local artists, like Gamaliel Waldo Beaman, who would later go on to become a landscape painter associated with the White Mountain Artists. In his youth he would become a rising star in the Boston Art Scene, exhibit widely in prestigious New England shows, travel and study abroad, return to create a large number of landscapes of the White Mountains, the Connecticut Valley, as well as many western vistas. While born in Westminster, he spent close to 40 years in Princeton, spending the last 17 years of his life in the Village of East Princeton, supplementing his income through an antique business from which he would be remembered as "Antique Beaman." He lived from 1852 to 1937.
5. The arrival of the automobile and what it meant to small villages like East Princeton from the perspective of roads, the creation of filling stations and auto related businesses, and tourists, and traffic to the present times, when thousands of vehicles move through the Village on a small two lane highway (Main Street/Route 140) on a daily basis.
6. At one time, there were many more cows in the East Princeton area than people. It was a significant portion of the economy with daily movement of product from local farms to Worcester and Boston. However, over time, competition from larger farms all but ended the local dairy business. Only a few farms held on and made it into the 20th century. Now large barns stand empty and are the only evidence of a once prosperous industry.

Princeton Arts Society Facebook  

Post Road Art Center