Shirley Shaker Village

The village contains 13 surviving buildings out of the original 26 structures, featuring yellow and white clapboard alongside brick construction from the 1840s.

Founded in 1793 through land donations from four benefactors, the settlement grew into a community of 150 members organized into Church, North, and South families.

The Shakers maintained individual chambers with basic furnishings, including beds, rocking chairs, wash stands, and wood stoves for their communal living arrangements.

The Massachusetts Correctional Institution now occupies the property, while the Shirley Historical Society coordinates scheduled tours of the accessible areas.

The community developed a successful applesauce industry and manufactured products such as brooms, mops, jellies, and herbs until its closure in 1908.

Location: Massachusetts

GPS coordinates: 42.52639,-71.65167

Latest update: March 7, 2025 18:49