Located adjacent to the Dr. Moses Mason House, the Society's Robinson House was begun in 1821 as the home of O'Neil W. Robinson (1797-1867) and his wife, Betsey H. Straw (1797-1878), the sister of Agnes Straw Mason, who lived next door.  Born in Chatham, New Hampshire, O'Neil Robinson came to Bethel about 1820 and achieved success as a local businessman, operating a store just north of his home until 1835, when he and his family moved to Portland.  A later resident of Waterford, Maine, Robinson served as a State Senator and Sheriff of Oxford County from 1842-1850.  He also owned large tracts of timber land in the nearby New Hampshire communities of Gorham, Berlin, Milan, and Dummer.

In 1835 Robert A. Chapman, a prominent Bethel businessman and real estate developer, purchased the Robinson House; by 1881, the house had become the residence of Chapman's daughter, Sarah Walker (Chapman) Foster, and her husband, Enoch Foster, Jr., the latter once a Judge of the Maine Supreme Court.  The Fosters enlarged and redesigned the house into the Italianate residence we see today.

In 1903, William O. and Agnes Hastings Straw purchased property.  Mrs. Straw, who outlived her husband, died in 1923, and her heirs immediately sold the property to William Bingham II, owner of the Bethel Inn.  Following some modifications, the building was renamed "The Elms," after the impressive rows of trees that once lined both sides of Broad Street.  After serving for many years as guest facilities for the Inn, the Robinson House was purchased by the Bethel Historical Society in 1997 and opened two years later as a museum facility.  The Society's main office, several long- and short-term exhibits, and the Museum Shop are located in this imposing structure, which is being restored and renovated to provide the Society with needed space for large exhibits, library operations, and climate-controlled storage.

Dr. Moses Mason House, 1813

Built in 1813, this fine Federal-style house with wall murals attributed to the itinerant artist Rufus Porter was long the home of Dr. Moses Mason, physician and U.S. Congressman, and his wife, Agnes Straw.  The front portion of the Mason House contains nine period rooms furnished to reflect the era of the Mason's occupancy (1813-1869).  Here one will see some of the finest examples from the Society's decorative arts collection, including portraits of Dr. and Mrs. Mason by the prominent nineteenth century artist Chester Harding.  For more information about guided tours of the Mason House, please see our House Museum page.

The first floor of the Mason House barn was adapted in the early 1970s to provide a place for the monthly meetings of the Bethel Historical Society.  However, as a result of changes in program scheduling, this large room now serves as an exhibition hall for both traveling and in-house exhibits.  Events associated with the Society's annual lecture series also take place here in May, June, August, September, October, and November.

The Bethel Historical Society's Regional History Center is located at 10-14 Broad Street on the Common at Bethel, Maine, just off Route 2, one of the State's busiest highways.  Twelve miles east of the Maine/New Hampshire border, Bethel lies at the junction of Routes 2 and 26.  The latter highway provides easy access to Bethel from the Portland area via Exit 63 of the Maine Turnpike.  Bethel can also be reached on Routes 5 and 35.

Society Staff and Trustees

Brief History of the Bethel Historical Society

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