Keeping Time in Early Sandwich

Made around 1800, this seven-foot-tall clock pairs an American-made wooden case with finely crafted English brass works—a reminder that even as a young nation, Americans still relied on Old World skill and materials.

The clock once stood in Uplands, a prominent Main Street home owned by the Faunce family, who came to Sandwich from Plymouth in the late 1700s. The last family members to live there were Dr. Robert H. Faunce, a local physician, and his mother Harriet T. Faunce.

After Dr. Faunce’s death in 1908, his mother directed in her will that the property be used for an educational or charitable purpose in his memory. Trustees initially attempted to operate the estate as a farm, but when that proved unsuccessful, they sold the house and land around 1920 and established a trust fund whose income supported civic and charitable causes in Sandwich.

The clock entered the museum in 1922, carrying with it not just hours and minutes, but a story of family, place, and community.

Throughout 2026, we’ll be diving into our permanent collection—researching familiar objects, uncovering new stories, and rethinking how they connect to Sandwich, the nation, and the world as we commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary.