2019 Tewksbury Festival of Trees

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The Tewksbury Historical Society’s contribution to the 2019 Festival of Trees is now on display at the public library.

Left to Right: Nancy Reed, Luann O’Keefe, Karen Favreau, and Rita O’Brien-Dee

Special thanks to members Karen Favreau, Luann O’Keefe, Rita O’Brien-Dee and Nancy Reed for their hard work celebrating not only the holidays, but the town’s past as the Carnation Capital of the World.

Drop-In Gala Opening
Saturday, Dec. 7, 6:00pm – 8:30pm

More information on the Festival of Trees can be found here:
http://www.tewksburypl.org/get-involved/pages/2019-festival-trees?fbclid=IwAR3runYlhJ9eowxYQXcNTIz0VBMpp9i_EScdQWveEtS4j4Dv6MdfkHh2Ldo

An Evening with Dr. Benjamin Kittredge

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When: September 19, 2019 @ 7:00pm.

Brian Cortez here portraying an 18th Century Doctor

Tewksbury resident Brian Cortez, a Revolutionary War re-enactor, will portray Dr. Kittredge in this one-man show. Light refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the Friends of Tewksbury and the Tewksbury Historical Society.

Please visit the event description for full details and registration for attending this event.

2019 Tewksbury Line of March

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Sunday, April 7th our town was the scene of a mustering of colonial militia. A throwback to the time of our American Revolution, members of the town were called to arms in the early morning hours of April 19th, 1775. The response was swift as word was spread by a handful of brave messengers on horseback, among them were Paul Revere and William Dawes.

Members of Col. Bailey’s 2nd Massachusetts Regiment muster on the green.

This call to our town was sounded by an unknown lone rider that came from the south to warn the countryside of the approaching British column of regular soldiers marching on Lexington and Concord. These soldiers were instructed to seize the guns, powder, and cannon from the civilian population. The men had mustered and trained for this moment, and 100 answered that call. They gathered in the town center, and marched to Concord to assemble and fight at Merriam’s Corner that fateful morning.

Today, we have an annual memorial of those brave men, and answered that call and marched into battle. With help from the town, the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, Billerica Minutemen, and Lexington Minutemen, the Tewksbury Historical Society is able to recreate a portion of that march.

Click here to see a slideshow of the event

Presenting the 2018 Patriot Christmas Tree

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Each year the Tewksbury Historical Society decorates a tree in a different theme. The theme itself represents some aspect of the town’s history. This year, with the growing passion to spread the knowledge of the town’s participation in the founding of our country, the theme selected was that of the local Tewksbury Patriot.

The 2018 Patriot Christmas Tree from the Tewksbury Historical Society

This theme pays homage to those men that marched to Concord in the early morning hours of April 19th, 1775 to repel the advancing British Redcoats. The local Tewksbury Minutemen, led by Capt. John Trull, fought at Meriam’s Corner in Concord. During the ensuing battle, one of the British General’s horses was either spooked by the musket fire or hit with one of the shots. It threw its rider and attempted to escape the confusion and was intercepted by three militia men in the area. One of those men was a local Tewksbury Minuteman, who assisted in seizing the runaway horse and taking it into custody.

The tree can be seen at the Tewksbury Public Library  The Festival of Trees Opening Gala begins
Saturday, December 1, 6:00PM—8:30PM.

To that local hero, and those of this Committee, we give an 18th Century shout of, Huzza!

The Patriot Tree Committee

Winter 2015 – 2016

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Line-of-March Program Given Final Approval!

The Tewksbury Selectmen voted unanimously to allow the Tewksbury Historical Society to put up 9 granite posts as Memorials to the Tewksbury Militia that marched to Concord to protect and keep safe that community on April 19, 1775. One hundred men marched that morning and fought the British who had invaded Lexington and then Concord. Tewksbury’s three Militia Companies arrived at Meriam’s Corner and fought the British on the flanks and from the rear of the British column as they returned to Boston.

The Selectmen were very supportive, asking questions about Tewksbury History and giving suggestions as to placement of the granite memorials. Installation will be during March or early April 2016. Join the following Corporate Sponsors and many private citizens that have already donated.

I will be donating to the Line-of-March to take a tax write-off on my taxes. Please join me with a small or large donation before the end of this year. It is the season for giving and lets honor our Tewksbury veterans that came before us. Watch for details on the dedication of this exciting program on April 17th, 2016.

David E. Marcus, Interim President