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X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://freedomsway.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Freedom's Way National Heritage Area
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DTSTART:20210101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260712T133000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260712T153000
DTSTAMP:20260403T191938Z
CREATED:20260403T191228Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260403T191938Z
UID:36081-1783863000-1783870200@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Declaring Independence: Then & Now – Westford\, MA
DESCRIPTION:The 2026 series will end on Sunday\, July 12 at 1:30 PM at the Westford Museum (2 Boston Road)\, located within the original 1794 Westford Academy building. Enjoy an engaging performance hosted by the Westford Historical Society\, followed by spirited period music provided by the Prescott Battalion Fife and Drum Corps. \nDeclaring Independence: Then & Now brings to life the Declaration of Independence as a forum for civic dialogue and engagement through a forty-minute performance and ensuing moderated community conversation. The script\, written by public historian Mary B. Fuhrer\, utilizes primary source material researched by citizen historians to reveal how individuals within Massachusetts towns debated and responded to the question of independence in the spring and summer of 1776\, followed by an annotated reading of the Declaration itself. \nIn commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence\, 15 community-hosted performances are scheduled across the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area during the spring and summer of 2026. Find a performance near you! \nDeclaring Independence: Then & Now is supported\, in part\, by the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/declaring-independence-westford/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Declaring Independence: Then & Now,Performances
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/DI-2026_Stacked-Logo-for-Events.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260521T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260521T203000
DTSTAMP:20260408T185225Z
CREATED:20260408T185225Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T185225Z
UID:36457-1779390000-1779395400@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:John Abbot\, the Man\, the Myth\, the Legend!
DESCRIPTION:John Abbot of Westford was a multifaceted individual\, serving as a lawyer\, town treasurer\, selectman\, Massachusetts State Senator\, and a dedicated graduate and trustee of Westford Academy. On June 17\, 1825\, he held the distinguished role of Grand Master of the Masons of Massachusetts\, where he had the honor of presiding over the cornerstone-laying ceremony for the Bunker Hill Monument\, alongside the illustrious Marquis de Lafayette. \nDon’t miss the chance to join Bob Oliphant as he delves into the intriguing life and lasting impact of this remarkable figure from Westford! \nDATE: Thursday\, May 21 \nTIME: 7 – 8:30 PM \nLOCATION: Westford Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA 01886 \nACCESS: Handicap ramp access to the first floor of the Museum. \n  \n  \nThis program is offered by the Westford Historical Society & Museum as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/john-abbot-the-man-the-myth-the-legend/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hidden Treasures,Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ABBOT-JOHN-painting.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260501
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260408T205218Z
CREATED:20260408T205218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T205218Z
UID:36500-1777593600-1780271999@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Stroll Through Historic Westford Center with Kate Hamlin & Fred Fisher
DESCRIPTION:We invite you to embark on a fascinating historical audio tour of Westford Center before the Civil War! Join our enthusiastic virtual guides\, Kate Hamlin (1847-1937) and Fred Fisher (1855-1941)\, as they share their vivid memories of their beloved hometown. \nWhile exploring the charming historic Westford Center\, you’ll have the chance to reflect on its captivating stories and gain a deeper appreciation for our vibrant history. \nPark at the Westford Museum located at 2 Boston Road\, Westford. Download your map and scan the QR code for the audio tour. Enjoy your journey through historic Westford Center! \nThis walking tour is self-guided and available daily. Click to access the map and audio on the Westford Historical Society & Museum’s website. \n  \n  \nThis program is offered by the Westford Historical Society & Museum as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!  \n 
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/stroll-through-historic-westford-center-with-kate-hamlin-fred-fisher-2/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hidden Treasures,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Hamlin-Fisher-Map041-600x444-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260419T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260419T200000
DTSTAMP:20260331T163624Z
CREATED:20260331T163624Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260331T163624Z
UID:35861-1776625200-1776628800@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Patriots' Day Candlelight Tribute at Fairview Cemetery
DESCRIPTION:We warmly invite you to our Annual Patriots Day Candlelight Tribute on Sunday evening\, April 19\, at the beautiful Old Division of Fairview Cemetery as the sun sets. This special event offers a unique self-guided stroll where you can explore the service records of Westford’s Revolutionary War Patriots right from your phone or tablet. \nReflecting on the days leading up to April 19\, 1775\, the courageous men of Westford were diligently drilling and training on the Westford Common\, ready to respond at a moment’s notice. The rising tensions between American colonists and the British government were palpable\, and the residents of Westford demonstrated their steadfast commitment to supporting the colony. \nCome join us in honoring some of the brave soldiers who heeded the call and marched to Concord on that pivotal day\, all of whom are commemorated in Fairview Cemetery. \nJohn Abbot (1743-1805): 2nd Lieutenant\, Westford’s First Foot Company\nThomas Cummings (1734-1818): 1st Lieutenant\, Westford’s Minute Company\nHosea Hildreth (1744-1776): Corporal\, Westford’s Second Foot Company\nJonathan Minot (1723-1806): Captain\, Westford’s Second Foot Company \nJoin us this Patriots Day\, April 19th\, to honor the remarkable contributions of Rev. Willard Hall (1703-1779)\, a devoted Loyalist and minister of the First Parish Church of Westford\, alongside Thomas Greenough Jr. (1738-1775)\, a courageous Boston refugee. Their legacies profoundly shaped our town’s history and influenced the course of the war. \nThis Patriots’ Day\, April 19\, 2026\, take a delightful stroll through the beautifully illuminated Old Division of historic Fairview Cemetery\, and immerse yourself in the stories that continue to inspire our community today! \nWe look forward to sharing this meaningful experience with you! \nEnter and park at the cemetery via Tadmuck Rd. \nWe extend our gratitude to Rockland Trust for their generous support of the Westford Museum’s Westford Rev 250 program series\, which celebrates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. \nPhoto courtesy of the Westford Historical Society & Museum \n\n		\n			\n				\n			\n			\n		 \n		\n			This event explores our region’s revolutionary past! Learn about Freedom’s Way 250 and discover the many ways the Heritage Area and its partners are commemorating and celebrating our nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/patriots-day-candlelight-tribute-at-fairview-cemetery-2/
LOCATION:Fairview Cemetery\, Tadmuck Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Living History,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/westlawn-Graves-scaled-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260305T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260305T203000
DTSTAMP:20260302T133429Z
CREATED:20260302T133429Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260302T133429Z
UID:34893-1772737200-1772742600@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford REV 250: “Affectionate Friends and Humble Servants” Mercy Otis Warren and Martha Washington
DESCRIPTION:The Westford Museum and Historical Society\, in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Westford\, is pleased to announce the upcoming event\, “Affectionate Friends and Humble Servants\,” featuring American notable figures Mercy Otis Warren and Martha Washington. \nSet in the late 18th century\, this engaging conversation unfolds between Martha Washington (Sandy Spector) and Mercy Otis Warren (Michele Gabrielson)\, a notable playwright and activist. Nestled in a warm parlor\, they delve into their friendship\, discussing their respective contributions during the revolutionary era and the challenges they faced along the way. Through a blend of dialogue and historical anecdotes\, their exchange highlights both personal reflections and the larger political landscape\, showcasing the bond that empowered their influence in the nascent nation. \nAbout the Performers \nMichele Gabrielson\, M.Ed.\, is a professional historian\, public school educator\, and historical interpreter of the 18th century. She serves on several historic committees and is secretary for the recently formed nonprofit\, The Mercy Otis Warren Society. The Massachusetts History Alliance awarded her a 2024 Rising Star Award for Public History for her programming titled “The Revolutionary Classroom.” She was named a 2024 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year finalist. Michele was recently awarded the Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution’s Outstanding History Teacher of the Year for 2025. \nSandy Spector portrays Martha Washington\, forging authentic connections through engaging conversation and storytelling. Her passion for history began while living near Valley Forge Park\, which inspired her to become a Revolutionary War reenactor in 1999. Initially\, she started as a camp follower with the 10th Massachusetts Regiment and later assumed the role of Tipsy Ne’erdowell\, showcasing the customs of the era. \nToday\, Sandy focuses on bringing Martha Washington to life for audiences through The Ladies of Refined Taste and ongoing research about the Washingtons. For over a decade\, she has performed at various venues\, including National Park Service sites and schools\, both virtually and in person\, across multiple states. \nWhen she isn’t researching Martha\, Mount Vernon\, or the perspective of an 18th-century woman\, Sandy works as a nonprofit administrator. She resides south of Boston with her husband and three children. \nSponsored by \nEdward M. Connolly Insurance Agency\, Inc
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/westford-rev-250-affectionate-friends-and-humble-servants-mercy-otis-warren-and-martha-washington/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Revolutionary Stories,Living History
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Affectionate-Friends-1732-x-1100-1024x650-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250522T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250522T203000
DTSTAMP:20250422T153039Z
CREATED:20250422T153039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250422T153039Z
UID:28173-1747940400-1747945800@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Clang\, clang\, clang went the Trolley through Westford
DESCRIPTION:The History of Trolley Service in Westford \nIn the early 1900s\, the Lowell & Fitchburg Street Railway operated a trolley line connecting Lowell to Ayer. This line passed through North Chelmsford and extended to Forge Village. In 1907\, a branch line of the Lowell & Fitchburg ran along Brookside Road\, around Whidden’s Corner\, and terminated at the Stony Brook railroad tracks at Moore’s Mill in Brookside. Passengers would then cross the railroad tracks to board another trolley car that took them to Westford Center. \nAlthough this branch line closed in 1919\, the central Lowell and Fitchburg trolley system remained in service until it was sold for scrap in 1929. \nJoin Marilyn Day for an engaging presentation based on historical documents\, newspaper articles\, photographs\, and personal stories related to the Westford Trolley system. \nAbout the Speaker: Marilyn (Green) Day\, Westford Town Historian\, Former Director the Westford Museum\, and Board Member of the Westford Historical Society \nDATE: Thursday\, May 22nd \nTIME: 7 – 8:30 PM \nLOCATION: Westford Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886 \nThis program is offered by the Westford Historical Society & Museum as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/clang-clang-clang-went-the-trolley-through-westford/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/275th-27.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250419T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250419T200000
DTSTAMP:20250326T160329Z
CREATED:20250318T151039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250326T160329Z
UID:27107-1745087400-1745092800@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford Rev 250: Patriot’s Day Candlelight Tour at Westlawn Cemetery with Dedication by Col. Johnson Robinson Chapter\, DAR
DESCRIPTION:We invite you to attend the Patriot’s Day Candlelight Tribute at Westlawn Cemetery on April 19! It’s an incredible opportunity to honor the brave men from Westford who served during the American Revolution. This year\, we’re offering a unique experience with a self-guided stroll through the cemetery\, allowing you to access the service records of our Revolutionary War Patriots right from your phone or tablet. It’s a great way to connect with history in a personal way! You’ll also have the chance to engage with colonial interpreters who will be stationed throughout the illuminated grounds\, ready to answer any questions you may have. \nGuest parking will be available on the Country Roadside of Westlawn Cemetery for your convenience. \nAmong those we honor is the esteemed Colonel John Robinson (1735-1805)\, Westford’s highest-ranking officer from the Revolutionary War. His legacy is marked by the prominent slate marker that stands proudly in the cemetery. Robinson was not just a military leader; he served as a town selectman and was a courageous commander who led three Westford Minutemen companies to the North Bridge in Concord on that fateful morning of April 19\, 1775. It was here that his men bravely confronted British regulars\, firing what would become known as “the shot heard ’round the world.” Colonel Robinson also fought alongside many of these men at the Battle of Bunker Hill\, showcasing his valor and commitment to our freedom. \nThe cemetery is steeped in history\, located at the intersection of Concord and Country roads. Originally\, this land belonged to Deacon Joshua Fletcher\, one of Westford’s first taxpayers. After his daughter married Samuel Parker\, the property eventually passed to Nathan Proctor\, who generously donated what was then called West Burying Ground to the town. When Westford formally took over the cemetery’s care in 1761\, many founding citizens found their final resting place there\, making it a significant site of remembrance \nColonel Robinson is interred alongside 18 of his fellow Revolutionary War veterans. In 1902\, the Sons of the American Revolution paid homage to their sacrifices by placing iron Maltese crosses on their graves. \nExcitingly\, in 2025 our nation will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War! As part of this momentous occasion\, the Westford Museum and Historical Society will explore our history during this pivotal era in American history. We encourage you to engage with us as we shine a light on Westford’s unique contributions and stories from the American Revolution. \n\n		\n			\n				\n			\n			\n		 \n		\n			This event explores our region’s revolutionary past! Learn about Freedom’s Way 250 and discover the many ways the Heritage Area and its partners are commemorating and celebrating our nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/patriots-day-candlelight-tour-at-westlawn-cemetery-with-dedication-by-col-johnson-robinson-chapter-daughters-of-the-american-revolution/
LOCATION:Westlawn Cemetery\, Concord & Country Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/westford-historical-society_patriots-day-candlelight-tribute.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250413T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250413T140000
DTSTAMP:20250326T155854Z
CREATED:20250318T150818Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250326T155854Z
UID:27102-1744549200-1744552800@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford Rev 250: A Day for Doughnuts\, April 19\, 1775. A One-Act Play Presented by the Westford Girl Scouts
DESCRIPTION:Join us for “A Day for Doughnuts\,” a one-act play set on April 19\, 1775. This performance captures the last thing Colonel Robinson said before he left that morning: “Have the girls prepare dough knots and send them to the men for lunch.” \nOlive Prescott\, Lt. Col. John Robinson’s great-granddaughter\, recounts the April 19\, 1775 events\, including her ancestor’s significant role on that celebrated day. In her narrative\, Olive combines family memories\, town records accounts\, and local historians’ reports. \nShe describes how Huldah\, Robinson’s wife\, their three daughters\, and their servant Anna prepared many doughnuts to feed over 100 men from Westford who were heading to fight in Concord. \nWestford History proudly includes accounts of Lt. Col. John Robinson and the brave participation of the Westford Militia Companies in the colonial resistance and revolution on that important day in April 1775. The events at the North Bridge in Concord solidified Lt. Col. John Robinson’s status as a courageous American hero of liberty whose valiant actions contributed to securing our American freedom. \nSuggested Donation: $10 per person \n\n		\n			\n				\n			\n			\n		 \n		\n			This event explores our region’s revolutionary past! Learn about Freedom’s Way 250 and discover the many ways the Heritage Area and its partners are commemorating and celebrating our nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/a-day-for-doughnuts-april-19-1775-a-one-act-play-presented-by-the-westford-girl-scouts/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Performances
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hearth-A-Day-for-Doughnuts.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250410T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250410T203000
DTSTAMP:20250326T155449Z
CREATED:20250326T155449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250326T155449Z
UID:27279-1744311600-1744317000@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford REV 250: “…before we had gone half a mile we were fired on from all sides” the Battles of Lexington & Concord\, April 18-19\, 1775
DESCRIPTION:In October 1774\, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress ordered the towns across the colony to prepare  \nThe Battles of Lexington and Concord erupted on April 19\, 1775\, pitting the brave Massachusetts militia against the formidable British forces. This confrontation followed the dramatic Midnight Rides and the urgent Lexington Alarm\, which mobilized the countryside in preparation for the impending advance of British troops toward Concord. Tensions reached a breaking point when British soldiers opened fire on the steadfast Lexington militia\, igniting the sparks of the American Revolutionary War and ushering in a new era of struggle for independence. \nJoin Tom Tringale as he recounts the events of April 18-19\, 1775—the start of a revolution. \nTringale is a graduate of Salem State College with a degree in History. He has been involved in living History since 1995. He has helped organize numerous events around New England\, including planning the 250th anniversary of the Boston Massacre\, Battle Road\, and the British raids in Bristol\, Rhode Island (2028). He is a member of Claus’ Rangers\, an American Loyalist living history group based in New York\, and the 3rd Massachusetts Regiment\, an American Continental Regiment living history group from Easthampton\, MA. During Patriots’ Day weekend\, Tommy and several friends and fellow history enthusiasts worked together to portray Captain Edward Farmer’s Billerica Company. \nSuggested program donation of $10 per person \nYour contribution supports preserving and maintaining artifacts in the Westford Museum collection. Thank you for your support of the Westford Museum. \n\n		\n			\n				\n			\n			\n		 \n		\n			This event explores our region’s revolutionary past! Learn about Freedom’s Way 250 and discover the many ways the Heritage Area and its partners are commemorating and celebrating our nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/westford-rev-250-before-we-had-gone-half-a-mile-we-were-fired-on-from-all-sides-the-battles-of-lexington-concord-april-18-19-1775/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rev-250-Tringale-crop.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250403T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250403T203000
DTSTAMP:20250326T155209Z
CREATED:20250326T155209Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250326T155209Z
UID:27276-1743706800-1743712200@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford Rev 250: For the Defence and Safety of the Province: Massachusetts Prepares for War.
DESCRIPTION:In October 1774\, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress ordered the towns across the colony to prepare for war with England. In response\, the colony entered a wartime phase that included creating minute companies\, stockpiling arms\, ammunition\, and equipment\, and establishing a defense network ready to mobilize if the redcoats marched from Boston into the countryside. \nJoin Alexander Cain as he discusses the colony’s response to the British threat of war and examines the Massachusetts militia and minute-man system on the eve of Lexington and Concord. \nAbout the Speaker:\nAlexander Cain\, JD\, graduated from Merrimack College in 1993 with a degree in economics and from the New England School of Law in 1996 with a juris doctorate. He directs a Merrimack Valley-based vocational program that introduces high school students to advanced manufacturing and skilled trades careers. Alex is a well-respected and highly sought-after speaker who frequently lectures on the military and social influences of 1775 Massachusetts. He has published multiple research articles that have shed new light on the Battles of Lexington and Concord\, Bunker Hill\, the Siege of Boston\, and the loyalist refugee experience during the American Revolution. Alex has also published two books; We Stood Our Ground: Lexington in the First Year of the American Revolution and I See Nothing but the Horrors of a Civil War and is the author of the blog and podcast “Historical Nerdery.” He resides in Massachusetts with his wife\, Paula. They have two adult children\, John and Abigail. \nSuggested Donation:** $10 per person \nYour contribution supports preserving and maintaining artifacts in the Westford Museum collection. Thank you for your support of the Westford Museum. \n\n		\n			\n				\n			\n			\n		 \n		\n			This event explores our region’s revolutionary past! Learn about Freedom’s Way 250 and discover the many ways the Heritage Area and its partners are commemorating and celebrating our nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/westford-rev-250-for-the-defence-and-safety-of-the-province-massachusetts-prepares-for-war/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Westford-Rev-250-Cain-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250313T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250313T170000
DTSTAMP:20250303T153052Z
CREATED:20250204T161853Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250303T153052Z
UID:26261-1741852800-1741885200@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford REV 250: A Revolution of Her Own! Deborah Sampson\, the first woman to fight the American Military
DESCRIPTION:Deborah Sampson\, the first woman to enlist\, fight\, and be honorably discharged from the American Military\, captivates audiences in an hour-long program chronicling her life. An indentured servant by age five\, Deborah grew up in a man’s world\, where women were naught but second-class citizens. Without the ability to vote or to own property\, Deborah knew her options were limited; breaking the rules may be necessary to accomplish a greater goal in life. As a self-educated masterless woman\, she felt a higher calling\, and in the final years of the American Revolution\, Deborah bound her chest. tied back her hair\, and enlisted in the 4th Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army\, as “Robert Shurtlieff.” The American Heroine takes you back in time! \nHistory At Play (HAP) was founded in 2010 by Artistic Director Judith “Jude” Kalaora to chronicle the lives of influential and often forgotten women. Offering solo and ensemble immersive living history productions\, HAP is woman-owned and operated and committed to employing artists from the region. Kalaora is a professional educator\, writer\, and living historian. She graduated from Syracuse University and attended the Globe Education Program of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre of London\, England. \n\n		\n			\n				\n			\n			\n		 \n		\n			This event explores our region’s revolutionary past! Learn about Freedom’s Way 250 and discover the many ways the Heritage Area and its partners are commemorating and celebrating our nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/westford-rev-250-a-revolution-of-her-own-deborah-sampson-the-first-woman-to-fight-the-american-military/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Revolutionary Stories,Living History,Performances
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Westford-250-red.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250227T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250227T203000
DTSTAMP:20250204T161741Z
CREATED:20250204T161741Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250204T161741Z
UID:26256-1740682800-1740688200@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford REV 250: “In the Spirit of Friendship: John Adams and Mercy Otis Warren”
DESCRIPTION:Step back in time for an engaging conversation with two influential Revolution writers: John Adams and Mercy Otis Warren! Through first-person narratives and primary source documents\, they will share the ups and downs of their friendship\, which experienced a significant rift after Warren’s 1805 publication of the first history of the American Revolution. Adams was unhappy with his portrayal and confronted Warren\, leading to a heated exchange of letters. After years of tension\, they reconciled in 1812. \nJoin us for a lively debate featuring Michele Gabrielson as Mercy Otis Warren and Michael LePage as John Adams\, discussing Warren’s landmark three-volume history. \nMichele Gabrielson is a professional historian with 17 years of experience teaching early American History\, while Michael LePage has been bringing historical characters to life since 1992\, including Paul Revere and John Adams. \nHosted by the Westford Museum and Historical Society and League of Women Voters of Westford \n“In the Spirit of Friendship: John Adams and Mercy Otis Warren” is sponsored by Edward M. Connolly Insurance Agency.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/westford-rev-250-in-the-spirit-of-friendship-john-adams-and-mercy-otis-warren/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Revolutionary Stories,Performances,Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20252-Warren-and-Adans-Friendship.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250209T133000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250209T150000
DTSTAMP:20250204T161627Z
CREATED:20250204T161627Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250204T161627Z
UID:26251-1739107800-1739113200@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford REV 250: “Bartering\, Currency\, and the American Economy in Colonial Times”
DESCRIPTION:The early American colonies faced significant cash problems\, and various solutions were devised to address them. \nMoney\, or the lack of it\, was a persistent issue in colonial America. The colonists were subject to British rule\, where gold and silver were the official legal tender; however\, British coins circulated only infrequently in the colonies. Lacking a dependable commodity to use as currency\, colonial governments in the eighteenth century turned to paper money instead. \nIn this program\, you will explore and understand the value of money in colonial America\, including the types of currency used\, how people kept track of it\, how they obtained it\, and what they could purchase. The presentation will feature period images and begin by explaining the currency of the United Kingdom\, its use in the colonies\, the concept of “legal money\,” and the various “Tenors.” It will also outline the primary forms of the medium used for conducting business and exchanging goods in pre-revolutionary America. \nMatthew Mees\, Living Historian\, Mees\, specializes in the Colonial life of the late 18th century\, from British rule to the early years of independence. \nSuggested Donation:** $10 per person \nYour contribution supports preserving and maintaining artifacts in the Westford Museum collection. Thank you for your support of the Westford Museum.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/westford-rev-250-bartering-currency-and-the-american-economy-in-colonial-times/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Revolutionary Stories,Living History
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20252-Mees-Battering.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250130T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250130T203000
DTSTAMP:20240930T160758Z
CREATED:20240930T160509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240930T160758Z
UID:24934-1738263600-1738269000@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford 250: In the Margins - Women Printers in the 18th Century
DESCRIPTION:18th century newspapers and pamphlets were essential to the dissemination of information and were instrumental in fanning the flames of discord on both sides of the revolutionary conflict.  While the job of printing was largely considered a masculine activity\, widows\, wives\, and daughters took up the mantle of a free press.  Not only did women printers set the type that would be read and shared by readers and subscribers\, but in some cases even ran and owned their own printing operations. In this lecture\, learn about the indispensable role that women in printing played in the pivotal events leading up to the American Revolution.\n\nMichele Gabrielson\, M.Ed\, The Revolutionary Classroom\nMichele is a professional historian and public school educator with 17 years experience of teaching early American History. As a living historian and reenactor of the American Revolution\, she offers any presentation to be delivered in historically accurate\, hand sewn and documented 18th century clothing.Suggested donation $10 per person. Your donation supports the preservation and maintenance of artifacts in the collection of the Westford Museum. Thank you for your donation. \n\n  \nWhat is Westford 250?  In 2025 the nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War. Join the Westford Museum and Historical Society as we explore Westford’s history in the American Revolution and related stories. \n  \n\n		\n			\n				\n			\n			\n		 \n		\n			This event explores our region’s revolutionary past! Learn about Freedom’s Way 250 and discover the many ways the Heritage Area and its partners are commemorating and celebrating our nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/westford-250-in-the-margins-women-printers-in-the-18th-century/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Revolutionary Stories,Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Slide7-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240811T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240811T150000
DTSTAMP:20240801T125127Z
CREATED:20240801T124946Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240801T125127Z
UID:22357-1723384800-1723388400@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Connecting Communities: Walks & Talks — "How We Remember" with Westford 250
DESCRIPTION:Join us as we continue Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area’s 2024 Connecting Communities: Walks & Talks program with Rally at the Liberty Tree\, A Revolutionary Walking Tour of Westford Common hosted by the Westford Museum & Historical Society. \nMeet Ken Tebbetts at 1:50 PM at the Liberty Tree near the Westford Public Safety Courtyard next to Town Hall (55 Main St) for a guided tour of the Revolutionary War Monuments and Memorials surrounding Westford Common. \nWhat is Westford 250?  In 2025 the nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War. Join the Westford Museum and Historical Society as we explore Westford’s history in the American Revolution and related stories. \nFor more information about all of the Museum’s events and programs\, visit their website at https://museum.westford.org/upcoming-events/. \n===\nThis walking tour is featured in the 2024 Connecting Communities: Walks & Talks series\, “How We Remember.” Connecting Communities: Walks & Talks is part of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area’s larger interpretive strategy which aims to provide life-long learning opportunities to residents and visitors\, connecting them to local landscapes while raising awareness of and inspiring support for conservation and preservation initiatives in the region. \nThis year’s thematic focus is inspired by our semiquincentennial initiative\, How We Remember: A Survey of Revolutionary War Monuments\, Memorials and Markers within the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. The series explores the ways in which people and events of the Revolutionary War period are commemorated in various towns’ landscapes while sharing fascinating stories behind how and why these commemorative objects came to be.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/connecting-communities-walks-talks-how-we-remember-with-westford-250/
LOCATION:Westford Town Common\, Lincoln Street\, Westford\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Revolutionary Stories,Connecting Communities: Walks & Talks,Walks & Hikes
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Westford-MA_Revolutionary-War-Drum-Monument-1.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240711T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240711T203000
DTSTAMP:20240510T145952Z
CREATED:20240510T145952Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240510T145952Z
UID:21502-1720724400-1720729800@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford 250 - The Solemn League and Covenant and Westford's Response to the 1774 Intolerable Acts
DESCRIPTION:In the spring and summer of 1774\, news had reached Boston that Britain’s Parliament had invoked several measures in retaliation for the Destruction of the Tea in Boston Harbor\, known as the “Intolerable Acts”. Samuel Adams and the Boston committee of correspondence developed a non-importation pledge known as the “Solemn League and Covenant”. The Covenant called for its signers to halt the purchase of British goods after August 31st. Westford was one of a small number of towns that supported the pledge. \nJoin Dan Lacroix as he looks at the history behind the document\, Westford’s original copy\, and the wide range of men who signed their names to the pledge and how they set Westford apart from other Massachusetts towns. \nDan Lacroix is a student of Westford’s 18th century history and webmaster of “westford1775.org“\, a resource for Westford’s Revolutionary period history. \nWhat is Westford 250?  In 2025 the nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War. Join the Westford Museum and Historical Society as we explore Westford’s history in the American Revolution and related stories.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/westford-250-the-solemn-league-and-covenant-and-westfords-response-to-the-1774-intolerable-acts/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Revolutionary Stories,Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Slide7-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240523T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240523T203000
DTSTAMP:20240425T192804Z
CREATED:20240425T192804Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240425T192804Z
UID:21291-1716490800-1716496200@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford 250 – Once Known: Slavery in Westford with Leslie Howard
DESCRIPTION:Slavery in Westford?! It may be surprising\, but there were at least 24 confirmed enslaved individuals in the town of Westford from 1730 to 1780. There is little in the historical record of these individuals and their lives\, however some information has been compiled in an attempt to present what their life may have been like and to learn more about them. \nLeslie Howard\, President of the Westford Historical Society\, will share her research of Peggy who was enslaved by Joseph Hildreth\, Jr. and the other enslaved individuals in town. \nPhoto of Leslie Howard by Farmhouse Photography\, Chelmsford\, MA \n  \nThis program is offered by the Westford Historical Society & Museum as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/westford-250-once-known-slavery-in-westford-with-leslie-howard/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hidden Treasures,Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LeslieHoward.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240427T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240427T210000
DTSTAMP:20240328T181928Z
CREATED:20240328T181928Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240328T181928Z
UID:20771-1714246200-1714251600@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Two Truths\, One Lie\, Three Pours with Sam Adams: the Man\, the Beer!
DESCRIPTION:A Revolutionary Fundraiser!\nEnjoy three stories about Sam Adams while sampling a variety of Samuel Adams Beers paired with savory appetizers \nColonial interpreter\, Mike Lepage will share three accounts of the life of Sam Adams\, two accounts will be historically accurate\, one is a fabrication! Can you ferret out the fable from fact. Join us for an evening of Two Truths\, One Lie\, Three Pours with Sam Adams. \nTickets: $60\nWestford Historical Society Members: $45 \nClick here to purchase tickets.\nWestford 250-In 2025 the nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War. Join the Westford Museum and Historical Society as we explore Westford’s history in the American Revolution and related stories…….. \n\n  \n  \nPhoto courtesy of the Westford Historical Society & Museum
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/two-truths-one-lie-three-pours-with-sam-adams-the-man-the-beer/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Westford-250-red.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240419T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240419T200000
DTSTAMP:20240328T180915Z
CREATED:20240328T180915Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240328T180915Z
UID:20767-1713551400-1713556800@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Patriots' Day Candlelight Tribute at Fairview Cemetery
DESCRIPTION:In this unique self-guided stroll\, you can access the service records of Westford’s Revolutionary War Patriots on your phone or tablet. There will be interpreters to answer your questions stationed throughout the beautifully illuminated cemetery. \nOne of the most distinguished citizens buried here is Capt. Joseph Reed. Capt. Read became a prominent man in Westford\, MA which he represented for 20 years in the General Court. He took part in the famous Boston Tea Party\, an act of protest regarded by many as the spark that ignited the American Revolution. Captain Joseph Read also served the town of Westford as delegate to go to the provincial Congress. He was just one of the men of great distinction buried in Fairview cemetery. \nWestford 250-In 2025 the nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War. Join the Westford Museum and Historical Society as we explore Westford’s history in the American Revolution and related stories…….. \n  \nPhoto courtesy of the Westford Historical Society & Museum
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/patriots-day-candlelight-tribute-at-fairview-cemetery/
LOCATION:Fairview Cemetery\, Tadmuck Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Living History,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/westlawn-Graves-scaled-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240414T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240414T150000
DTSTAMP:20240328T181249Z
CREATED:20240328T181249Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240328T181249Z
UID:20769-1713099600-1713106800@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Col. John Robinson Day at the Westford Museum
DESCRIPTION:Experience the aspects of everyday life in Colonial Westford through Woodworking\, spinning\, chocolate and more! \nWestford 250-In 2025 the nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War. Join the Westford Museum and Historical Society as we explore Westford’s history in the American Revolution and related stories…….. \n\n  \n  \nPhoto courtesy of the Westford Historical Society & Museum
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/col-john-robinson-day-at-the-westford-museum/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Living History,Open House
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Westford-250-red.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240307T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240307T203000
DTSTAMP:20240229T155826Z
CREATED:20240229T155713Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240229T155826Z
UID:20511-1709838000-1709843400@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford 250—Who Was Your Revolutionary War Ancestor? with Bob Oliphant
DESCRIPTION:Did my Ancestor Serve in the American Revolution?\nBoys as young as 16 were allowed to serve\, so any male ancestors who were between the ages of 16 and 50 between 1776 and 1783 were potential candidates. Those who didn’t serve directly in a military capacity may have helped in other ways – by providing goods\, supplies or non-military service to the cause. Women also participated in the American Revolution\, some even accompanying their husbands to battle. \nIf you have an ancestor you believe may have served in the American Revolution\, then Bob Oliphant has tips to help you get started \nRobert “Bob” Oliphant is a local historian of Westford\, but he was not always on that path. He is originally from Oberlin\, Ohio\, and went to college to study metallurgy and materials science. It was while in college that he discovered his passion for genealogy\, the study of tracing lineages. Eight years after graduating from college\, he moved to Westford\, where he and his wife\, Bonnie\, raised their three sons. Since then\, Oliphant has been on the Westford Historical Commission on the board of the Westford Museum and Historical Society\, and serves on the town’s Parkerville Schoolhouse Committee and the Records and Archives Management Committee. He has published a history book on Westford\, The Westford Gazetteer. He also does research and writes articles for the Westford Historical Society\, and has written the “Museum Musings” column in the Westford Eagle\, the local weekly newspaper\, since 2008. He is dedicated to studying Westford history and serving the town in doing so \nSuggested Program donation $10 per person \nWestford 250-In 2025 the nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War. Join the Westford Museum and Historical Society as we explore Westford’s history in the American Revolution and related stories……..
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/westford-250-who-was-your-revolutionary-war-ancestor-with-bob-oliphant/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Westford-250-red.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240222T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240222T203000
DTSTAMP:20240222T151832Z
CREATED:20240126T202516Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240222T151832Z
UID:20291-1708628400-1708633800@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford 250—A Pressing Matter: 18th Century Media Literacy & Bias with Michele Gabrielson
DESCRIPTION:Media and information literacy are essential 21st century skills in order to be an informed citizen. These are also skills that when applied in a historical context\, help us become better historians. In this discussion\, we will analyze perspective\, language\, and bias in 18th century newspapers with a critical lens to learn how news was consumed in Colonial America with a focus on news after the Boston Tea Party. \nPresentation format: Lecture (45 mins)  and Q&A (15 mins) \nMichele Gabrielson\, M.Ed\nThe Revolutionary Classroom \nMichele is a professional historian and public school educator with 17 years experience of teaching early American History.  As a living historian and reenactor of the American Revolution\, I offer any presentation to be delivered in historically accurate\, hand sewn and documented 18th century clothing made by hand. \nSuggested Program donation $10 per person\nYour donation supports the preservation and maintenance of artifacts in the collection\nof the Westford Museum. Thank you for your donation
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/westford-250-a-pressing-matter-18th-century-media-literacy-bias-with-michele-gabrielson/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Michele-Printing-2-600x585-1.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240129T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240129T203000
DTSTAMP:20240126T202754Z
CREATED:20240126T202754Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240126T202754Z
UID:20294-1706554800-1706560200@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Westford 250—The Minutemen and Their World\, An Evening with Robert Gross
DESCRIPTION:On April 19\, 1775\, the American Revolution began at the Old North Bridge in Concord\, Massachusetts. The “shot heard round the world” catapulted this sleepy New England town into the midst of revolutionary fervor\, and Concord went on to become the intellectual capital of the new republic. The town–future home to Emerson\, Thoreau\, and Hawthorne–soon came to symbolize devotion to liberty\, intellectual freedom\, and the stubborn integrity of rural life. In The Minutemen and Their World\, Robert Gross shares a remarkably subtle and detailed reconstruction of the lives and community of this special place\, and a compelling interpretation of the American Revolution as a social movement. \nRobert A. Gross is the James L. and Shirley A. Draper Professor of Early American History Emeritus at the University of Connecticut. He is the author of The Minutemen and Their World (1976)\, which won the Bancroft Prize; Books and Libraries in Thoreau’s Concord (1988); and The Transcendentalists and Their World (2021). With Mary Kelley\, he is the co-editor of An Extensive Republic: Print\, Culture\, and Society in the New Nation\, 1790–1840 (2010). A former assistant editor of Newsweek\, he has written for such periodicals as Esquire\, Harper’s Magazine\, \nSuggested Program donation $10 per person\nYour donation supports the preservation and maintenance of artifacts in the collection of the Westford Museum. Thank you for your donation
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/westford-250-the-minutemen-and-their-world-an-evening-with-robert-gross/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/robert-gross-crop.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230511T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230511T200000
DTSTAMP:20230503T153425Z
CREATED:20230419T182444Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230503T153425Z
UID:17637-1683831600-1683835200@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Fibers of Life; MORE textiles from the Westford Historical Society’s Collection
DESCRIPTION:Visit the Westford Historical Society & Museum for the show and tell lecture\, “Fibers of Life.” Their collection of local artifacts\, from clothing and accouterments to linens and household items is typical of many New England towns. However\, each one of these objects has its own unique and interesting story to tell. Penny Lacroix\, co-chair of the Nashoba Valley Weavers’ Guild\, will highlight eight textile objects from the Museum’s collections. Attendees will be able to look at the objects up close and in-person while hearing the stories about their provenance here in Westford and how they were made. \nDue to the popularity of last year’s program\, we are researching and exploring additional items in our textile collection\, and sharing the historical value of the artifact and and history of the person or family that originally owned it. Join us for a dive into these Fibers of Life! \nREGISTRATION REQUIRED: Space is limited to 15. Reservations required\, visit museum.westford.org/events. \nPARKING & ACCESS: There is limited parking in the Museum parking lot. Please park along Lincoln Street\, or in the Police or Library parking lots nearby. The Museum is wheelchair accessible. \n  \n \nThis program is offered by the Westford Historical Society & Museum as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/fibers-of-life-2/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hidden Treasures,Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ht-2022_westford-historical-society_robinson-pincushion.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230501
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230601
DTSTAMP:20230419T183218Z
CREATED:20230419T183218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230419T183218Z
UID:17639-1682899200-1685577599@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Stroll Through Historic Westford Center with Kate Hamlin & Fred Fisher
DESCRIPTION:Step back in time and start your audio tour of historic Westford Center as it was prior to the Civil War. Your tour guides are Kate Hamlin (1847-1937) and Fred Fisher (1855-1941). Enjoy their remembrances of the town they grew up in and your stroll through historic Westford Center. Narrated by: Ellen Harde\, Barbara Seavey and Ralph Hinckley. \nThis walking tour is self-guided and available daily. Click to access the map and audio on the Westford Historical Society & Museum’s website. \nPARKING: There is limited parking in the Museum parking lot. Please park along Lincoln Street\, or in the Police or Library parking lots nearby. \n  \n \nThis program is offered by the Westford Historical Society & Museum as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/stroll-through-historic-westford-center-with-kate-hamlin-fred-fisher/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hidden Treasures,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Hamlin-Fisher-Map041-600x444-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230419T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230419T200000
DTSTAMP:20230329T161011Z
CREATED:20230324T173403Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230329T161011Z
UID:17405-1681930800-1681934400@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Patriots Day (April 19th) Candlelight Tribute at Westlawn Cemetery
DESCRIPTION:Join us while the sun sets for our Patriots Day (April 19th) Candlelight Tribute at Westlawn Cemetery. In this unique self-guided stroll\, you can access the service records of Westford’s Revolutionary War Patriots on your phone or tablet. There will be colonial interpreters to answer your questions stationed throughout the illuminated cemetery. \nThis triangular burial place at the fork of Concord and Country roads was originally on land belonging to Deacon Joshua Fletcher\, one of the town’s original 89 taxpayers. His daughter married Samuel Parker\, who inherited it when the Deacon died in 1736. Parker sold the land to Nathan Proctor (1698-1788)\, who donated what was then called West Burying Ground to the town. When Westford assumed care of West cemetery in 1761\, many of its founding citizens had been interred here. \nThe most distinguished citizen buried here is Colonel John Robinson (1735-1805) Westford’s highest ranking Revolutionary War officer\, who has the largest slate marker in the cemetery. Robinson was also a town selectman who led three companies of Westford Minutemen to the North Bridge in Concord on the morning of April 19\, 1775\, where his men engaged the British regulars and fired “the shot heard ‘round the world.” Colonel Robinson also fought alongside many of these men at the Battle of Bunker Hill\, where he comported himself with courage and honor. West Burying Ground was nearly named after Colonel Robinson in 1895\, but residents instead chose the name Westlawn. The town did rename the road where he had lived less than a mile away\, and the school on that road\, in his honor. \nColonel Robinson joins with 15 other Revolutionary War veterans\, many of whom served with him\, whose graves are marked by iron Maltese crosses placed by the Sons of the American Revolution in 1902. \nSuggested Donation: $10 per person \nPhoto courtesy of the Westford Historical Society & Museum
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/patriots-day-april-19th-candlelight-tribute-at-westlawn-cemetery/
LOCATION:Westlawn Cemetery\, Concord & Country Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Living History,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/westlawn-Graves-scaled-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230405T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230405T200000
DTSTAMP:20230329T161539Z
CREATED:20230329T160401Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230329T161539Z
UID:17469-1680721200-1680724800@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:The Ten Tea Parties-Historic Book Discussion with Leslie Howard
DESCRIPTION:Joseph Cummins: Ten Tea Parties\, Patriotic Protests That History Forgot\nThe stories in Ten Tea Parties illuminate the power of Americans banding together as Americans \nTo borrow a copy of the book\, contact Linda at director@museum.westford.org \nWe all know the story of the Boston Tea Party\, but do you know the history the Philadelphia Tea Party\, or the York Tea Party? Or how about the Wilmington Tea Party? Ten Tea Parties is the first book to chronicle all these uniquely American protests. Author and historian Joseph Cummins begins with the history of the East India Company (the biggest global corporation in the eighteenth century) and their staggering financial losses during the Boston Party- move than a million dollars in today’s money. We then travel to Philadelphia where Captain Samuel Ayres was nearly tarred and feathered by a mob of 8\,000 angry patriots. Then we set sail for New York where the Sons of Liberty raided the London\, and heaved 18 chests of tea into the Hudson River. Still later\, in Annapolis\, a brigantine carrying 2\,300 pounds of the “wretched weed” was burned to ashes. Together\, the stories in Ten Tea Parties illuminate the power of Americans banding together as Americans- perhaps for the first time in the fledgling nation’s history. It is no wonder that these patriots remain an inspiration to many people to this day. Order book here \nDiscussion led by Leslie Howard\, President\, Westford Historical Society \nSuggestion Program Donation: $10 per person \nPhoto courtesy of the Westford Historical Society & Museum
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/the-ten-tea-parties-historic-book-discussion-with-leslie-howard/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Ten-Tea-Parties-Cover-scaled-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230108T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230108T163000
DTSTAMP:20230104T142154Z
CREATED:20230104T142154Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230104T142154Z
UID:16384-1673182800-1673195400@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:St. Distaff Day
DESCRIPTION:Spinners from around the region are invited to join us for this traditional end-of-holiday season event. Bring a spindle or wheel\, something to share in the silent auction. Snacks to share are also welcome. Doors open at 1 pm. \nParking at the museum is limited. Please plan to drop your equipment at the door (we’ll have people there to help you unload!) and then park on Lincoln St. or at the Town Hall. Those with limited mobility should contact the Museum ahead of time so we can block off a spot for you. \nSt. Distaff’s Day; Or\, the Morrow after Twelfth-day\nby Robert Herrick (1591-1674) \nPartly work and partly play\nYou must on St. Distaffs Day:\nFrom the plough soon free your team;\nThen cane home and fother them:\nIf the maids a-spinning go\,\nBurn the flax and fire the tow.\nBring in pails of water then\,\nLet the maids bewash the men.\nGive St. Distaff’ all the right:\nThen bid Christmas sport good night\,\nAnd next morrow every one\nTo his own vocation. \nSuggested program donation $10 per person
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/st-distaff-day/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Open House
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/spinnywheelgiovanni.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220505T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220505T200000
DTSTAMP:20230421T200419Z
CREATED:20220425T222417Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230421T200419Z
UID:13603-1651777200-1651780800@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Fibers of Life
DESCRIPTION:Visit the Westford Historical Society & Museum for the show and tell lecture\, “Fibers of Life.” Their collection of local artifacts\, from clothing and accouterments to linens and household items is typical of many New England towns. However\, each one of these objects has its own unique and interesting story to tell. Penny Lacroix\, co-chair of the Nashoba Valley Weavers’ Guild\, will highlight eight textile objects from the Museum’s collections. Attendees will be able to look at the objects up close and in-person while hearing the stories about their provenance here in Westford and how they were made. \nMuseum visitors may already be familiar with the so-called Robinson Pincushion\, which is on display in the Museum’s Military exhibit. It was made by the wife of Col. John Robinson (our local Revolutionary War hero). Although faded\, there is much to be gleaned from this unique piece of everyday Westford history. \nEach of the other pieces – some clothing\, household items and accoutrements – will be pulled from storage\, where they are kept safe but are rarely seen. Join us for a dive into these Fibers of Life! \nOur presenter\, Penny Lacroix\, is a weaver\, spinner\, teacher\, historian\, manager\, learner\, creator and general lover of all things fiber. When she’s not actively learning something\, she’s sharing with others in one way or another –making something by hand\, demonstrating at historic events\, or teaching a class. With past careers as an engineer\, a mom\, a museum educator and a museum director\, combined with her hobby as a historical reenactor\, her worlds collide in the creation of textiles and the study of historic textile tools. Penny is co-chair of the Nashoba Valley Weavers’ Guild and teaches weaving and spinning. She lives in Westford\, MA with her husband and their furry friends. \nSpecial Instructions: Space is limited to 15. Reservations required\, visit museum.westford.org/events. \n  \n \nThis program is offered by the Westford Historical Society & Museum as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/fibers-of-life/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ht-2022_westford-historical-society_robinson-pincushion.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220505
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220506
DTSTAMP:20230421T200125Z
CREATED:20220428T141141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230421T200125Z
UID:13608-1651708800-1651795199@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Artist Tour of David P. Christiana Sculptures
DESCRIPTION:Welcome to the Westford Historical Society’s self-guided 45-minute Artist Tour of David P. Christiana’s Sculptures in Westford Center. Start your tour at the Westford Museum and follow the directions to walk\, bike\, or drive to the next sculpture. The digital guide features a video of the artist’s perspective for each of the five works of art you will be visiting. \nSpecial Instructions: This is a self-guided activity. Visit museum.westford.org to access the digital tour guide. \n  \n \nThis program is offered by the Westford Historical Society & Museum as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/artist-tour-of-david-p-christiana-sculptures/2022-05-05/
LOCATION:Westford Historical Society & Museum\, 2 Boston Road\, Westford\, MA\, 01886\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours,Walks & Hikes
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/westford-ma_battle-drum-monument.jpeg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR