Retired State Superior Court Justice Dennis Curran will describe what he calls a “great trial that changed history:” the Salem witchcraft trials. Judge Curran will tell “what really happened.” Justice Curran, who served as a MA trial judge for 15 years and presided over 450 civil and criminal trials, has received four statewide awards for […]
On Sept. 27, retired Lincoln Lab AI researcher Terry Gleason will talk about his passion, bicycling, as part of his presentation, “Rails to Trails: How Bedford and Regional Railroad Lines Became Today’s Rail Trails.” Bicycling on the area’s rail trails wasn’t always possible; abandoned railroad beds sat dormant until the State and local communities converted […]
Meg Muckenhoupt will bring smiles—and a hunger for popular foods—during her discussion about the history of New England’s food, immigration, tourism, and how ideas about identity have shaped our menus from 1825 to today. Author of "The Truth about Baked Beans: An Edible History of New England," Muckenhoupt’s book began with a simple question: When […]
Vocabulary.com describes an “assortment” as “a bunch of different things all together, whether they’re the same sort or not.” “For example,” says Society President and Bedford Town Historian Sharon McDonald, “an assortment of chocolates would be a box of cherry-filled, nut, caramel, coconut, and orange crème candies. Using her engaging story-telling style, McDonald’s “Bedford Assortment” […]
Reenactor Henry Cooke will portray the life and preaching of a significant Concord resident, the Rev. William Emerson, during the weeks leading up to the battle at the Old North Bridge and his experiences on the day itself. He will interpret Rev. Emerson’s artillery sermon on Muster Day on March 17, 1775, which presages the […]
While researching her Revolutionary War ancestor, General John Glover, Jane Woolsey Gropp of Lexington learned about the Marbleheaders, a group of fishermen and sailors from the coastal town of Marblehead who played a crucial role in several key military operations during the war. They were a diverse group, including free African Americans and Native Americans, […]
Meet the woman who hoodwinked George Washington’s army! Learn about the close calls and mountainous obstacles that Deborah Sampson faced as a poor farm girl, who, without support from family or friends, risked humiliation and imprisonment to help free the colonies from English rule. Janet Parnes, founder and principal of Historical Portrayals by Lady J, […]
Dressed in the clothes of 18th-century itinerant musicians, Deirdre Sweeney and Al Petty will perform an extensive repertoire of historical dance music, as well as marches and laments, including 18th-century tunes such as “Mr. Isaac’s Maggot” and “Jack’s Health.” Their instruments include the flute, penny whistle, recorder, and fife. The music was gathered from manuscripts […]
Join us for the grand opening of “Bedford Answers the Call” at our Open House on April 12th from 8 – 10:15 a.m. and immediately following the Pole Capping Day parade and ceremony. In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the first day of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775, we’ve created a […]
Society President and Town Historian Sharon McDonald will be the Society’s Annual Meeting guest speaker, talking once again about another set of ancient and interesting Bedford residents, as she had done in past lecture seasons, in her "Cast of 18th and 19th-century Bedford Characters, Part 4." This talk will follow the Society’s Annual Meeting and […]
Popular Bedford resident and charming Town Historian Sharon McDonald will be the Bedford Historical Society’s Annual Meeting guest speaker, talking once again about another set of ancient and interesting Bedford residents, as she had done in past lecture seasons. This time, her Cast of (Nineteenth Century Historical) Characters will include abolitionist and suffragist Lucinda Hosmer, […]