Bullet Strikes from the First Day of the American Revolution
2025-01-29 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Acton Town Hall, 472 Main Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
The Acton 250 Committee presents Joel Bohy, a historic arms & militaria specialist at Blackstone Valley Auctions and Estates. Joel will discuss the arms and ammunition used by both British and provincial forces on April 19, 1775, as well as the battle damage that remain. Using modern shooting incident reconstruction, archaeology, live fire studies, and new research, we can shed new light on the heavy fighting along the route of the British retreat back to Boston.
Joel Bohy is a historic arms & militaria specialist at Blackstone Valley Auctions and Estates and a frequent appraiser of arms & militaria on the PBS series Antiques Roadshow. He is an active member of the American Society of Arms Collectors, the Company of Military Historians, The Colonial Society of Massachusetts, an instructor for Advanced Metal Detecting for the Archaeologist, and an advisory board member of American Veterans Archaeological Recovery.
Remote Participation: You can watch live at Acton TV http://tinyurl.com/Acton-TV. Recordings will be available at Acton TV https://actontv.org/ and on our website https://www.actonma.gov/250 where you’ll find all programming information and a link to our commemorative store.
Sponsored by the Acton Lions Club

Westford REV 250: Bartering, Currency, and the American Economy in Colonial Times
2025-02-09 13:30 - 15:00 | MA
The issue of money, particularly its scarcity, loomed large in colonial America. Under the constraints of British rule, gold and silver served as the official legal tender; however, these precious metals were rarely found circulating within the colonies. Lacking a stable and trusted commodity to function as currency, colonial governments in the eighteenth century turned to paper money, creating a new avenue for economic exchange.
In this enlightening program, you will explore the complex world of currency in colonial America, exploring its value and significance. The presentation will showcase a historical array of images, providing visual context as it unfolds the story of money in this era. It will begin by examining the currency of the United Kingdom, delineating its application in the colonies, and clarifying the notion of “legal money,” including the various “Tenors” that defined its worth. Furthermore, it will delineate the primary mediums that facilitated business transactions and the exchange of goods in the vibrant marketplace of pre-revolutionary America.
About the Speaker: Matthew Mees, a dedicated Living Historian, specializes in the rich tapestry of colonial life during the late 18th century. His expertise spans the transition from British dominance to the nascent years of American independence, offering invaluable insights into this transformative period.
Program Donation: $10 per person
Westford REV 250 Program series is sponsored by Enterprise Bank

A Snapshot of Acton's Early Black Residents
2025-02-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Acton Town Hall, 472 Main Street, Acton, 472 Main Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Acton Town Hall, Room 204 from 7-8:30 PM.
A Snapshot of Acton’s Early Black Residents (1730-1830)Please join local historians Bob Pion, Bill Klauer, and Anne Forbes discussing recent learnings of Acton’s Black residents. Black citizens were among the residents here when Acton first became a town in 1735 and several fought in the Revolution at the Concord Bridge and other New England battles.

A Snapshot of Acton’s Early Black Residents (1730-1830)
2025-02-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Acton Town Hall, 472 Main Street, Acton, 472 Main Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
The Acton 250 Committee presents Acton’s celebrated historians Anne Forbes, Bill Klauer and Bob Pion who will discuss recent learnings of Acton’s Black residents in honor African American History Month. Black citizens were among the residents here when Acton first became a Town in 1735, and several fought in the Revolution at the Concord Bridge and other New England battles.
Remote Participation: You can watch live at Acton TV http://tinyurl.com/Acton-TV. Recordings will be available at Acton TV https://actontv.org/ and on our website https://www.actonma.gov/250 where you’ll find all programming information and a link to our commemorative store.
Sponsored by the Acton Lions Club

"A Sculptor Speaks for Her Statues" with Meredith Bergmann
2025-03-06 19:00 - 20:30 | Acton Town Hall, 472 Main Street, Acton, 472 Main Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Nationally renowned sculptor Meredith Bergmann, an Acton resident, has created inspiring monuments to great Americans: FDR, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Abigail Adams, and many more. Her artistic process includes learning about each figure as she creates each bronze statue. Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753 – December 5, 1784), whose bronze statue appears in the Boston Women’s Memorial in Boston, is one such monument. She is considered the first African American author of a published book of poetry. Come learn about Phillis and Meredith’s other subjects. You can see more photos of Meredith’s work at https://meredithbergmann.com/.
Remote Participation: You can watch live at Acton TV http://tinyurl.com/Acton-TV. Recordings will be available at Acton TV https://actontv.org/ and on our website https://www.actonma.gov/250 where you’ll find all programming information and a link to our commemorative store.
Sponsored by the Acton Lions Club

“The Light of Seven Days”: An author event with Mass Book Award-Honoree River Adams
2025-03-12 18:00 - 19:30 | Chelmsford Public Library, Chelmsford Public Library, 25 Boston Rd, Chelmsford, MA, 01824, United States
Join the Chelmsford Public Library for a special event with Mass Book Award-honoree River Adams! River will share their acclaimed and richly textured novel, The Light of Seven Days.
Living with her Babby after her parents’ death, 10-year-old Dinah Ash is invited to train at Leningrad’s legendary Vaganova Ballet School. In the world of elite dance, she works hard, falls in love, and weathers the Soviet Union’s ubiquitous antisemitism, but despite an impressive talent, she quickly learns that dancers of her “profile” don’t make prima ballerinas. Love of Leningrad, ballet, friends, family, and books sustain Dinah until history intervenes.
The Soviet war in Afghanistan, the rise of perestroika, and a re-emergence of Nazism leave her vulnerable and exposed. Realizing escape is her only option, she applies for refugee status in America. Dinah’s adjustment to life in the US is a test as much of her identity as of her perseverance. Is who she is something Dinah can forge on her own? Or is identity imposed by upbringing, public opinion, and the myths of our cultures? As Dinah struggles with the questions of religion, race, and worth, her choices and the people she encounters will determine whether the dream of a better life can survive the weight of the past.
This program is sponsored by the Mass Book Awards Speakers Bureau and is presented in collaboration with the Massachusetts Center for the Book.
River Adams (they/them) grew up in late Soviet Russia, pursuing a career as a concert pianist, and came to America at the age of 19 as a Jewish refugee. They graduated from Delaware County Community College in Pennsylvania, earned their BA at Rosemont College and their MTS at Harvard Divinity School, then returned to Philadelphia to teach religious studies and work as a medical interpreter for Russian-speaking patients. Today, having earned an MFA from Emerson College, they live in Massachusetts; care for their noisy family of eight humans, two dogs, and a cat; and write. They are the author of many published short stories and essays and a biography of Leonard Swidler, There Must Be YOU (Resource Publications, 2014). Their debut novel, The Light of Seven Days (Delphinium Books, 2023) was named finalist by the National Jewish Book Awards and an honor title by the Massachusetts Book Awards.
For more information, visit their website: riveradamsauthor.weebly.com

Gallery Talk with Guest Speaker, Dr. Sabine Stanley
2025-03-15 11:00 - 13:00 | New England Quilt Museum, New England Quilt Museum, 18 Shattuck St, Lowell, MA, 01852, United States
In conjunction with the Fierce Planets exhibition, the NEQM welcomes special guest speaker Dr. Sabine Stanley, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor in Planetary Science at Johns Hopkins University. The artists featured in Fierce Planets drew inspiration from Dr. Stanley’s work in planetary science at Johns Hopkins University, the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), and NASA, as well as her recent book, What’s Hidden Inside Planets?

Wood Type Use, History, and Identification with James Grieshaber
2025-03-15 13:00 - 16:00 | Museum of Printing, 15 Thornton Ave, Haverhill, MA, 01832, United States
Title: Wood Type Use, History, and Identification lecture and workshop, 1 pm
Event leader: James Grieshaber
Cost: Free with Museum admission
Date: Saturday March 15
Start time: 1 pm
This lecture will cover aspects of wood type history, as seen through the lens of the historic Wood Type Pattern Library of Virgin Wood Type. James Grieshaber, who wrote The Virgin Wood Type Bible, is a
noted type historian and type designer who will also speak to some of the uses of wood type printing historic broadsides. He will be in residence at the Museum of Printing for a week prior to the lecture helping identify and organize the museum’s wood type collection, and will be presenting on what he’s found there.
Virgin Wood Type produces twentieth-century wood fonts using original patterns from historic wood type manufacturers, as well as developing revivals of Victorian-era wood type classics. They also issue new designs from contemporary type designers, produced in the traditional manner, using a vintage pantograph router, originally owned by American Wood Type Mfg. Co.
The Virgin Wood Type Bible enables the reader to gain insight into the history of, and be able to identify, over 500 historic wood type designs. To accomplish this, Grieshaber has located and researched all of the known printed catalogs from the makers, as well as considered physical clues on the over 300 fonts represented in the Virgin Wood Type Pattern Library. These include patterns from American, Acme, Allied, Empire, and some from Stephenson, Blake who had a US distribution agreement with American Wood Type. Also included are new fonts manufactured by Virgin Wood Type, designed by the Grieshaber and others, which often draw on historical models.
James Grieshaber has been a designer for newspaper and advertising agencies, and a type designer for P22 Type Foundry, Typeco, and others. James is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology and has taught Typography at RIT. While working as a wood type designer and cutter for Virgin Wood Type, Grieshaber cleaned, cataloged, and identified all the historic wood type patterns in their collection, which led him to create this book.
Funding by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) Massachusetts 250 Grant Program. Supporting the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution with projects that highlight historic themes of revolution and independence, celebrate significant “firsts” in Massachusetts history, or take a creative or innovative approach to commemorating the state’s past 250 years.

South Acton Walking Tour with Tour Guide Amy Cole
2025-03-22 12:55 - 14:30 | Faulkner House, 5 High Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Faulkner House, 5 High Street, Acton starting at 1 PM (Arrival time is 12:55 PM)
Join tour guide Amy Cole to visit the Iron Work Farm sites and walk South Acton’s historic Mill Corner. You will learn about Acton’s earliest colonial settlement. Important Details: Registration is required. Details on parking and where to meet will be sent via email closer to the walk date. Register at tinyurl.com/Acton250-March22
Tour leader Amy Cole is an accomplished professional tour leader. She grew up near Acton Center and knows the town well. She has a wide- ranging interest in Acton’s unique history. This tour is sponsored by the Acton 250 Committee and the Iron Work Farm.

Lowell Women Building Independence
2025-03-29 13:00 - 14:00 | Lowell National Historical Park – Boott Cotton Mills Event Center, John Street, Lowell, Massachusetts, 01852, United States
The passage of the 19th amendment earned women the right to vote in the United States. Before passed in 1920, women in Lowell worked together to help earn the right to vote. This 45-minute talk will explore the impact that Lowell women had on the national movement. This event is free and open to all.
This event is being co-produced by the Pollard Memorial Library
Paid parking is available in the Joseph Downes city parking garage, located at 75 John Street, one block from the Boott Cotton Mills Museum.
Image: “Suffrage parade, May 1914,” from Palmer family photograph album, 1911-1917, photo 1693147, Massachusetts Historical Society.

"Spies and Military Intelligence" with John Bell
2025-03-31 19:00 - 20:30 | Acton Town Hall, 472 Main Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Acton Town Hall, Room 204 from 7-8:30 PM
Spies and Military Intelligence with John Bell Book Cover
Noted author and historian J. L. Bell will discuss the key role of military intelligence and spies before the momentous battle at Concord and how the Colonials also effectively disseminated news of the outcome. Besides his writing, John maintains the Boston 1775 blog, boston1775.blogspot.com/ which offers daily helpings of history, analysis, and unabashed gossip about Revolutionary New England.

South Acton Tour with Amy Cole
2025-04-05 12:55 - 14:30 | Faulkner House, 5 High Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Faulkner House, 5 High Street, Acton starting at 1 PM (Arrival time is 12:55 PM)
Join tour guide Amy Cole to visit the Iron Work Farm sites and walk South Acton’s historic Mill Corner. You will learn about Acton’s earliest colonial settlement. Important Details: Registration is required. Details on parking and where to meet will be sent via email closer to the walk date. Register at tinyurl.com/Acton250-April5
Tour leader Amy Cole is an accomplished professional tour leader. She grew up near Acton Center and knows the town well. She has a wide- ranging interest in Acton’s unique history. This tour is sponsored by the Acton 250 Committee and the Iron Work Farm.

Sheryl Faye Presents: Anne Frank
2025-04-28 18:30 - 19:30 | Industrial History Center, Upper Millyard, Amesbury, MA, 01913, United States
Experience the moving story of Anne Frank, the courageous Jewish teenager whose diary remains a testament to the power of hope and resilience during the Holocaust. In a gripping one-woman performance, acclaimed actress Sheryl Faye brings Anne’s story to life, reminding us of the universal quest for freedom and security.
Recommended for ages 10+
$20 Nonmembers, $15 Members

Happy Accident Broadsides Workshop
2025-05-24 10:00 - 16:00 | Museum of Printing, 15 Thornton Ave, Haverhill, MA, 01832, United States
Join letterpress artist Mitch Cohen and Museum of Printing Director Operations Mitch Ahern as
they put on a workshop combining experimental letterpress monoprint techniques with printing customized
broadsides. This is a unique printing workshop using everyday items to create unique backgrounds —
including, but not limited to, bathmats, pool covers and other items. You have to do it to believe it. The session
will conclude with a letterpress printed keepsake on the background you created.
We can then take those backgrounds and use them to print broadsides on the Columbian iron hand press.
Visitors can pull their own print, and can even customize a print with their own name.
The Happy Accident Broadsides Workshop is free to the public with Museum Admission, thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts
Office of Travel and Tourism.
Mitch Cohen is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of letterpress printing and a long-time practitioner
of the “black arts.” He is the co founder of the Printmaking and Book Arts Center in Rochester, New York, a
division of Flower City Arts Center and has taught letterpress printing since 2005. He has a BS in Printing
Education from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Mitchel Ahern is the Director of Operations at the Museum of Printing, where he teaches workshops, manages
printing equipment donations, and serves on the board. He also has his own shop Mitchelka Show Card Press
in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Printing Paul Revere
2025-06-07 11:00 - 15:00 | Museum of Printing, 15 Thornton Ave, Haverhill, MA, 01832, United States
Andy Volpe will print some of his Paul Revere replica copperplates, including his latest 250th commemorative print project: 3 Promissory Notes (paper money) that Revere secretly engraved & printed for the Massachusetts patriots in May 1775. He plans on having some other prints, plates, tools and other visuals to discuss the work of Revere leading up to the American Revolution.
This event is funded in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) through the Massachusetts 250 Grant Program. This program supports the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution through programs that highlight historic themes of revolution and independence, celebrate significant ‘firsts’ in Massachusetts and commemorate the state’s past 250 years.

UMass Lowell | 2025 Women's Leadership Conference
2025-06-12 | Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, 115 Merrimack St, Lowell, MA, 01852, United States
Welcome to the home of the UMass Lowell Women’s Leadership Conference. We are gearing up for a day of engaging, thoughtful, and high-impact discussions. Please join us!
You Don’t Want to Miss:
A keynote with Amy Waryas, EVP/Chief People & Culture Officer for the Red Sox
A keynote panel with C-level leaders in government, higher education, and industry on leading in tough times
A lunchtime session exploring the latest in AI
Speakers from such organizations as Warner Bros., Draper, Boston Fleet PWHL team, Boston Legacy pro soccer team, UKG, NetScout and many more.
Come learn and get inspired at sessions on everything from the art of negotiating to career advancement strategies.

UMass Lowell | 2025 Women's Leadership Conference
2025-06-12 | Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, 115 Merrimack St, Lowell, MA, 01852, United States
Get ready to be inspired at the 2025 UMass Lowell Women’s Leadership Conference—an empowering one-day, in-person event designed to ignite ideas, spark meaningful connections, and fuel your leadership journey. Join us for dynamic programming, influential speakers, and networking opportunities that will leave you motivated and ready to make an impact!
Morning Keynote Panel
Leading in Tough Times: A candid conversation with leaders in government, higher ed, and industry
– Jennifer Santos, vice president and chief strategy officer, Draper
– Julie Chen, chancellor, UMass Lowell
– Lauren Knausenberger, executive vice president & chief innovation officer, SAIC
Afternoon Keynote Speaker
– Amy Waryas, executive vice president/chief people & culture officer, Boston Red Sox
Moderator: Lynn Coutts, director of athletics, UMass Lowell

Trumpeters of Sedition: How the Printing Press created a Revolution
2025-06-28 13:00 - 14:00 | Museum of Printing, 15 Thornton Ave, Haverhill, MA, 01832, United States
Gary Gregory, proprietor of the Printing Office of Edes & Gill, will talk about the role of the printing press in the American Revolution. Printed pamphlets, broadsides, and newspapers energized the revolution, and it was the printing press that produced the Declaration of Independence. Gary will use his replica of an English Common Press, a wooden hand-press that now resides at the Museum of Printing, to demonstrate the technology in use at the time of the American Revolution.
This event is funded in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) through the Massachusetts 250 Grant Program. This program supports the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution through programs that highlight historic themes of revolution and independence, celebrate significant ‘firsts’ in Massachusetts and commemorate the state’s past 250 years.

The Story Behind Paul Revere’s Ride — And More
2026-01-25 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
Paul Revere is an American icon, but how much does the story of the Midnight Ride hold up, and why?
This program will explore Revere and his famous ride, and offer some insights into other aspects of his life. Revere was a silversmith with several side jobs, an active member of the Freemasons, and a father to a large family, as well as a politically active Patriot in the American Revolution.
Tegan Kehoe, Research and Adult Program Director at the Paul Revere House in Boston, will present Revere and his legacy, including the history of the Paul Revere House itself.
2 PM – Social period
2:15 PM – Brief Society announcements followed by the program
This event is free and open to the public.
Space is limited to 100 attendees. One registration per household, please.
Register for the event here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Wdys173jTsCd9kvAxCICXg
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Presidential History Comes Alive at the Walden Pond Visitor Center
2026-02-20 11:00 - 12:30 | 915 Walden Street, Concord, MA, 915 Walden Street Unit 2 Unit 2, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Friday, Feb. 20
11am-12:30pm
at the Walden Pond Visitor Center
In honor of President’s Day, North Shore & NECC History Professor
Rich Padova will share some of his favorite presidential memorabilia from
his personal collection. A native Lawrencian, now living in Andover,
Padova’s historical expertise has been featured in numerous articles for The
Eagle Tribune, & he’s released several booklets on presidencies, first ladies, & contentious political
campaigns. In summers, you can find him at Lawrence Heritage State Park. Parking
fees apply. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Walden Pond.

A Journey to Find an Ancestor and Honor His Faith in Diversity
2026-02-22 14:00 - 15:30 | Bedford Old Town Hall, Great Room (3rd floor), 16 South Road, Bedford, 01730, United States
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, and were the first integrated institution in America.
Gropp’s intention to have a painting depict General Glover, who commanded the Marbleheaders, led instead to a painting honoring both her ancestor, a somewhat forgotten hero, and the Black Patriots, who were mostly unknown heroes of the American Revolution.
In recognition of Black History Month, Gropp will describe her journey that led her to commission the painting called An Appeal to Heaven, the interrelationships among the people in the painting (Washington, one of his enslaved men, others), and the Black Patriots who fought and secured a freedom that was not yet theirs.
Doors open at 2 PM for a social period and refreshments
2:15 PM – Brief Society announcements followed by the Guest Speaker

The Reverend and the Old North Bridge Battle
2026-03-22 14:00 - 15:30 | Bedford Historical Society, 16 South Road, Bedford, 01730, United States
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 outbreak of hostilities a month later, and included this charge: “let every single step we take in this most intricate affair be upon the defensive…. God forbid it be said that we struck the first blow!” Cooke, who owns Historical Costume Services in Randolph, will also recount the feelings of ordinary Concord residents who watched the battle.
Doors open at 2 PM for a social period and refreshments
2:15 PM – Brief Society announcements followed by the Guest Speaker

LGBTQ+ Meditation in Brighton | Rainbow Sangha (Boston)
2026-05-06 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-13 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-20 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-27 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-03 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-10 19:00 - 20:00 | The Presentation School Foundation Community Center, 640 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02135, United States
Rainbow Sangha is a weekly meditation circle created for the Boston LGBTQ+ community. This is a welcoming, beginner-friendly space to slow down, breathe, and reconnect — with yourself and with others.
Whether you’re completely new to meditation or have an established practice, you are welcome here.
What to Expect
• A warm, inclusive environment • A short guided meditation (20–30 minutes) • Quiet reflection time • Light community connection afterward
No prior meditation experience is needed.
This space is open to all LGBTQ+ identities and allies who respect and affirm queer community. Our intention is to create a calm, supportive space centered on wellbeing and belonging.
Details
📍 Location: New Balance Room, PSF Community Center (Lower Level), 640 Washington Street, Brighton MA 🕖 Wednesdays, 7–8 PM
Please arrive a few minutes early to settle in. Wear comfortable clothing.
We look forward to building a consistent and caring community together.

The Truth About Baked Beans: An Edible History of New England
2026-05-31 14:00 - 15:30 | Bedford Historical Society, 16 South Road, Bedford, 01730, United States
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 did Bostonians start putting molasses in their baked beans? That question sent her on a lengthy journey through invented histories, selective memories, and changing tastes from colonial New England to the present day.
Her presentation will cap the Society’s Annual Meeting, including elections of Directors and reports from Society officers.
Doors open at 2 PM for a social period and refreshments
2:15 PM – Announcements and Annual Meeting, followed by the Guest Speaker
