‘Revolution’ Coming to Medford
Event manager Ryan Hayward in his colonial gear. Courtesy photo.
Colonial Re-Enactment to Take Place October 2, 3
In October, 2010, Revolutionary War Re-enactors will bring history to life in Medford! This first-ever event will transform Mystic Riverbend Park into a Revolutionary War encampment to give the public a rare glimpse into 18th century life.
The Stow Minuteman Company, together with thirty re-enactors, will occupy Medford’s beautiful Mystic Riverbend Park from October 2 to October 3, 2010 and present military drills, music, crafts, and a Colonial school – to bring history alive for adults and children alike!
Where:
The encampment will take place in the open field between the McGlynn and Andrews School. Parking is located adjacent to the site. Look for the white windmill!
About the Stow Minutemen
The Stow Minuteman Company is an all-volunteer educational organization founded in 1965. We seeks to “preserve and perpetuate the memory and spirit of our forebears [and] promote an active interest in Revolutionary history.”
The Minutemen portray the colonial civilians of 1775, mainly farmers and their families, who rose in opposition to the recent acts of Parliament. The Company attends a number of area parades, living history demonstrations, colonial fairs, and reenactments throughout the year. Locally, we give demonstrations at the Stow schools, march in the Memorial Day Parade, and, in perhaps the highlight of the year, we reenact the trail march from Stow to the North Bridge in Concord along nearly the same route as the Stow Minutemen of 1775.
The company seeks to teach history to all ages, through public speaking engagements and by inviting audiences to actively participate with the company. “The First Patriots” will allow a wide range of participation, from children to adults, and will be very family friendly.
Schedule of Events:
Saturday Schedule:
10:30 am Recruiting/Drill: For Liberty!!
11:00 am Fife and drum music
11:15 am Musket firing
11:45 am Medford in the Revolution
12:00 pm “Nooning” (lunch)
1:00 pm Schooling in Colonial Massachusetts
1:45 pm Medford in the Revolution
2:00 pm Fife and drum music
2:15 pm Musket firing
2:30 pm Recruiting/Drill: For Liberty!!
3:00 pm Fife and drum music
3:15 pm Musket firing
4:00 pm Fife and drum music
4:15 pm Musket firing
Sunday Schedule:
10:30 am Recruiting/Drill: For Liberty!!
11:00 am Fife and drum music
11:15 am Musket firing
11:45 am Medford in the Revolution
12:00 pm “Nooning” (lunch)
1:00 pm Schooling in Colonial Massachusetts
1:45 pm Medford in the Revolution
2:00 pm Fife and drum music
2:15 pm Musket firing
2:30 pm Recruiting/Drill: For Liberty!!
3:00 pm Fife and drum music
3:15 pm Musket firing
4:00 pm Fife and drum music
4:15 pm Musket firing
Ongoing during the day: Colonial cooking, colonial toys and games, pewter casting, weaving, candle making.
Two special events will include the Schooling in Colonial Massachusetts. This is an event open to all which educates the public about how much different school was then from today. Our schoolmaster will be having an open discussion about life at that time and what it meant to be a student, or a parent of one of those students.
Medford in the Revolution will focus on two main topics. First, how life changed in New England from before Lexington and Concord, to how it radically became the center of attention. Colonial Re-enactor and historian Ryan Hayward will speak about Medford’s role in 1775 onward and what Medford was like during this turbulent period. At Saturday’s Medford in the Revolution, companies will pay tribute to the Medford Militia whom answered the call to arms on April 19, 1775.
Throughout the day, the Stow fife and drum company will be performing music at the appropriate times and the minuteman company will be performing musket demonstrations shortly after.
At two points, the drill for liberty will be performed. Every able bodied man was required to serve in the town militia. Families are welcome to participate with the Minuteman Company in an active military style drill for hands on experience.
Sponsors of the event include the Medford Historical Society, Royall House Association, Tufts University, Friends of the Medford Public Library and City of Medford.
– Information from Ryan Hayward, event manager