Colonial Re-Enactment October 1, 2

Actors in character during last fall’s colonial re-enactment. Photo by Paul Rapatano.

The American Revolution will return to Medford this fall! On October 1 & 2, reenactors will bring history to life by transforming Mystic Riverbend Park into a Revolutionary War encampment for the 2nd annual The First Patriots: Rebels at Riverbend Park. The public will have a rare glimpse into 18th century life. Mark your calendars now!

The Stow Minuteman Company, together with Charlestown, Woburn, Menomoty, and many others will occupy Mystic Riverbend Park. We will demonstrate period crafts and music, perform military drill and welcome you to participate, and you can even attend school!

This event is sponsored by many community groups, which include: Tufts, Friends of the MPL, Medford Arts Council, Medford Historical Society, Royall House, Brooks Estate and many others! There will be community tables, vendors, and loads of activity, as the Harvest Your Energy Festival is the same weekend!

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 (subject to change):

Saturday Schedule:
11:00 am Fife and drum music
11:30 am Medford in the Revolution
12:00 pm “Nooning” (lunch)
1:15pm Battle of Chelsea Creek Tatical
2:00 pm Honorary Salute
2:10 pm Parade of Units
2:30 pm Recruiting/Drill: For Liberty!!
3:00 pm School in Colonial Massachusetts
3:15 pm Musket firing
4:00 pm Fife and drum music
4:15 pm Musket firing
5:00 pm Dinner

Sunday Schedule:
11:00 am Fife and drum music
11:15 am Musket firing
12:00 pm “Nooning” (lunch)
1:15 pm Colonial School
2:00 pm Fife and drum music
2:15 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 and much more!

Two special events will include:
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.

The Battle of Chelsea Creek Tactical will be a large military drill with combined units, whom will demonstrate typical warfare tactics of the 18th century.

Around 2PM each day, and possibly other times, 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.

– Information from organizer Ryan Hayward