Three Tewk(e)sburys from across the globe come together on November 14, 2021 to celebrate and share their histories in a year that holds great significance for Tewkesbury UK with the 900th year anniversary of the consecration of its world-famous Abbey in 1121 and the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Tewkesbury.
Watch THS’ Doug Sears presentation on Tewksbury, MA below.
Important information on the status of this event
********** 2020 Line of March Event Cancelled **********
It is with a heavy heart that we must cancel the Line of March event scheduled for April 26, 2020. We hope you will consider joining us again next year at this time. More information on the planning of next years Line of March will be communicated in the fall of 2020 for the April 2021 event.
Given the recent CoVid-19 pandemic events and the public need to maintain social-distancing to curtail the spread of this virus and save lives, the Town of Tewksbury has declared an official state of emergency (see button below).
In closing, please, adhere to the national and local mandates to remain isolated and stay safe. All of our hopes go out to the victims of this pandemic around the world and wish a swift resolution of this deadly menace.
This is a memorial celebration and reenactment of the response by the original Tewksbury Minutemen / Militia marking the start of the American Revolutionary War on April 19th 1775.
As an annual 21st Century March over the authentic route taken to Concord, the public is encouraged to assemble with the Tewksbury Minutemen at the Tewksbury Town Center on April 26th, 2020 at 1:30pm.
Do not miss this…
Free Post Event Presentation
And, after the march and final salute is made, join us in the Tewksbury Public library meeting room to hear a free presentation of colonial cooking methods and recipes by the Cast Iron Chef award winner Stacy Booth.
Dressed in period clothing. she will have reproduction cooking utensils, pots, pans. and will welcome a hands-on Q/A session at the end of the presentation.
Click Here to Go to the Calendar Event
So, join us at the Muster Station at the town center (near the new electronic bulletin board) at 1:30pm that day as well as march along. Look for the sign that morning too!
The Tewksbury Historical Society’s contribution to the 2019 Festival of Trees is now on display at the public library.
Special thanks to members Karen Favreau, Luann O’Keefe, Rita O’Brien-Dee and Nancy Reed for their hard work celebrating not only the holidays, but the town’s past as the Carnation Capital of the World.
Drop-In Gala Opening
Saturday, Dec. 7, 6:00pm – 8:30pm
More information on the Festival of Trees can be found here:
http://www.tewksburypl.org/get-involved/pages/2019-festival-trees?fbclid=IwAR3runYlhJ9eowxYQXcNTIz0VBMpp9i_EScdQWveEtS4j4Dv6MdfkHh2Ldo
If you missed the recent talk on Dr. Kittredge of Tewksbury, MA., TewksburyTV has posted the entirety of that talk on their YouTube Channel.
When: September 19, 2019 @ 7:00pm.
Tewksbury resident Brian Cortez, a Revolutionary War re-enactor, will portray Dr. Kittredge in this one-man show. Light refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the Friends of Tewksbury and the Tewksbury Historical Society.
Please visit the event description for full details and registration for attending this event.
Sunday, April 7th our town was the scene of a mustering of colonial militia. A throwback to the time of our American Revolution, members of the town were called to arms in the early morning hours of April 19th, 1775. The response was swift as word was spread by a handful of brave messengers on horseback, among them were Paul Revere and William Dawes.
This call to our town was sounded by an unknown lone rider that came from the south to warn the countryside of the approaching British column of regular soldiers marching on Lexington and Concord. These soldiers were instructed to seize the guns, powder, and cannon from the civilian population. The men had mustered and trained for this moment, and 100 answered that call. They gathered in the town center, and marched to Concord to assemble and fight at Merriam’s Corner that fateful morning.
Today, we have an annual memorial of those brave men, and answered that call and marched into battle. With help from the town, the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, Billerica Minutemen, and Lexington Minutemen, the Tewksbury Historical Society is able to recreate a portion of that march.
Click here to see a slideshow of the event
Each year the Tewksbury Historical Society decorates a tree in a different theme. The theme itself represents some aspect of the town’s history. This year, with the growing passion to spread the knowledge of the town’s participation in the founding of our country, the theme selected was that of the local Tewksbury Patriot.
This theme pays homage to those men that marched to Concord in the early morning hours of April 19th, 1775 to repel the advancing British Redcoats. The local Tewksbury Minutemen, led by Capt. John Trull, fought at Meriam’s Corner in Concord. During the ensuing battle, one of the British General’s horses was either spooked by the musket fire or hit with one of the shots. It threw its rider and attempted to escape the confusion and was intercepted by three militia men in the area. One of those men was a local Tewksbury Minuteman, who assisted in seizing the runaway horse and taking it into custody.
The tree can be seen at the Tewksbury Public Library The Festival of Trees Opening Gala begins
Saturday, December 1, 6:00PM—8:30PM.
To that local hero, and those of this Committee, we give an 18th Century shout of, Huzza!
This post outlines the position of loyalists.
The Tewksbury Selectmen voted unanimously to allow the Tewksbury Historical Society to put up 9 granite posts as Memorials to the Tewksbury Militia that marched to Concord to protect and keep safe that community on April 19, 1775. One hundred men marched that morning and fought the British who had invaded Lexington and then Concord. Tewksbury’s three Militia Companies arrived at Meriam’s Corner and fought the British on the flanks and from the rear of the British column as they returned to Boston.
The Selectmen were very supportive, asking questions about Tewksbury History and giving suggestions as to placement of the granite memorials. Installation will be during March or early April 2016. Join the following Corporate Sponsors and many private citizens that have already donated.
I will be donating to the Line-of-March to take a tax write-off on my taxes. Please join me with a small or large donation before the end of this year. It is the season for giving and lets honor our Tewksbury veterans that came before us. Watch for details on the dedication of this exciting program on April 17th, 2016.
David E. Marcus, Interim President
The North Bridge Visitor Center opens for spring hours from March 3-31, on Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 3pm. A short eight minute video, “Treason or Liberty?” about the North Bridge fight is being shown. The brass cannon, named the “Hancock”, is on display courtesy of the Bunker Hill Monument Association. It was one of four cannons hidden in Concord and a reason for General Gage to send British troops to Concord on April 19, 1775. Gage’s troops marching to Concord was what started the Alarm carried by the Unknown Rider through the center of Tewksbury. He ended his ride in north Tewksbury where John Trull lived.
At Battle Road Trail you can learn the story of the British marching to Concord and the battle on the British’s Regulars round-trip march back to Boston. Beginning their trip back to Boston, near the Meriam Farm House, this marks where the 100 Tewksbury Militia and Minutemen first engaged the British along with 1,200 other Militiamen. After going down to Battle Road Visitor Center, take a short walk to Parker’s Revenge where a militiaman from Tewksbury helped two Concord militiamen catch a runaway horse. Ironically, the Friends of Minute Man National Park asks a question, “Get fit by walking the Battle Road Trail?” This is one of the same reasons, the Tewksbury Line-of-March is marking the streets our Militiamen marched going to that fateful battle to defend American freedom and liberty in Concord. Community wellness is a byproduct of walking and being healthy. That same route is where our militiamen marched 240 years ago in Tewksbury to Concord. When we have our Line-Of-March Memorial Posts up with permission by the Selectmen and after we finish off fund raising, we can learn about Tewksbury war history and the Shot Heard ‘round the World that happened in Concord. A Tewksbury musket helped fire that shot for our neighbors, our neighboring towns, our neighboring states, and all of American that came to join us and fight for freedom.
