The Frenchman is Coming! The Frenchman is Coming!
Vive l’Independance!
LAFAYETTE COMES TO BOLTON
Monday, September 2nd at 6:00 p.m.
at the Wilder Mansion, 101 Wilder Road, Bolton
Two hundred years ago on August 14, 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette arrived in New York to begin his 13-month Farewell Tour of America. As the last surviving general of the American Revolutionary War, Lafayette was invited by Congress and President James Madison in part to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the nation. He received a hero’s welcome in all of the twenty-four states that he visited.
It is well documented in Bolton history that on the eve of September 2, 1824, Lafayette arrived at the home of his friend Sampson Vryling Stoddard Wilder to spend the night.
From August 2024 to September 2025, the American Friends of Lafayette (AFL) will be commemorating Lafayette’s Farewell Tour with hundreds of events that will trace his footsteps on the exact dates and in the exact order he followed on his tour of America as the “Guest of the Nation” between 1824 and 1825. General Lafayette re-enactor Mark Schneider will be on hand to kick-off his tour of the Commonwealth, which includes events scheduled in communities across the state. The Bolton Historical Society, in partnership with the AFL will be recreating the arrival of Lafayette to the Wilder home at 101 Wilder Road on Monday, September 2nd at 6:00 p.m.
All are invited to welcome Lafayette back to Bolton.
Peter Reilly, the Chairman of the Massachusetts AFL committee organizing Lafayette’s tour across the Commonwealth is on a mission to inform citizens about our freedom by shining a bright light on Lafayette. He announced details of the upcoming celebratory tour across several Massachusetts communities. “I started working on this in 2016 coming off attending numerous Civil War Sesquicentennial events. I was inspired by a small marker that I often walked by noting Lafayette’s stop in the Rochdale neighborhood of Leicester on September 3, 1824. I knew that Lafayette’s visit had been a big deal, but I did not appreciate how big it was. Lafayette enthusiasts often compare it to the reception of a rock star. That is apt but inadequate. In contemporary terms, Lafayette was not a rock star. He was a superhero.” He continued, “This 24-state bicentennial journey includes a visit to Bunker Hill, where Lafayette had laid the cornerstone of the Bunker Hill Monument. Lafayette was so enamored by the symbolism of that ceremony and the monument itself that he is buried in France with soil from Bunker Hill.” Reilly hopes that this event will also serve to excite the young minds of the Commonwealth, with the same spark that ignited a young Marquis de Lafayette when America’s quest for independence began. He also hopes his excitement spreads, and the word gets out so history lovers may plan to attend one of the many events in store. “The world has changed,” said Reilly, “and I’m hoping America opens its arms for Lafayette as it did 200 years ago.”
For more information, visit the American Friends of Lafayette at www.friendsoflafayette.org or learn more about the planned 24-state bicentennial events at www.Lafayette200.org. For a detailed summary of each city and town Lafayette visited in 1824, and speeches given, visit Peter’s blog at www.lafayetteMA1824.org.
Vive l’Independance!
LAFAYETTE COMES TO BOLTON
Monday, September 2nd at 6:00 p.m.
at the Wilder Mansion, 101 Wilder Road, Bolton
Two hundred years ago on August 14, 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette arrived in New York to begin his 13-month Farewell Tour of America. As the last surviving general of the American Revolutionary War, Lafayette was invited by Congress and President James Madison in part to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the nation. He received a hero’s welcome in all of the twenty-four states that he visited.
It is well documented in Bolton history that on the eve of September 2, 1824, Lafayette arrived at the home of his friend Sampson Vryling Stoddard Wilder to spend the night.
From August 2024 to September 2025, the American Friends of Lafayette (AFL) will be commemorating Lafayette’s Farewell Tour with hundreds of events that will trace his footsteps on the exact dates and in the exact order he followed on his tour of America as the “Guest of the Nation” between 1824 and 1825. General Lafayette re-enactor Mark Schneider will be on hand to kick-off his tour of the Commonwealth, which includes events scheduled in communities across the state. The Bolton Historical Society, in partnership with the AFL will be recreating the arrival of Lafayette to the Wilder home at 101 Wilder Road on Monday, September 2nd at 6:00 p.m.
All are invited to welcome Lafayette back to Bolton.
Peter Reilly, the Chairman of the Massachusetts AFL committee organizing Lafayette’s tour across the Commonwealth is on a mission to inform citizens about our freedom by shining a bright light on Lafayette. He announced details of the upcoming celebratory tour across several Massachusetts communities. “I started working on this in 2016 coming off attending numerous Civil War Sesquicentennial events. I was inspired by a small marker that I often walked by noting Lafayette’s stop in the Rochdale neighborhood of Leicester on September 3, 1824. I knew that Lafayette’s visit had been a big deal, but I did not appreciate how big it was. Lafayette enthusiasts often compare it to the reception of a rock star. That is apt but inadequate. In contemporary terms, Lafayette was not a rock star. He was a superhero.” He continued, “This 24-state bicentennial journey includes a visit to Bunker Hill, where Lafayette had laid the cornerstone of the Bunker Hill Monument. Lafayette was so enamored by the symbolism of that ceremony and the monument itself that he is buried in France with soil from Bunker Hill.” Reilly hopes that this event will also serve to excite the young minds of the Commonwealth, with the same spark that ignited a young Marquis de Lafayette when America’s quest for independence began. He also hopes his excitement spreads, and the word gets out so history lovers may plan to attend one of the many events in store. “The world has changed,” said Reilly, “and I’m hoping America opens its arms for Lafayette as it did 200 years ago.”
For more information, visit the American Friends of Lafayette at www.friendsoflafayette.org or learn more about the planned 24-state bicentennial events at www.Lafayette200.org. For a detailed summary of each city and town Lafayette visited in 1824, and speeches given, visit Peter’s blog at www.lafayetteMA1824.org.
The West Cemetery Tour which took place on October 19th was filmed by Bolton Access TV and can be viewed on YouTube : https://youtu.be/VVViQwmQ93Y
FREEDOM'S WAY - HIDDEN TREASURES
The month-long Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History curates an immersive mixture of physical and online events and activities featuring opportunities for family learning. Each year dozens of Community Partners organize and offer memorable experiences to the public free of charge.
For more info see http://www.freedomsway.org
Our Hidden Treasure for 2024 is The Pursuit of a Hobby: Model Ship Building.
BHS continues it's affiliation with Freedom's Way, a consortium of local towns with shared history. Attending events allows BHS volunteers to meet others in similar Historical Societies and exchange ideas.
BOLTON GERANIUM
Aurilla Miner was given a slip of an unusual geranium as a gift from her husband Arthur. She successfully propagated it and soon many of her friends and neighbors in Bolton wanted a scion. As time passed, plants died or were forgotten and by 1970 the only known Bolton Geranium was living with Florence Sawyer who was leaving town for the winter. A friend of Mrs. Sawyer by the name of Esther Whitcomb, agreed to plant sit, and on Mrs. Sawyer's death, Mrs Whitcomb took over the hardy survivor and kept the strain going for the next several years. A local garden center agreed to propagate the Bolton Geraniium for the Society and it was first offered for sale in the spring of 1988. The Bolton Geranium is a direct link to Bolton's past and has several unusual properties. Although a bicolor, no two petals are alike. Unlike modern hybridized geraniums, the Bolton Geranium sets seeds. Also, unlike many modern hybrids, it will bloom heavily all winter, given sufficient sunlight and care.
Every year in May we sell the Bolton Geranium at Sawyer House.
Aurilla Miner was given a slip of an unusual geranium as a gift from her husband Arthur. She successfully propagated it and soon many of her friends and neighbors in Bolton wanted a scion. As time passed, plants died or were forgotten and by 1970 the only known Bolton Geranium was living with Florence Sawyer who was leaving town for the winter. A friend of Mrs. Sawyer by the name of Esther Whitcomb, agreed to plant sit, and on Mrs. Sawyer's death, Mrs Whitcomb took over the hardy survivor and kept the strain going for the next several years. A local garden center agreed to propagate the Bolton Geraniium for the Society and it was first offered for sale in the spring of 1988. The Bolton Geranium is a direct link to Bolton's past and has several unusual properties. Although a bicolor, no two petals are alike. Unlike modern hybridized geraniums, the Bolton Geranium sets seeds. Also, unlike many modern hybrids, it will bloom heavily all winter, given sufficient sunlight and care.
Every year in May we sell the Bolton Geranium at Sawyer House.
GERANIUM SALE
Saturday, June 1st from 9:00 am till they're all sold out
The weather has not cooperated this year and the plants will not be ready till late May.
The Bolton Historical Society holds its annual Bolton geranium sale at Sawyer House, 676 Main Street, Bolton, in the month of May. See Calendar Schedule for exact date. This is a once a year opportunity to own this unique geranium that is a link to Bolton's past. For more information, contact the Society at 978-779-6392 or mary@boltonhistoricalsociety.org. Also visit us on Facebook.
Saturday, June 1st from 9:00 am till they're all sold out
The weather has not cooperated this year and the plants will not be ready till late May.
The Bolton Historical Society holds its annual Bolton geranium sale at Sawyer House, 676 Main Street, Bolton, in the month of May. See Calendar Schedule for exact date. This is a once a year opportunity to own this unique geranium that is a link to Bolton's past. For more information, contact the Society at 978-779-6392 or mary@boltonhistoricalsociety.org. Also visit us on Facebook.
4H
"CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE 4-H IS THE NATION’S LARGEST YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION, REACHING MORE THAN 7 MILLION 4-H YOUTH IN URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, SUBURBAN SCHOOLYARDS AND RURAL FARMING COMMUNITIES. FUELED BY UNIVERSITY-BACKED CURRICULUM, 4-H'ERS ENGAGE IN HANDS-ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN THE AREAS OF SCIENCE, HEALTHY LIVING, AND FOOD SECURITY." From the 4H website
Come see the new 4H exhibit in the newly renovated inside kitchen of Sawyer House. Mrs. Florence Sawyer (who donated Sawyer House to the Bolton Historical Society) was the head of 4H in the Bolton Area. She hosted activities such as cooking, sewing, animal husbandry and tin work.
The picture above left was taken at the First Parish Church in the kitchen area.
Those in the picture are: Edward Randall, Harold Babcock, Arthur Ware, Francis Mentzer and Marion Greenawalt
Photo: Bolton Historical Society
"CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE 4-H IS THE NATION’S LARGEST YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION, REACHING MORE THAN 7 MILLION 4-H YOUTH IN URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, SUBURBAN SCHOOLYARDS AND RURAL FARMING COMMUNITIES. FUELED BY UNIVERSITY-BACKED CURRICULUM, 4-H'ERS ENGAGE IN HANDS-ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN THE AREAS OF SCIENCE, HEALTHY LIVING, AND FOOD SECURITY." From the 4H website
Come see the new 4H exhibit in the newly renovated inside kitchen of Sawyer House. Mrs. Florence Sawyer (who donated Sawyer House to the Bolton Historical Society) was the head of 4H in the Bolton Area. She hosted activities such as cooking, sewing, animal husbandry and tin work.
The picture above left was taken at the First Parish Church in the kitchen area.
Those in the picture are: Edward Randall, Harold Babcock, Arthur Ware, Francis Mentzer and Marion Greenawalt
Photo: Bolton Historical Society
Cataloging of Bolton's cemeteries is complete. Information on gravesites can be found in the online database Find a Grave.