Around Town

TREATY DAY 250: Pact Signed in Watertown in 1776 Remains Alive 250 Years Later

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Members of the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet tribes traveled to take part in the celebration fo the 250th anniversary of the Treaty of Watertown (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Hundreds packed a theater in Watertown on Saturday to celebrate an event that took place 250 years before. The town was the site of the signing of the United States’ first treaty with a foreign nation — the Treaty of Watertown. Descendants of the signers of the document from the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet tribes emphasized that the agreement that was forged as a wartime alliance also created friendships and provided rights and protections for the signers that are still important in 2026. The City of Watertown joined with the Historical Society of Watertown, and members of Maliseet, Mi’kmaq tribes, as well as representatives of the Massachusett Tribe, whose territory includes Watertown, to plan a grand celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Treaty of Watertown on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. Around 50 members of the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet tribes came down from Maine, and parts of Canada for the Treaty celebration.

Around Town

Deadline Approaching to Apply for Community Preservation Funds

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The deadline to apply for Community Preservation Act funds is Monday, July 27, 2026. See more details from the City of Watertown, below. The Community Preservation Act (CPA) was approved by the legislature and signed by Governor Paul Cellucci in September 2000. Watertown residents voted to adopt the CPA in November 2016. This state law, MGL Chapter 44B, allows cities and towns to raise funds through a surcharge on local real estate taxes to:

Buy, create, preserve open space and rehabilitate and/or restore open space that is acquired or created using CPA funds

Acquire, preserve, rehabilitate, or restore historic resources

Acquire, create, preserve, and support community housing

Acquire, create, preserve, and rehabilitate and/or restore passive and active outdoor recreation facilities

Before applying for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds, please read the entire CPA application package, which includes the:

1.

Around Town

Local Podcast Features 250th Treaty Day, Creative Chats Conference

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The Little Local Conversations Podcast released a pair of special episodes recently. One is on the upcoming 250th anniversary of Treaty Day, and the other comes from the recent Creative Chats Conference. Hosted by Matt Hanna, Little Local Conversations focuses on the people, places, stories, and ideas of Watertown. Hanna speaks with various businesses owners, community leaders, creatives, and other interesting folks in Watertown to learn about what they do and get to know a bit about the people behind the work. Event Highlight: Treaty Day 250

“Did you know that the United States’ first international treaty was signed right here in Watertown?

Around Town

Wada Hoppah Charles River Ferry Boat Has Hit the Water — See a Video and Photos

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The first moments on the water for the Wada Hoppah Charles River ferry boat. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

An idea formed three years ago took to the waters of the Charles River on July 11, 2026 when the Wada Hoppah ferry launched at the Newton Yacht Club. Watertown’s Drew Rollert hatched the idea after a thwarted attempt to attend a Boston Red Sox game in July 2023 by roadway, and he saw an empty Charles River. He decided then to create a ferry service from Watertown Square to Boston. Over the past year and a half, the electric ferry boat has been under design in Concord at Inriver Tank & Boat.

Around Town

Watertown Arts Market Seeking Volunteers, See How to Get Involved

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The Arts Market returns to Watertown on Aug. 8, and it will be bigger than ever! Volunteers are needed to help the market run, including set up before, break down after, and during the market. See more information in the announcement from the Arts Market, below. The 6th Annual Watertown Arts Market will be Saturday, August 8 at Arsenal Park, and the volunteer registration form is officially open: https://www.watertownartsmarket.com/get-involved

We hope you’ll join us again this year, as the 2026 Arts Market is going to be bigger and better than ever!

Around Town

Panel Discussing Indigenous Views on the Origins of the American Revolution at Library

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The following announcement was provided by the Pigsgusset Intiative:

The Watertown Free Public Library, together with the Upstander Project and the community-based Pigsgusset Initiative, will host a conversation about Indigenous Views on the Origins of the American Revolution on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Watertown Savings Bank Room at the library. The event will include drumming, a short documentary film screening, and a panel discussion. This event is free and open to the public, and attendees are strongly encouraged to register online at watertownlib.org/events. Join Watertown resident and co-founder of the Pigsgusset Initiative and Upstander Project, Mishy Lesser, Chris Newell (Passamaquoddy author, educator, musician, and knowledge-keeper), Graham Marshall (Mi’kmaq educator, musician, and culture-sharer), and Kristine Malpica (public historian and researcher at Upstander Project) will share their perspectives after a screening of Upstander Project’s short documentary, “Bounty.” Learn about the colonial-era scalp laws that terrorized Native peoples and how they influenced the decision by many to side with the American Patriots against the British. 

The event will start promptly at 7 p.m. with drumming and singing.

Around Town

Mutual Aid Group Delivers Air Conditioners in Watertown During Heat Wave

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Eddy Cole installs an air conditioner provided free by the Watertown Neighbors group. (Courtesy of Eddy Cole)

As the temperatures rose to dangerous levels in the first week of July, a group in Watertown leapt into action delivering air conditioners to those who need them, and which had been donated by other residents. The air conditioner redistribution is a project run by Watertown Neighbors, a mutual aid effort of the Watertown Rapid Response Network. Last year, members of the RRN — that formed to assist immigrants in town — looked for areas where the group could make a difference and fill a need in the community, said Watertown resident Allison Eck. “We thought that basically AC units was a place where we could provide real value and fill a real need, which is the goal of mutual aid,” Eck said.