Edmund Fowle House, home of the Historical Society of Watertown.
The Historical Society’s mission is to help preserve the rich history of Watertown. The Society was founded in 1888 and throughout the years has preserved artifacts from Watertown’s past and published papers researched by members of its Board, as well as books about Watertown and all of the early Town Records.
The Edmund Fowle House at 28 Marshall Street serves as the home of the Historical Society of Watertown. Built in 1772, the Fowle House is the second oldest surviving house in Watertown.
At the beginning of the American Revolution it served as headquarters for the executive branch of the Massachusetts government from July 1775, to September 1776. The Treaty of Watertown was signed on July 19, 1776, in the Council Chamber on the second floor. This treaty was the first to be signed between the new United States (represented by Massachusetts) and a foreign power (the Mikmaq and St. John’s Indian Nations).
The Society has many wonderful programs open to the public throughout the year, sponsors essays on historical topics from Watertown students, conducts stroller tours and third grade bus tours of historical sites in town, and collaborates with our Native American colleagues to observe the Treaty of Watertown and the reading of the Declaration of Independence. The Historical Society also conducts tours of the Edmund Fowle House and interprets the many artifacts on display in our house museum.
All of this is done by volunteers. The Historical Society Board is made up of Officers and Councilors that work together to achieve our objectives, the most important is to keep the Historical Society going for many years to come. We are currently looking for a Recording Secretary to document minutes of our monthly business meetings.
Do you enjoy learning about Watertown’s history, its burial grounds, your ancestors as well as prominent and famous people of Watertown? Do you want to learn more about the Edmund Fowle House and help us to conduct tours, or help with school outreach programs, or our collections and help create exhibits? Come join the Board of the Historical Society. We meet once a month to discuss upcoming events and other Historical Society business. We are looking for volunteers – no experience needed. And if your hobby is Watertown History, we want you to share your knowledge with us!
If you are not a member of the Historical Society we would love to have you join and find out more about us and volunteer opportunities.
Please join us at the next meeting on Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall (3rd floor meeting room) to see what we are all about. Or, for more information contact Joyce Kelly at 781-899-7239 or joycekel@aol.com.
Please help us keep the Historical Society going for the future generations of Watertown!