Around Town

Residents Reunited with Family Photos from Long Ago, Others Unclaimed

By |

A few years ago, the Historical Society of Watertown was contacted by Rosalie Hausserman who informed us that she had about 60 cartons full of packets of photo proofs of families (mostly children) taken by Oxford Studios in the 1940s and 1950s, the Historical Society said. There were three cartons of photos of families from Watertown, and she and her cousin, David Boyajian of Belmont, wanted to donate them to the Historical Society. They were donating the photo proofs of families from Waltham to the Waltham Historical Society, from Cambridge to the Cambridge Historical Society, etc., and want us to have the Watertown photos. Her uncle Harry, David Boyajian’s father, had been the salesman of the business and these photo proofs were left to David but stored at Rosalie’s house. David provided a short history along with the photos:
“These photos (actually photo “proofs”) were taken by my late father’s brother, Drtad “Dite” Boyajian of Somerville.

Entertainment

Historical Society Hosts Event About Famous Watertown Sculptor

By |

The Historical Society of Watertown presents an evening about a famous Watertown sculptor led by former Sacred Heart Pastor Joseph Curran. The event is free. The Historical Society sent out the following announcement:

Please join us for a lecture co-sponsored by the Historical Society of Watertown and the Watertown Free Public Library entitled Harriet Hosmer – Watertown Sculptor

Presented by Father Joseph Curran Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472,  in the Local History Room – 2nd floor. Father Joseph Curran, former pastor of the Sacred Heart Church in Watertown’s East End, will give a lecture on Watertown sculptor Harriet Hosmer in the beautifully restored Local History Room of the public library. Father Curran, our foremost authority on sculptor Harriet Hosmer, will present a lecture on Harriet’s colorful life and her many works of art.

Around Town

America’s First Treaty, Signed in Watertown, Still Has Impact Today

By |

Descendants of the original signers of the Treaty of Watertown came to celebrate the 240th anniversary of the signing of the first treaty made with a foreign power by the United States. Members of the Mi’kmaq and the Maliseet (then known as the St. John’s) Indians signed a treaty with the U.S. on July 19, 1776, agreeing to support the new nation in its fight against the British. The signing occurred at the Edmund Fowle House. The house now sits on Marshal Street, just a short distance from where it sat at the time, on Mt.

Around Town

Celebrate Two Major Events in the History of Watertown & the U.S.

By |

Watertown history goes well past to the beginnings of the United States, and it hosted two major events in 1776 – the first reading of the Declaration of Independence in Massachusetts and the signing of the FIRST EVER treaty made by the United States. The Historical Society of Watertown will host a reenactment and celebration of both of these events on Treaty Day 2016, on Saturday, July 16, 2016 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

The event will be held at the Edmund Fowle House and Museum, at 28 Marshall St. in Watertown. The home is home to the Historical Society and dates back to 1772. The Historical Society sent out the following information:

 

Come to this annual event marking the first time the Declaration of Independence was read to the citizens of our new nation in Watertown on July 18, 1776.

Around Town

Find Out About What the Community Preservation Act Would Mean for Watertown

By |

The Historical Society of Watertown and Invest In Watertown will host an informational event about the proposed Community Preservation Act, which residents may vote on this fall. The event will be held Wednesday, June 1 at 7 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St. in Watertown. The groups sent out the following information:

The Community Preservation Act is a law that was passed in 2000 that allows the residents of a city or town to adopt a small surcharge on their real estate tax bills to create a fund that can only be used for special community investment purposes. Funds generated by the Community Preservation Act can only be used for:

Open Space and Outdoor Recreation – (Restoration of Walker Pond, creation of a new soccer field, improvements to the Charles River Path, dog parks, playgrounds)
Affordable Housing – (Rehabilitation and new construction of homes that help senior citizens and young families stay in Watertown)
Historic Preservation – (Renovation of a branch library, archiving of historic photos and documents, preservation of historic gravestones, monuments and buildings)

In Watertown the CPA would raise approximately $1.7 million each year and would be eligible for partially matching State funds.

Around Town

Former CIA Officer to Talk About His Book on Intelligence During the Revolutionary War

By |

The Historical Society of Watertown welcomes the author of  “Spies, Patriots, and Traitors: American Intelligence in the Revolutionary War” at its annual meeting. The event is free and open to the public. On Wednesday, May 4, 2016 the Historical Society will hold its Annual Members Meeting with Election of Board Members at 7 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library. At 7:15 author Kenneth A. Daigler will discuss his book. Students and enthusiasts of American history are familiar with the Revolutionary War spies Nathan Hale and Benedict Arnold, but few studies have closely examined the wider intelligence efforts that enabled the colonies to gain their independence.

Around Town

Local Business Donates Storm Windows on Historical Society House

By |

The Historical Society of Watertown recently received a dozen storm windows donated by a local business. The Historical Society sent out the following announcement:

Thanks to a generous donation from Stormtite on Belmont Street in Watertown, the 1772 Edmund Fowle House, headquarters of the Historical Society of Watertown, now has 12 storm windows installed on the newer, 1870s section of the house. Having them should not only save on heating bills in the winter, but this summer, the screen section (an improvement over the collapsible screens we have been using) will help eliminate the flying visitors we have become accustomed to in the past. And as you know, insects are a threat to our historic collections. The Society’s goal is to install storm windows on the entire house.

Around Town

History Lovers Wanted to Volunteer for Watertown Historical Society

By |

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.