Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/tag/watertown-history/)
The plaque marking the Foot of the Rocks, where Watertown’s Joseph Coolidge was killed fighting the British. It is located on Mass. Ave. in what is now Arlington.(Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Two-hundred-fifty years ago was a turbulent time for Watertown. On April 19, 1775, more than 130 men from Watertown responded to the call to fight the British.
A pre-19th century depiction of the Fowle House. (Photo courtesy of Joyce Kelly)
The following announcement was provided by the Historical Society of Watertown:
The Historical Society of Watertown invites you to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the fight forAmerican Independence by taking a walking tour of “Watertown During the Revolution.”
Dates: Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.(3 chances to take this walking tour)
Meeting Place: Zussman Memorial Park beside 66 Galen St. (The tour will be cancelled for rain.)
Join Historical Society of Watertown walking tour leaders Lynne O’Connell and Beth Houston for a 90-minute walking tour to learn about the important role that the town played during the American Revolution. After the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, the Provincial Congress assembled in the town’s Meeting House, making Watertown the seat of the Massachusetts government for 18 months. As a result, many prominent Revolutionary War figures boarded in town, including Paul Revere and Joseph Warren.
Residents of an Irish boarding house in Watertown, 1880s. Courtesy of the Watertown Free Public Library and the Digital Commonwealth. Watertown’s Ciara Leonard recently had a project about the history of immigrants coming to Watertown published by Boston College’s Global Boston initiative. Leonard completed the project as part of her senior year at the Winsor School, from which she graduated this spring. In the fall, she is heading to Brown University.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map 1884 of Watertown, Courtesy of the Library of Congress. By Linda ScottWatertown Resident
Well, I guess it’s time to do my version of that famous Joni Mitchell song. “Big Yellow Taxi.” You really don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. You can thank a Watertown News reader for this article.
Standpipe, Watertown Water Supply Co., Whitney (Palfrey) Hill. Built 1884, 40′ X 40′. (Photo courtesy of the Watertown Free Public Library)
The following story is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by Sigrid Reddy Watson Terman for the October 2005 Historical Society newsletter, “The Town Crier.”
Sigrid is a former Board member and former President of the Historical Society, as well at a former Director of the Watertown Free Public Library. For several years starting in 1997, she wrote a Watertown history column for the Watertown TAB/Press called “Echoes.” Sigrid published her columns in a book called “Watertown Echoes: A Look Back at Life in a Massachusetts Town.”
In 2002, local artist Henry Zunino sculpted a magnificent terra-cotta bas-relief of the signing of the Treaty of Watertown and presented it to the Historical Society. A copy was also produced and presented to the Town Council. It now resides in the foyer of Town Hall. A Dedication Ceremony was held July 13, 2004 at in the Town Hall Foyer. (Courtesy of Joyce Kelly)
This article is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown.
Ellen Robbins painting in her studio (from a photograph by J. Appleton Brown)
This article is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by Joyce Kelly, Board member of the Historical Society of Watertown. Joyce writes articles for the newsletter and is the newsletter editor. This was published in our January 2009 newsletter, “The Town Crier.” ELLEN ROBBINS (1828 – 1905) – A WATERTOWN ARTIST
Watertown residents may be surprised to discover the many prominent people who called Watertown their home.
Seth Bemis 1775-1852 (Photo courtesy of the Watertown Free Public Library)
The following story is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by former Historical Society Vice-President, the late Pam Pinsky for the July 2006 Historical Society newsletter, “The Town Crier”. MOUNT AUBURN NOTABLES
In celebration of the 375 th anniversary of the founding of Watertown, the Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery and the Historical Society of Watertown joined together on Oct. 9, 2005 to give a guided tour of the gravesites of several notable people who once resided in Watertown. The lives of our Watertown notables were recalled by members of the Historical Society Council and Historical Society volunteers.