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Greetings
The Sutton Independent Artillery bids you Good Day and a Happy New Year. You are most cordially invited to the 17th Annual “Last Night” celebration; a small, poorly organized affair for those citizens of Sutton in need of entertainment and loud noises on the evening of December 31st which will culminate in a firing of Old Ben commencing at 11:59:59. The display shall take place near the cannon shed at 6 Singletary Avenue. Please practice social distancing and masks are required. Please feel free to extend this invitation to other interested parties. The Sutton Artillery will begin to arrive around 11:30 pm and will be available to visit and answer questions. |
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A BIG SHOUT OUT
to
John Belculfine, Dave Pizzi, and Brian Stevenson for their outstanding repair work on the above Sutton Historical Society sign which hangs on the Blacksmith Shop and was made by
Linda Sinacola, Martin Shaw, and Robert Shaw in 2019 and damaged during a wind storm.
Quietly getting things done during a Pandemic.....that definitely describes the
Sutton Historical Society!!!!!
Happy Holidays!!
to
John Belculfine, Dave Pizzi, and Brian Stevenson for their outstanding repair work on the above Sutton Historical Society sign which hangs on the Blacksmith Shop and was made by
Linda Sinacola, Martin Shaw, and Robert Shaw in 2019 and damaged during a wind storm.
Quietly getting things done during a Pandemic.....that definitely describes the
Sutton Historical Society!!!!!
Happy Holidays!!
MEMBERSHIP OPEN YEAR ROUND
Forms can be downloaded under the Membership tab above
Become a Steward of Sutton Town History
$15 for Individual
$25 for Family
Forms can be downloaded under the Membership tab above
Become a Steward of Sutton Town History
$15 for Individual
$25 for Family
Happy Holidays
from the
General Rufus Putnam Museum
Through the combined efforts of
President, Brian Stevenson,
Curator, Joyce Smith, and
the kind light donation of members
Gary & Judi Vaillancourt,
the Museum is definitely showing Christmas Spirit!
Remember to Shop Local this Holiday Season!!
from the
General Rufus Putnam Museum
Through the combined efforts of
President, Brian Stevenson,
Curator, Joyce Smith, and
the kind light donation of members
Gary & Judi Vaillancourt,
the Museum is definitely showing Christmas Spirit!
Remember to Shop Local this Holiday Season!!
Members are available for research questions.
Reach us via our contact page above.
Cemetery headstone cleaning continues using social distance rules.
Reach us through the contact page above
Reach us via our contact page above.
Cemetery headstone cleaning continues using social distance rules.
Reach us through the contact page above
In Response to the current gathering rules put in place by Governor Charlie Baker,
the Society has cancelled our Fall Speakers and our Fall Yard Sale.
Continue to practice Social Distancing
Stay Safe!
We will continue to update our Calendar of Events in response to the COVID-19 restrictions
the Society has cancelled our Fall Speakers and our Fall Yard Sale.
Continue to practice Social Distancing
Stay Safe!
We will continue to update our Calendar of Events in response to the COVID-19 restrictions
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FUNDRAISER
New Cats Meow Village Pieces
A portion of proceeds to be donated directly to the Sutton Historical Society
Shop Local, Shop Now, Share Memories of Sutton with those Near and Far!!!
www.benjaminagency.com
A portion of proceeds to be donated directly to the Sutton Historical Society
Shop Local, Shop Now, Share Memories of Sutton with those Near and Far!!!
www.benjaminagency.com
FUNDRAISER
October - November
Tiny Leaf Designs Photography
is offering Portrait Sittings for your students
Grades K-5
through November
Book online at: TinyLeafDesigns.com
Click IMAGE on left to quickly navigate to TinyLeafDesigns.com
$75 - A private showing of the Eight Lots School House for your family
- Professional photos of your child in the School House
- Choose up to five fully edited digital images
- One-year family membership to the Sutton Historical Society
Annual Meeting Update
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- Donation by Mike and Sheila Moss to the General Rufus Putnam
Museum of a framed 1915 Boston Herald photo spread of Purgatory Chasm prior to its being established as a State Park in 1919 - Election of 6 non-officer Board positions for a 2-year term - Presentation of work completed on the Sutton Center Meeting House and tour of the inside - Update on status of Cemetery cleaning/repair at Sutton Center and Dodge Cemetery. Almost complete. Committee will continue work in other town cemeteries. Thank you to the countless volunteers. This group is definitely "Quietly making noise!" Volunteers always needed. - Update on progress of organizing General Rufus Putnam Museum. Grant received through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners to help move forward with cataloguing and digitizing collection. Thank you to Joyce Smith, Curator, and Betsy Perry, Sutton Librarian, for this great effort. - Sutton Cultural Council grant received and utilized for the creation and production of a brochure on Society holdings to be distributed at events. Thank you to member, Dave Pizzi, for his efforts. |
Cemetery Project Update - June 2020
During the period of higher COVID-19 restrictions, members of our Restoration Committee cut and burned a lot of brush and wood debris while maintaining the individual "social distancing" guidelines in this open area.
Still more to do, but the difference is very noticeable in the Sutton Center Cemetery.
More recently, some stones have been reset, including repaired stones, and others cleaned. A few photos are below.
As we have now reached the second round of re-openings, we are going to proceed with our original planned workdays at Sutton Center Cemetery on the second Saturday of each month.
Weather permitting, start day will be Saturday, June 13. We will be on-site starting at 9:00 am
Come with a mask or face shield.
PROGRESS PHOTOS - SUTTON CENTER CEMETERY (behind Town Hall)
BEFORE AFTER
Image above is Elliot stone reset and cleaned. GREAT JOB - Restoration Committee!!!
Our ancestors weathered crazy times before us.
See a few events noted below
1816 - The Year without a Summer
The year 1816 was known as ‘The Year Without a Summer’ in New England because six inches of snow fell in June and every month of the year had a hard frost.
Temperatures dropped to as low as 40 degrees in July and August as far south as Connecticut. People also called it ‘Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death’ and the ‘Poverty Year.’
The Year Without A Summer had a far-reaching impact. Crop failures caused hoarding and big price increases for agricultural commodities. People went hungry. Farmers gave up trying to make a living in New England and started heading west. Politicians who ignored the melancholy plight of their constituents found themselves out of office.
Flurries fell in Boston on June 7. The snow was 18" deep in Cabot, VT, on June 8. One June 11, a temperature of 30.5 degrees was recorded in Williamstown, MA. Frozen birds dropped dead in the fields. Some Vermont farmers who had already shorn their sheep tried to tie their fleeces back on, but many froze to death anyway.
Many people believe the Year Without a Summer was caused by a massive volcanic explosion on Mt. Tambora in Indonesia, killing 15,000 instantly. Soon after, another 65,000 perished of disease and starvation. The volcanic ash and debris thrown up into the stratosphere is thought to have blocked the sun and caused a gradual lowering of temperatures.
Temperatures dropped to as low as 40 degrees in July and August as far south as Connecticut. People also called it ‘Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death’ and the ‘Poverty Year.’
The Year Without A Summer had a far-reaching impact. Crop failures caused hoarding and big price increases for agricultural commodities. People went hungry. Farmers gave up trying to make a living in New England and started heading west. Politicians who ignored the melancholy plight of their constituents found themselves out of office.
Flurries fell in Boston on June 7. The snow was 18" deep in Cabot, VT, on June 8. One June 11, a temperature of 30.5 degrees was recorded in Williamstown, MA. Frozen birds dropped dead in the fields. Some Vermont farmers who had already shorn their sheep tried to tie their fleeces back on, but many froze to death anyway.
Many people believe the Year Without a Summer was caused by a massive volcanic explosion on Mt. Tambora in Indonesia, killing 15,000 instantly. Soon after, another 65,000 perished of disease and starvation. The volcanic ash and debris thrown up into the stratosphere is thought to have blocked the sun and caused a gradual lowering of temperatures.
The Influenza Epidemic of 1918
Sutton
The great Influenza Epidemic of 1918 appeared in the Blackstone Valley in September 1918. It is believed that Patient 0 was a soldier from Company D 75th Infantry from Camp Devens, who came to Whitinsville to visit. He died in Whitinsville on September 19, 1918. By September 1918, Fort Devens had 9,000 dead, dying and sick.
Sutton's first death came on September 30, 1918. The individual was employed by Whitin Machine Works.
Between September 30, 1918 and December 30, 1918, Sutton lost 19 of its approximately 2,800 residents, including the renowned Manchaug physician,
Dr. Pierre Couilliard.
Sutton's first death came on September 30, 1918. The individual was employed by Whitin Machine Works.
Between September 30, 1918 and December 30, 1918, Sutton lost 19 of its approximately 2,800 residents, including the renowned Manchaug physician,
Dr. Pierre Couilliard.
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For more information about the
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2020 Membership Drive
Membership Renewals Due March 1, 2020
Consider becoming a member in our
50th Anniversary Year!!!
Membership Renewals Due March 1, 2020
Consider becoming a member in our
50th Anniversary Year!!!
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All events open to both Society members and the general public
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GRAVESTONE MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP
GREAT SUCCESS!!!
August 25, 2019
Thanks to all who joined in the workshop on Sunday, August 25, 2019 and those restoring the Reverend Hall memorial crypt.
Special thanks to Betty & Carlo Mencucci for sharing their vast knowledge, demonstrating proper methods and giving us opportunities to learn hands-on
Plans are in the works for a workday in September at the Town Center Cemetery. The exact day and time will be determined soon.
The notice will be emailed to those who signed up at the previous event, will be passed out at the Labor Day breakfast, will be published in the
Millbury-Sutton Chronicle and posted on the Sutton Historical Society website and Facebook.
The focus that day will be on resetting the front or back leaning gravestones - which are the most prone to breaking - and honing the skills that Betty & Carlo have taught us. Also, if your preference is to put your effort into cleaning of the gravestones and memorial stones, please join in. And, if you have friends who have expressed interest in - or curiosity about - restoration, please bring them along!
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Tiny Leaf Designs Photography, April Eaton Brown
for the amazing images below from the April 25 event!!!
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STOLEN PUMP UPDATE!!!
Thank you to the Moss Family for their generous donation of a replacement pump for the Eight Lots School House!! Thank you also to the several other families who offered pump replacements.
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HELP US RECOVER THIS SPECIAL ITEM
The well pump (pictured below) was stolen from the
Eight Lots School House Property!!
If you have any information about this incident, please reach out to us at the above "contact" tab.
Local police have been notified.
The well pump (pictured below) was stolen from the
Eight Lots School House Property!!
If you have any information about this incident, please reach out to us at the above "contact" tab.
Local police have been notified.
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Interior of General Rufus Putnam Museum
BEFORE DURING AFTER
Images from Museum Display
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