2022 Chain of Lights
Saturday, December 3, 2022
Visit our three historical properties:
Eight Lots School House - 54 Eight Lots Road - 10 am - 4 pm
General Rufus Putnam Museum - 4 Uxbridge Road - 10 am - 4 pm
M. M. Sherman Blacksmith Shop - 6 Singletary Avenue - 10 am - 2 pm
All locations will be staffed with Historical Society Members eager to share their knowledge of Sutton's rich history.
Eight Lots School House - 54 Eight Lots Road - 10 am - 4 pm
General Rufus Putnam Museum - 4 Uxbridge Road - 10 am - 4 pm
M. M. Sherman Blacksmith Shop - 6 Singletary Avenue - 10 am - 2 pm
All locations will be staffed with Historical Society Members eager to share their knowledge of Sutton's rich history.
2022 Calendar of Events
All events open to both Society members and the general public.
Updated event information will be posted here, on Facebook, and emailed to members
Upcoming meetings/events are listed in the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, The Uxbridge Times, and the Blackstone Valley Xpress.
Updated event information will be posted here, on Facebook, and emailed to members
Upcoming meetings/events are listed in the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, The Uxbridge Times, and the Blackstone Valley Xpress.
December 3 Various Chain of Lights Eight Lots School House
Saturday Annual Town-wide Christmas Event General Rufus Putnam Museum
M. M. Sherman Blacksmith Shop
December 6 6:30 pm Christmas Potluck First Congregational Church
Tuesday 307 Boston Road
December 31 Midnight Last Night Cannon Firing M. M. Sherman Blacksmith Shop
Saturday Cannon Club 6 Singletary Avenue
Saturday Annual Town-wide Christmas Event General Rufus Putnam Museum
M. M. Sherman Blacksmith Shop
December 6 6:30 pm Christmas Potluck First Congregational Church
Tuesday 307 Boston Road
December 31 Midnight Last Night Cannon Firing M. M. Sherman Blacksmith Shop
Saturday Cannon Club 6 Singletary Avenue
RECENT HAPPENINGS
WAGON & CARRIAGE SHOW
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Noon - 4 pm
M. M. Sherman Blacksmith Shop
6 Singletary Avenue
The rain held off! We had a few visitors! It was a SUCCESS!!!!
Noon - 4 pm
M. M. Sherman Blacksmith Shop
6 Singletary Avenue
The rain held off! We had a few visitors! It was a SUCCESS!!!!
Photos below courtesy of Joyce Smith
Photos below courtesy of April Eaton Brown
Saturday, September 10, 2022
Finished!!!!
Bottle/Can Drive Sorting and Redemption
It took two days, combined 20 volunteers, for a total of 80 volunteer hours. Now we wait for the tally!
Thanks to Jim Stevenson for this awesome time lapse of the tenacity of these volunteers!!
Finished!!!!
Bottle/Can Drive Sorting and Redemption
It took two days, combined 20 volunteers, for a total of 80 volunteer hours. Now we wait for the tally!
Thanks to Jim Stevenson for this awesome time lapse of the tenacity of these volunteers!!
August 2022
General Rufus Putnam Museum Building gets a new paint job
General Rufus Putnam Museum Building gets a new paint job
Ahead of the 200th anniversary of this historical building in Sutton Center in May of 2023, the General Rufus Putnam Museum received a much-needed paint job. A great job for an historic gem!
Saturday, August 6, 2022 - Bottle and Can Drive Sorting Day
HOT! HOT! HOT!
It was one of the hottest days of the summer, but 9 hearty souls worked from 8-1 to sort and bag a small portion of the donated cans and bottles!!
Several more days of sorting ahead, but we will wait for cooler days! We could use more VOLUNTEERS!!!!
THANKS
to all who donated to this important fundraiser for the Society.
It was one of the hottest days of the summer, but 9 hearty souls worked from 8-1 to sort and bag a small portion of the donated cans and bottles!!
Several more days of sorting ahead, but we will wait for cooler days! We could use more VOLUNTEERS!!!!
THANKS
to all who donated to this important fundraiser for the Society.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022 - Eight Lots School House Potluck
It was a beautiful evening for a get together. The rains held off. The food and friendship were wonderful.
Several toured the historic school house including new Sutton School Superintendent, Kimberly Roberts-Morandi.
Hope to see everyone again next August!
Several toured the historic school house including new Sutton School Superintendent, Kimberly Roberts-Morandi.
Hope to see everyone again next August!
SUTTON TOWN CENTER CEMETERY RESTORATION COMPLETED!!
July 15, 2022 - Last stones reset
Commencing in the summer of 2019 and continuing through the pandemic, the Cemetery Conservation crew has completed work on the oldest cemetery in Sutton located behind the Town Hall, 4 Uxbridge Road. The last gravestone reset was for Private Jonas Sibley. It measured 96" top-to-bottom. John Jay Sibley's stone reset the previous week measured 99" top-to-bottom.
This cemetery will be highlighted on Saturday, October 29 at 7 pm with a costumed, guided tour in conjunction with the Sutton School's PTO's Trunk or Treat and the Fourth of July Committee's "Oh My Gourd - The Great Pumpkin Extravaganza" on the Common.
A special THANK YOU to members of the Dudley Gendron Post 414 American Legion for their generous financial support of this important community project.
The Conservation Crew has moved on to the Dodge Cemetery located on Leland Hill Road. The stones in the Dodge Cemetery were cleaned in the midst of the pandemic by John and Marion Belculfine. Now it is time for the crew to reset the stones. Volunteers are always needed.
A special thank you to Ross Weaver who presented this project to the Society's Board of Directors and led a crew of dedicated volunteers and boy scouts for three years who have been working on several cemeteries throughout town.
Consistently by Ross's side, a special shout out to Dave Pizzi, Brian Stevenson, John Belculfine (l-r below image).
If not now, then when.....if not us, then who!!
This cemetery will be highlighted on Saturday, October 29 at 7 pm with a costumed, guided tour in conjunction with the Sutton School's PTO's Trunk or Treat and the Fourth of July Committee's "Oh My Gourd - The Great Pumpkin Extravaganza" on the Common.
A special THANK YOU to members of the Dudley Gendron Post 414 American Legion for their generous financial support of this important community project.
The Conservation Crew has moved on to the Dodge Cemetery located on Leland Hill Road. The stones in the Dodge Cemetery were cleaned in the midst of the pandemic by John and Marion Belculfine. Now it is time for the crew to reset the stones. Volunteers are always needed.
A special thank you to Ross Weaver who presented this project to the Society's Board of Directors and led a crew of dedicated volunteers and boy scouts for three years who have been working on several cemeteries throughout town.
Consistently by Ross's side, a special shout out to Dave Pizzi, Brian Stevenson, John Belculfine (l-r below image).
If not now, then when.....if not us, then who!!
Thanks to Ed Chrostowski for the below photographs.
3rd Graders Tour Sutton Center
June 6, 2022
Thank you to Steve Colonies; The Sutton Cannon Club; Museum Curator - Joyce Smith; Board members - Keith Downer, Rochelle Forsythe, and Christine Watkins for hosting the Sutton 3rd Graders!!
Thank you to Steve Colonies; The Sutton Cannon Club; Museum Curator - Joyce Smith; Board members - Keith Downer, Rochelle Forsythe, and Christine Watkins for hosting the Sutton 3rd Graders!!
samuelslaterexperience.org
Thank you to the Samuel Slater Experience staff for hosting
the Sutton Historical Society!!!
For those who missed it, the museum is open
Friday 10-4
Saturday 10-4
Sunday 12-4
the Sutton Historical Society!!!
For those who missed it, the museum is open
Friday 10-4
Saturday 10-4
Sunday 12-4
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Cemetery Tour - Enjoyed by over 100 visitors!!
Rescheduling and weather that did not cooperate did not hamper the spirits of the visitors who toured Sutton's oldest Cemetery on
Sunday, October 31.
Interpreters shared their stories about some of those interred in this historically-significant cemetery.
The Society hopes to make this an annual event!!!
Sunday, October 31.
Interpreters shared their stories about some of those interred in this historically-significant cemetery.
The Society hopes to make this an annual event!!!
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THANK YOU!!!
ROBERT ERNEST HUBBARD, Author Presentation about General Rufus Putnam Robert Ernest Hubbard, a retired professor and author from New Haven, Connecticut, recently presented his book General Rufus Putnam, George Washington’s Chief Military Engineer and the “Father of Ohio.” to our Society. It was a well-received presentation. Go to israelputnam.org to order a copy of this book in addition to one about Israel Putnam. Prior to his presentation, Robert and his wife, Kathy, discussed how to become an author with a group of home-schooled children. This, too, was greatly appreciated. 
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Thank you to member, Malcolm Ketchum, for sharing his images of Sutton
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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!!!
1816 - The Year without a Summer
Our ancestors weathered crazy times before us.
See a few events noted below
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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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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Interior of General Rufus Putnam Museum
BEFORE DURING AFTER
Images from Museum Display
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