Category Archives: History

1676 King Philip’s War marker dedication at 6 PM Friday

Posted on April 24, 2026 | Leave a comment

The new King Philip’s War historic marker dedication occurs this afternoon at 6:00 PM, followed by the opening reception for Medfield History Week at the Dwight-Derby House –

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Posted in Downtown, Events, History

Early 1800’s Medfield Letters

Posted on December 11, 2025 | Comments Off on Early 1800’s Medfield Letters

Last night Walter McClennen gave a talk about his book of letters to Hannah Smith who lived in Medfield and kept the letters her sisters wrote to her between 1804 to 1825. Interesting insights into the life of an average young woman’s quotidian life at that early time.

Take a look at his website: hannahsmithofmedfield.com

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Posted in Events, History

Medfield to Celebrate 375 Years!

Posted on November 14, 2025 | Comments Off on Medfield to Celebrate 375 Years!

From Tracey Klenk, Assistant Town Clerk, Town of Medfield –

Medfield to Celebrate 375 Years! Grand Parade and Celebration Set for October 17, 2026

Mark your calendars for October 17, 2026, as the Town of Medfield proudly celebrates its 375th Anniversary! Incorporated in 1649, Medfield has thrived for nearly four centuries — through challenges and triumphs that define its enduring spirit. This milestone year is a chance for all residents to come together and celebrate the town’s rich history and bright future.

The 375th Anniversary Parade and Celebration will be a grand event showcasing the best of Medfield — its people, organizations, and traditions. The event will honor both the town’s historic roots and its vibrant present, bringing generations together for a day filled with pride, nostalgia, and fun.

Organizers invite sponsors, donors, and participants to be part of this once-in-a-generation celebration that unites our community, honors our heritage, and creates a spirit of fun and excitement for all residents. To learn more about donations and sponsorships visit http://www.medfield375thparade.com.

The Medfield 375th Anniversary Parade and Celebration Committee is proud to be an initiative of the Medfield Foundation, Inc. (MFi) — Medfield’s community charity. Donations may be made by check, payable to Medfield Foundation, Inc. (please note “375th Celebration” in the memo), and dropped off at the Town Hall, Town Clerk’s Office. Online donation options are also available at www.medfield375thparade.com. All contributions and sponsorships are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Volunteers will be needed as the big day approaches — stay tuned for opportunities to help make this historic event one to remember!

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Posted in Entertainment, Events, History

Peak House Heritage Society Creates the “Traveling Trunk” with MFi Legacy Fund Grant

Posted on February 5, 2025 | Comments Off on Peak House Heritage Society Creates the “Traveling Trunk” with MFi Legacy Fund Grant

From the Peak House Heritage Society –

 
Hello Pete,

Recognizing the continuing partnership with the Directors of Medfield Foundation’s Legacy Fund, the Heritage Center Directors proudly announce the arrival of the Peak House Traveling Trunk.

A magnifying glass with an eye in the middle.What’s the Trunk’s Purpose?THE PEAK HOUSE TRAVELING TRUNK will transport the material culture and history of the Peak House into Medfield classrooms.

Initially it will engage about two hundred twenty-four (224) Third Grade students while traveling to nine (9) classrooms at the Ralph Wheelock School.

In order to foster greater student interest in early Medfield and Peak House cultural history, the Traveling Trunk will contain a variety of discovery resources selected by Nicole Sheehan and Erin Watson, both highly-qualified Third Grade teachers at that school.

– A detailed teacher’s notebook and lesson plans
– Actual historical artifacts and authentic reproductions
– Maps, graphics, games, crafts
– Student reading and reference material, activity sheets and discussion questions

This project directly addresses Massachusetts Academic Standards for this grade level and correlates with existing PHHC exhibits.

A video play button.How was This Initiative Funded?In March 2024, the Legacy Fund awarded a grant to the Peak House Heritage Center to address the inadequacies of traditional field-trip experiences at the Peak House with a new initiative designed for creativity and discovery in Third Grade classrooms

. A video play button.

What’s the Trunk’s Connection to Medfield History?

The developer of the Clark Tavern Condominiums next door to the Peak House contributed material from the 1742 Tavern as his way of repurposing and extending that site’s historic legacy.



A magnifying glass with an eye in the middle.What’s the Trunk’s Appearance?

 
A small megaphone blaring.What are the

Trunk’s Contents?

Seen surrounding the Trunk are some of the items: gravestone reproductions with rubbing paper and colored waxes, joinery samples, artifacts in acrylic cases. Also included are lesson plans, activity sheets, photos of early downtown Medfield and more.



A small calendar.What’s Its 2025 Schedule?

Classroom workstations with the Trunk’s collection will roll out in mid-March according to curriculum designers and teachers Erin Watson(l) and Nicole Sheehan.



A small megaphone blaring.Our Thank You for Partnering

The Heritage Center Directors are most grateful for the insight and support of the Legacy Fund Directors to provide this unique learning opportunity.

Discover more PHHC community partnerships here 

Our Contact InformationPeak House Heritage Center52 South Street (Business Office)
Medfield, MA 02052-2616508-505-7742
http://peakhouseheritagecenter.org
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Posted in Charity, History, Medfield Foundation, Peak House Heritage Center, Schools

Volunteer Fair this Saturday 11-1

Posted on January 9, 2025 | 1 comment

Date: Saturday, January 11th

Location: Fellowship Hall, First Floor, UCC Medfield, 496 Main Street Medfield, MA 02052

Fair: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Event Promotion: Please share Medfield TV’s promotional video on Facebook and Instagram, invite your friends to the Facebook Event page, and also share any of the attached graphics with your email newsletter subscribers.

Katie Duval & Megan Sullivan

Volunteer Fair Co-Organizers

Katie Duval

She/her/hers

Executive Director

Medfield TV

katie@medfield.tv

508-359-8888 

www.medfield.tv

For updates and more, subscribe to the Medfield TV monthly newsletter

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Posted in Bellforge Arts Center, Cultural Alliance of Medfield, Dwight-Derby House, History, Medfield Environmental Action, Medfield Foundation, Medfield TV, New Life Furniture Bank of MA, Sustainable Medfield, Uncategorized, Volunteers

Girl Scouts tour Dwight-Derby House

Posted on October 28, 2024 | Comments Off on Girl Scouts tour Dwight-Derby House

From Geoff Sauter, the enthusiastic and dedicated man in charge of the Friends of the Dwight-Derby House, Inc. The Dwight-Derby House is one of the dozen oldest houses in the US. It a national treasure, that the Friends of the Dwight-Derby House, Inc. take care of for the Town of Medfield. Tours of the fascinating Dwight-Derby House are available to anyone who asks. –

I thought you should know about what went on.

Yesterday morning, I hosted a session for the Medfield Girl Scouts to explain the materials and construction techniques used in colonial homes.  The young ladies are working on a badge called, “Cadettes who Build”. With exposed beams and open walls, the Dwight-Derby house was the perfect place to start.

The next phase is a visit to Home Depot to look at currently available building materials.

Best,

Geoff

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Posted in Dwight-Derby House, History, Scouts, Uncategorized

More Dwight-Derby House input

Posted on July 5, 2024 | Comments Off on More Dwight-Derby House input

The email below and images are from Goeff Sauter, President of the Friends of the Dwight-Derby House, Inc. this afternoon –

Hi Pete,

Thanks again for making yourself available this morning.   Attached are three pictures as follows:

  1. The sketch by George Horatio Derby, the “father” of satire in the United States.  Electa Kane Tritsch uncovered this sketch in the archives on Derby family at West Point.  It was probably drawn as a teenager and shows his view of the meeting house from an upstairs bedroom. I interpret this drawing to be showing the Meeting House which is now the Unitarian Church facing North Street.   Sometimes when conducting fast-paced tours, we neglect to also point out a drawing that George did on the inside of the door leading to our gift shop.  The sketch is clearly the Dwight-Derby House itself, and it is a credit to both the many owners of the house and preservation contractors that the sketch was not inadvertently removed! Please tell your readers to stop in if they missed seeing it on a previous tour.
  2. One of the most expensive rare artifacts on our list for the East Parlor Project is an early 18th century women’s sewing table. These tables are unique because the bottom drawer has a large pouch or bag underneath where a seamstress could easily store an uncompleted project with all of the component pieces in a convenient place.  It occurred to me that someone who reads your blog might have one of these tables or know someone who does. We are not expecting a donation of a sewing table but plan to procure one at the best possible price.
  3. In the same vein, we are seaching for an early 18th century cabinet where Mary Derby would have stored, ribbons flowers, and other raw materials for making hats an bonnets. The picture I have enclosed was taken in the general store at Old Sturbridge Village. We will be working with antique dealers, flea markets, Craigslist, Ebay, estate sales, and all possible sources to find something like it.  

Best, Geoff

NB, by OLP: I just noticed a couple of more differences in the sketch from the current existing First Parish Meeting House:

  1. there is no front porch in this sketch
  2. the steeple today is flush with the front of the building
  3. today there is no side window that is not rectangular.

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Posted in Downtown, Dwight-Derby House, History

G.H. Derby’s historic drawing of First Parish Meeting House from the Dwight-Derby House

Posted on July 5, 2024 | 2 comments

As part of my Select Board office hours this morning I met with Geoff Sauter, the President of the Friends of the Dwight-Derby House, Inc. Geoff shared with me the drawing below that Geoff said George Horatio Derby drew when a youth from his bedroom window in the Dwight-Derby House.

What becomes clear as one looks at the drawing is that the First Parish Meeting House building was then facing North Street. At some point the building was rotated 90 degrees to its current orientation – I wonder why? Other changes I noted were the different steeple, the bump out behind the alter that is no longer exists, and no town clock. I heard that the church’s steeple blew down in the 1938 Hurricane and was reconstructed.

I like seeing the model sailboat on the pond, as it reminds me that I sailed model boats in large fountains or artificial ponds in parks in London as a kid.

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Posted in Community Preservation Act (CPA), Downtown, Dwight-Derby House, History

Dwight-Derby House update – tours available

Posted on March 15, 2024 | Comments Off on Dwight-Derby House update – tours available

From Geoff Sauter, President Friends of the Dwight-Derby House, Inc. –

Hi Pete,

I was pleased to make your acquaintance last night and especially pleased with your offer to add updates regarding the Dwight-Derby  House to your blog.

I am in the process of putting together a quarterly newsletter to keep your electorate abreast of the goings on at 7 Frairy St. and will let you know when it’s finally available for distribution.  Your support will help me develop an email list so that we get it out to as many interested residents as possible.

More importantly, you can report on your next blog that I am making the Dwight-Derby House open by appointment for guided tours 7 days a week. We have found that being open two Saturdays a month from 10:00 to 12:00 was not adequate and did not meet with everyone’s schedules. I can be reached directly at Coptersauter@gmail.com or through the Contact Us tab on our website, which is dwightderbyhouse.org.   The tours typically take about an hour. 

Attached are some current pictures to spice up your blog.

Best,

Geoff Sauter, President

Friends of the Dwight-Derby House

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Posted in Dwight-Derby House, History

Picked up from Richard

Posted on December 30, 2022 | Comments Off on Picked up from Richard

Streetlight budget in 1923

In this week’s Hometown Weekly, Richard DeSorgher’s This Old Town column describes the Town of Medfield budget from 100 years ago in 1923. The total annual budget was $67,965 and your town, like today, spent the most on education, $24,000 that year. What surprised me was that the town spent $3K on streetlights. That latter is the same amount spent that year on snow removal, and $1K more than was spent on either the police or fire.

From memory the streetlight budget today is about $27,000. Interesting that streetlights were seen then as such a high priority.

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Posted in Budgets, History