Commemorating Northborough's Role in the American Revolution
Revolution 250

A summary of the Northborough Massachusetts plans for the celebration of the 250 year anniversary of the American Revolution.

About

A group of Northborough Citizens have formed a committee to commemorate Northborough’s role during the American Revolution. Commemoration events are being prepared throughout the country.

The Northborough Revolution 250 Committee is planning events to highlight our ancestor’s role in the Revolution. Members of the committee included representation from Northborough organizations including ; the Historical Society, the Historical Commission, the Community Affairs Committee, the Cultural Council, the American Legion and the Garden Club.

We are planning to involve community volunteers including the local schools and scouts.

Projects and events the Committee is planning revolve around highlighting events and people instrumental with Northborough’s revolutionary cause. In addition we will also participate in some regional events such as the Bunker Hill Parade and the Henry Knox Cannon trail.

This Community Advocate article provides additional information on planned Northborough activities.

Contact

northboroughrev250@gmail.com

Member details

NAMEAFFILIATION
Norm Corbin - ChairHistorian, Northborough Historical Society
Lois Van de Kopple-Smith - Vice ChairNorthborough Historical Society
Bob Licht - SecretaryChair, Northborough Historic District Commission
Ken BennettNorthborough Historical Society
Suzanne CieslicaNorthborough Community Affairs Committee
Robert MarchettaNational Park Service
Rick NieberVincent Picard American Legion Post, Northborough
Michael RomanNorthborough Garden Club & Historical Society
Brian SmithNorthborough Historic District Commission
Terry Underwood Northborough Cultural Council & Cable TV
Bob Van BurenNorthborough Historical Society
Marie WymanNorthborough Cable Access TV
Joseph WymanVolunteer
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Videos

MINUTEMEN
Minutemen
KNOX TRAIN
Knox Train
TEA PARTY
Tea Party
BRITISH SPIES
General Knox - British Spies
SAMUEL WOOD
Samual Wood
MINUTEMEN EVENT
Minutemen Departure Event
WITNESS HOUSE EVENT
Witness House event
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Miscellaneous Photos

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Colonial Witness Houses

The Northborough Revolutionary War witness houses are defined as houses built prior to the end of the war and that are still in existence to this day. Northborough historians have identified twenty-eight such houses.

These houses were home to ordinary people who lived in extraordinary times. Some were home to the fifty Minutemen who marched on April 19th 1775, to Concord when the alarm reached town. A few were even home to loyalists. Yet all witnessed the founding of the United States and the two and a half centuries since.

Click on the button below to see full size images of and information on each individual home.
Images and Information
On Witness Houses

Scrollable map:

Desktop: Click on the map to see the location of each of these twenty-eight houses. Click on the resulting map to see a full size map. Use the scroll bars or mouse to move around the full size map.

Smartphone or tablet: Tap the map. Use finger gestures to move around the map.

On 19 April 2025 the Northborough Library held a kickoff event to begin the statewide celebration of MA250. This event featured a photo exhibition of all 28 Witness Houses.

Here is a video from the library event which introduces the Northborough Revolution 250 committee and in which you can hear from the present day owners of two of the Witness Houses.

WITNESS HOUSE EVENT
Witness House event

Click on the button below to see photos from this event.
Photos from the
Witness House Exhibit

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Minutemen Event

Northborough recruited fifty four Minutemen.
Click on the following image to see the full size list of their names.

Here is a video documenting the re-enactment of the Minutemen Departure from Northborough. This re-enactment took place on the Northborough town common on May 3, 2025.

MINUTEMEN EVENT
Minutemen

Click on the button below to see a selection of photos from the Minutemen Departure Event.
Minutemen Departure
Event Photos

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Lafayette Event

On June 15 2025 the reenactment of Lafayette's 1825 tour of the United States will pass through Northborough and briefly stop on the front lawn of the Northborough Historical Society at 12 noon.
Click on the following images to see the event posters.

The American Friends of Lafayette Organization have produced a series of six banners depicting the life of Lafayette. They were on display at the Northborough Library through Saturday 31 May 2025.

Click on one of the following images to see a larger version of the banner.

Click one more time on the resulting image to see the banner at full size.

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History

Here is a timeline of significant Northborough events during the Revolutionary War Period.

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Events

Northborough specific events. Click on the links, where available, for additional event details

Northborough REV250 EVENTS
DateEventLocation
April 19, 2025Witness House ReceptionLibrary
May 3, 2025 Minutemen Departure EventTown Common
May 26, 2025Memorial Day ParadeDowntown
June 15, 2025Participation in the Bunker Hill ParadeCharlestown, MA
June 15, 2025200th year of Lafayette Tour VisitNHS front lawn
June 21-22, 2025Attendance at Bunker Hill ReenactmentGloucester MA
September 2025ApplefestDowntown
January 31, 2026Participation In Henry Knox Cannon EventWorcester, MA
May 25, 2026Memorial Day ParadeDowntown
May 30, 2026Northborough Independence Vote EventEllsworth McAfee Park
Sep 2026ApplefestDowntown

A comprehensive list of planned Massachusetts events can be found here

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