The Historical Society of Watertown MA

08/23/2026

Signup Now for the Historical Society of Watertown Walking Tour of Watertown During the Revolution on Saturday, September 12, 2026

At 10 am, 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. Read more about it on our flyer.

08/15/2026

Museum in New Hampshire Displays an Early Fire Tub Built for Watertown

Jack Cox from the Waltham Historical Society a display in Colebrook.
NH Historical Society which has on exhibit an early fire tub that was originally built for Watertown. Colebrook is a small town close to the Canadian border. A "fire tub” - more commonly known as a hand tub—was an early, hand-operated fire engine used by firefighters in the 18th and 19th centuries. Before the invention of steam engines and motorized fire trucks, these mobile cisterns were pulled by hand and required large crews of men to repeatedly pump water onto fires.

08/10/2026

Visitor to Fowle House Created a Video of Highlights of the House

A visitor to the Fowle House last January created a video of the history and the contents of the house. One of the artifacts is a framed portrait of Sir Richard Salstonstall. See the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UowOVS33nCg

07/26/2026

07/20/2026

Treaty Day Broadcast Now Available

Treaty Day at the Mosesian was a huge success with overflow attendance at the Mosesian Center. There were about 100 indigenous people from the Wabanaki confederacy (translating to "People of the Dawnland”) are an Indigenous confederacy of five Algonquian-speaking nations: the Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, and Abenaki. Primarily located in Maine and Eastern Canada, they have inhabited the region for thousands of years. At the end of the event, there was a muster outside the Center with colonial re-enactors. View the Video which starts at 9 minutes here: https://www.facebook.com/WatertownCableNews/videos/1695421685065158

07/17/2026

Celebrate Treaty Day Tomorrow at the Mosesian Center for the Arts

Come to the Treaty Day Celebration at the Mosesian at 2 pm. Activities will include:
Ceremonial drumming by Mi’kmaq women, Remarks by leaders from the Massachusett, Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, and Watertown, Hands-on workshops: wampum and corn husk dolls, Documentary of Mi’kmaq perspectives on the Treaty of Watertown, Exhibition of current Indigenous artwork, Military salutes to honor Mi’kmaq and Maliseet veterans of the US Armed Forces, Performances of “Sma’knis,” composed by Sgt. Will Basque, Vietnam veteran and Mi’kmaq ancestor, and “Lamentation Over Boston,” a contemporary song by William Billings (1778) that recalls the Siege of Boston from a vantage point in Watertown and Readings from the Treaty itself and commentary on its impacts from both American and Indigenous perspectives, both historical and contemporary.

07/16/2026

Treaty Day Podcast

Local podcaster Matt Hanna sat down with a group of people involved with putting together the big Treaty Day 250 commemoration happening on Saturday, July 18th at the Mosesian Center for the Arts starting at 2pm. They chatted about the history of the Treaty of Watertown and what to expect at this year's special Treaty Day.

Guests were: Erin Rathe, Senior Planner for Economic Development, City of Watertown, Joyce Kelly, Board Member, Historical Society of Watertown, Marilynne Roach, President, Historical Society of Watertown, Matt Jatkola, Associate Executive Director, Mosesian Center for the Arts, and Tyler Cote, Director of Communications and Community Engagement, City of Watertown.

The podcast is about 30 minutes long. Podcast episode link: https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/episodes/event-highlight-treaty-day-250.

07/14/2026

Indigenous Panel and Short Film Screening at Watertown Library

As part of Watertown's 250th Treaty Day celebrations, the Watertown Free Public Library (123 Main Street) is hosting a free Indigenous panel and short film screening on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The event runs from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the Watertown Savings Bank Room.

07/12/2026

Treaty Day Event Coming on Saturday, July 18th at the Mosesian Center

07/08/2026

Watertown in 1170's Series Continues with the Hunt House

In 1775, the Hunt House was located on Galen Street. It was built in 1715 and purchased by John Hunt in 1745. Provincial Congress members Elbridge Gerry, Joseph Palmer and Dr. Joseph Warren boarded in the Hunt House at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.