In preparation for the 250th celebration of American Independence in 2026, the Lynnfield Historical Society will host a two-part program on Thursday evening, April 18. The public is invited to gather at 7 in front of the Centre Congregational Church and then proceed across to the Common. Ron Sarro, president of the society, will assume the role of town crier. He will lead 16 townsfolks, appropriately garbed in capes and tri-cornered hats, into the Old Burying Ground. Each of these participants will stand at the grave of a Revolutionary War veteran who lies buried there. As each name is read, the reenactor will light a lantern while a bell will be rung for each veteran. Many other nearby towns will be holding similar ceremonies that evening under the IllumiNation initiative of Revolution 250 sponsored by the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Following this reenactment, people will return across the street to the Chapel of the Centre Congregational Church to hear local historian Paul Hogman speak about members of Lynnfield’s North Parish Militia. Heeding the call of Minuteman Martin Herrick, these volunteers left from the Gowing’s Tavern in town to join the fight at Menotomy (now Arlington) on April 19, 1775. There they engaged with tattered British Redcoats returning from the battles at Concord and Lexington. Three Lynnfield men died that day – Daniel Townsend, who is buried in Lynnfield, along with William Flint and Thomas Hadley, who were interred in present–day Arlington. A rugged local survivor who lived to tell the tale was Timothy Munroe, who had many kinsmen fighting that day in Lexington.
Hogman will also discuss the Jason Russell House, “the site of the bloodiest fighting of the American Revolution” in Menotomy where these three Lynnfield men fell. The property is now maintained by the Arlington Historical Society.
All are welcome to the Lynnfield Historical Society’s first event in preparation for the 250th anniversary of American independence. Parking is available in the rear of the Church on Main Street. Light refreshments will be served. In case of rain, both events will be held in the Chapel of the Centre Congregational Church.
