SUTTON - March is membership month for the Sutton Historical Society, Inc, a 501(c)3 organization, dedicated to preserving our historical inheritance for future generations. 

Membership forms can be downloaded at suttonhistoricalsocietyinc.org and will be included in the first quarter newsletter mailed to all members.  Membership is $15 for individuals and $25 for families. Funds raised through memberships are vital to our continued maintenance and operation of our historic properties—namely, the General Rufus Putnam Museum, the Eight Lots School House, and the M. M. Sherman Blacksmith Shop-- as well as support of our many ongoing and scheduled programs. 

  The Society has released its 2022 Calendar of Events at suttonhistoricalsocietyinc.org.  

This year’s events include lectures, a museum tour, potlucks, town events, and the annual firing of “Big Ben,” our Civil War cannon.  The Society is honored to be hosting three speakers. 

On April 26, at 7 p.m. in Blaxton Hall, Manchaug Mills, David Vermette, author of A Distinct Alien Race: The Untold Story of Franco Americans, will discuss French-Canadian immigration-- why they came, when they came, what they faced when they arrived and in the following years, and how they contributed to this country. This presentation is relative to not only Sutton, which boasted cotton manufacturing operations in both Manchaug and Wilkinsonville, but also to the surrounding Blackstone Valley towns as this immigrant group was the backbone of the cotton manufacturing industry  in the region before, during and after the turn of the 20th century. 

Christie Higginbottom will share her knowledge of apples at the table and on the farm landscape in the past and will look at the revival of interest today in a presentation entitled “An Infinite Variety of Fruit: Historic New England Apples” on September 6, at 7 p.m. in the First Congregational Church.

   On November 1, at the First Congregational Church, Michael Tougias, author, Until I Have No Country, will share his knowledge of King Philip’s War, one of America’s first wars.  King Philip was the English adopted name of Metacomet, a sachem of the Wampanoag people.  Sutton has several acres of land protected through the Metacomet Land Trust.  These presentations are free and open to all members and the general public of all ages.

  On June 7, the Samuel Slater Experience Museum, samuelslaterexperience.org, at 31 Ray Street, Webster with a grand opening scheduled for March 4, will open to the Society. This interactive museum tells the story of Samuel Slater, known as the Father of the American Industrial Revolution and the Father of the American Factory System, from his apprenticeship in England, to his journey to America, to his becoming the founder of Webster, MA, and everything in between.  Few may realize that the Sutton Manufacturing Company, located in Wilkinsonville, was owned and operated by the Slater organization from 1829-1907.  There is an admission fee for this event.

  Planned fund-raising events include the annual town-wide yard sale on Saturday, June 18 and the 1-week returnable can/bottle drive the week of July 9 – July 17.  Start saving your returnable cans and bottles now.  

A Wagon/Cart show is planned for October 1, and the Historic Cemetery Tour in the Town Center Cemetery is scheduled for October 29.  As always, we will have our locations open for the Annual Chain of Lights town event on December 6.

  With so much planned, as well as continued work on our Cemetery Restoration project, the Society is always looking for volunteers to help out.  Reach them at [email protected] and become a steward of Sutton’s rich history.  Event updates will be posted to suttonhistoricalsocietyinc.org, our facebook page, in local publications, and emailed to members.