Stories from Acton

South Acton had a large, well-photographed parade and other events to celebrate the 4th of July in 1915.

See a sign-up sheet of Acton's East militia company as of Sept. 29, 1774 under Capt. Robbins.

Building the State Prison in Concord created controversy in the 1870s and 1880s.

Online 1855 census indices have missed a page of Acton residents, available here.

Discussion of Irish immigration to Acton, based on information in the 1850 and 1855 censuses of town.

An 1828 listing showed that the East Acton school housed 87 students. Research was done to identify them.

Ebenezer Davis Sr. & Jr., known for their bellows business, had many business ventures.

The East Acton school district's elusive history pieced together from clues left behind.

A souvenir from the stagecoach era led to research into travel before the railroad arrived.

An Acton diary provided dates and the context of photographs of an Acton ice storm.

Acton's 1935 Bicentennial celebration brought crowds and unexpected excitement.

A group of Civil War veterans waited more than two decades for a promise to be honored.

An 1880s dispute over who would be postmaster involved politics and charges of fraud.

In 1868-69, West Acton residents tried to secede and join with Boxborough.

F. W. Pelton ran a private high school in Acton in 1852 and put on quite a show of students' work.

George C. Wright, Acton benefactor, was president of the largest coffee and spice company in New England.

Overcoming problems is nothing new in Acton education.

After decades of struggle, Acton women were finally allowed full voting rights in 1920.

A project to identify early Black and mixed race Acton residents from 1735 through 1865.

Profiles of the six South Acton women who were the first female voters registered in Acton.