Acton History Online

Explore Acton's history wherever you are.  The Acton Historical Society has been at work digitizing its collections and making Acton stories available online.  We will be adding more over the coming months; please check back.
Stories from Acton
Building the State Prison in Concord created controversy  in the 1870s and 1880s.
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Isaac Ramsdell died in service in 1780, leaving a widow and children behind in Acton.
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Ebenezer Davis Sr. & Jr., known for their bellows business, had many business ventures.
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A souvenir from the stagecoach era led to research into travel before the railroad arrived.
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Schoolteacher Ella Miller's commute to work involved evolving challenges.
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A group of Civil War veterans waited more than two decades for a promise to be honored.
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Architectural plans from a West Acton attic led us to Newport in the Gilded Age.
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A look back at how Acton residents spent the summer months one hundred years ago.

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

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Profiles of the six South Acton women who were the first female voters registered in Acton.
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James Emery, a 21-year-old Acton native  was killed at Saratoga.
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Census and town records yield information about Irish-born Acton residents in the 1850s.
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A picture of a derailed shifter engine led to research into its story.  Help is needed!
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Seeking help identifying pictures in a donated photo album from the WW1 era.
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The Miller family of North Acton left behind a treasure trove of information & photos.
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N. L. Merrill brought his “daguerreotype saloon” to South Acton in early 1856. 
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Research into African-American Revolutionary War soldier Titus "Hayward."
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George C. Wright,  Acton benefactor, was president of the largest coffee and spice company in New England. 
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An overlooked slide gave us a picture of the Acton football team of 1897-98 with identified players.
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See a sign-up sheet of Acton's East militia company as of Sept. 29, 1774 under Capt. Robbins.
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Online 1855 census indices have missed a page of Acton residents, available here.
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An 1828 listing showed that the East Acton school housed 87 students.
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The East Acton school district's elusive history pieced together from clues left behind.
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Acton's 1935 Bicentennial celebration brought crowds and unexpected excitement.
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Overcoming problems is nothing new in Acton education.
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In 1868-69, West Acton residents tried to secede and join with Boxborough.
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A project to identify early Black and mixed race Acton residents from 1735 through 1865.

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Minuteman Thomas Darby survived the battle of Concord but died at White Plains.

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Charles Heywood, railroad executive, inventor and owner of 2 Acton mills, and wife Ann were philanthropists.
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Resources for Acton Historical Research
Acton's Markers and Monuments - locations, stories, photos & sources.
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Acton History Subject and Reference Lists

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Acton Family History Index & Reference Lists

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Online Exhibits
Some highlights from our collections, expanding on our November 1918 exhibit commemorating the end of World War 1. 
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Revisit our exhibit featuring hats and head-coverings in our collection and others lent by generous individuals. 
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