Howard L. Quimby Square, Memorial Sign

Location: Intersection of School Street and Main Street, across School Street from the Exchange Hall

The main intersection in South Acton in front of the Exchange Hall was named in memory of Acton's Howard L. Quimby who died in service during World War 1.  Born in Boscawen, New Hampshire, he moved to Acton (his mother's birthplace) at the age of five.  After studying in the local schools, he went to Concord (MA) for high school.  He graduated from there in 1911 and from Brown University in 1915.  Trained as a civil engineer, he worked in Pennsylvania and Ohio before joining the service.  He served with Battery A, 304th Field Artillery, 77th Division.   He died of pneumonia while waiting with his Battery to be transported home.

At the town meeting held Marsh 12, 1923, the townspeople of Acton voted to change the name of Exchange Square in South Acton to Howard L. Quimby Square.  The Society has a photograph taken at the dedication ceremony on Memorial Day, 1923.

For more information about Howard L. Quimby, see:
"Made Sacrifice," Obituary.  Concord Enterprise.  April 2, 1919, page 9.
"Changed Location," Letter from France.  Concord Enterprise.  August 21, 1918, page 8.
Phalen, Harold.  History of the Town of Acton.  Cambridge, MA: Middlesex Printing Inc., 1954, page 319.
Brown University War Records Committee.  Brown University in the War. Providence: Brown University, 1919, page 30.