Acton History Online
Explore Acton's history wherever you are. The Acton Historical Society has been at work making its collections and Acton stories available online. We will be adding more over the coming months; please check back.
Recent Zoom Presentations
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The Experiences of Acton Chinese Residents
On May 30, the Historical Society collaborated with the Acton Chinese American Civic Society and ActonTV to present a webinar about the experiences of Acton's Chinese residents. Clips of some of the oral histories that have been collected as part of an ongoing Historical Society project were presented, and there was a panel discussion with Alex Dai, Xuan Kong, Jianying Shi, Virginia Taylor, and Xuan You with moderators Doug Herrick and Dawn Wang. Missed the presentations? View it at ActonTV. |
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Overview of Acton History
On April 11, Doug Herrick and Bill Klauer presented via Zoom a general survey of the history of the five areas of Acton and its development from grazing lands of Concord to the residential town of today. This presentation included the first native American settlers, the role played by Acton’s rivers and landscapes that enabled early roads and industry, its role in the Revolutionary War, the coming of the railroads, and its growth as part of the suburban Route 128/Route 2 corridors and greater Boston housing and job markets. Missed the presentation? View it on YouTube. |
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Railroads in Acton
On March 7, Bill Klauer and Doug Herrick presented via Zoom the history of railroads in Acton. For such a relatively small town, Acton was fortunate to have had four railroads within its boundaries. The presentation reviewed the individual rail lines, how they originated, and how these transportation links facilitated the growth of agriculture and industry in Acton. It also discussed Actonians who worked for the railroads. Missed the presentation? View it on YouTube. |
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The Battle Over the North Bridge
On Feb. 7, Doug Herrick and Bill Klauer did a Zoom presentation on the debate over the Battle of the North Bridge. Starting in the early 19th century and continuing until the present, Acton, Concord, and Lexington have debated and argued about where the Revolution started, the roles of each town, and how their militias and minutemen performed. This presentation looks at the history of local militias, what happened on the North Bridge, and who gets to write history. Missed the presentation? View it on YouTube. |
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Ice Harvesting in Acton and New England
The story of ice harvesting in New England is actually multiple stories: that of a local resource necessary for food preservation and dairy farming; the changing technologies for harvesting ice and refrigeration, and the development of a worldwide consumer market. This presentation looked at the history, tools, harvesting methods, personalities, and changes in the market for ice and refrigeration. A special treat was historical footage from ice harvesting on Acton's Ice House Pond from the middle of the twentieth century . Presented by Larry Kerpelman and Doug Herrick on Jan. 10, 2021 via Zoom. Missed the presentation? View it on YouTube. |
Scenes of ice harvesting from Ice House Pond in East Acton, c. 1950 |
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George C. Wright – Acton Coffee Pioneer
Bill Klauer did our Society's first Zoom history presentation on George C. Wright, a farm boy and shoemaker who became an expert coffee buyer and eventually the president of the largest coffee and spice company in New England. His generosity left a lasting mark on the town of Acton. If you missed it, read more about George C. Wright in our blog post newly updated with information shared by a family member. |
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Our Newest Stories
For Memorial Day we researched African-American Revolutionary War soldier Titus "Hayward." Learn More... 
In 1868-69, West Acton residents tried to secede and join with Boxborough to become a new town. Learn More... 
After decades of struggle, Acton women were finally allowed full voting rights in 1920. Learn More... |
An overlooked slide gave us a picture of the Acton football team of 1897-98 with identified players. Learn More... 
Profiles of the six South Acton women were the first female voters registered in Acton. Learn More... 
Charles Heywood, railroad executive, inventor and owner of 2 Acton mills, and wife Ann were philanthropists. Learn More... 
F. W. Pelton ran a private high school in Acton in 1852 and put on quite a show of students' work. Learn More... |
A project to identify early black and mixed race Acton residents from 1735 through the Civil War. Learn More... 
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Resources for Acton Historical Research
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Online Exhibits
Some highlights from our collections, expanding on our November 1918 exhibit commemorating the end of World War 1. Explore... |
Revisit our exhibit featuring hats and head-coverings in our collection and others lent by generous individuals. Explore... |
More Stories from Acton
West Acton's roller skating rink and roller polo team added excitement to village life. Learn More... 
John Fletcher, his boot and shoe business, advocacy for temperance and against slavery, and impact on Acton. Learn More... 
The enterprising Hanson Littlefield built a hall in West Acton for his store and other ventures. Learn More... 
Aaron Woods, hermit and supposed miser, was the subject of national news interest twice in the 1870s. Learn More... 
Photos found in a West Acton home, probably from the Beach Family & Halls Brothers Wooden Ware Co. Learn more... |
Clara (Hapgood) Nash, the first woman admitted to the bar in New England, was also an Acton teacher and poet. Learn More... 
Acton's powder industry appeared regularly in the news. In 1898-99, there was a lot of excitement. Learn More... 
A letter led to information about Sarah (Faulkner) Skinner who went blind in her later years. Learn More... 
Paintings in our collection led us to discover artist Annie Payson and explore her story. Learn More... 
Researching F. J. Taylor, South Acton photographer turned up his wife Margaret, also a photographer. Learn More... 
The morocco factory in South Acton was a large employer in the 1890s. Its site was near the Assabet Rail Trail. Learn More... 
Captain Joseph Brown, veteran of Bunker Hill and Saratoga, served the town of Acton for many years. Learn More... |
Tracing the history of school buildings in Acton is challenging. Here, a look at the north and east side schools. Learn More... 
Francis Skinner grew up in Acton but created a very different life in Boston for his descendants. Learn More... 
Incidents at the town's watering troughs and how perceptions of the troughs changed over time. Learn More...
Stories and pictures from the New England Sawmill Unit who went to Scotland in World War 1. Learn More... |