The Woburn Historical Society offers a wide range of activities to choose from. We survey our members's interest when they join and use this data to help us shape the events and activities we develop. We are always looking for new ideas so feel free to make suggestions and we will post them on our Bulletin Board to see if others share your interest. This networking of people and ideas builds friendship and strong programs. Your suggestions are then read before the Board of Directors at their meetings where they get voted on. Listed below are the currently scheduled events and active projects. Below these are suggested projects and events which still need volunteers and participants.

The Living History Committee is made up of historical re-enactors who appear in period dress at various events. These include the annually scheduled First Burial Grounds Tour in October, the Pathway of the Patriots re-enactment at Old Battle Road in April, and other special events. The Living History Guild is open to men and women of all ages who have a flare for all aspects of performing theater; be it acting, costume making, dance instruction and performance, writing, directing or stage production.

• The Living History Committee - Umbrella Group
  The Living History Committee is composed of two (2) subcommittees, each of which has a slightly different purpose and arrangement.
  • Living History Players
    This sub-committee's main goal is to dramatize historical figures and events through drama, dance, music, and theater arts. The participants, who would be referred to as "actors", are not required to own their costumes, although some may, and costuming can be any combination of theater costume and period dress. The Players are not limited to any particular era and may portray 17th century Founders, Woburn residents during the Revolutionary War, Civil War, or any time between or beyond.
  • 18th century Living History Guild
    These are 18th century reenactors who qualify as individuals to participate in living history programs at Minuteman National Historical Park. Their goal is to bring Woburn's history to life through portrayals using historically accurate period clothing, crafts, and activities at events both within the City and in other communities. They will be encouraged to research and portray a specific Woburn resident during the Revolutionary War, either in character or by narrative. Impressions can also be fictional first person (staying in character as an 18th century person, but not an historical figure) or by relating to the visitor as a 21st century person answering questions about various aspects of our 18th century history.

  Additional subcommittees are formed as needed, such as a Civil War reenactment unit, or individuals who would like to recreate the WW I or II era with the same degree of accuracy as the 18th century Living History Guild. Non-costumed researchers, writers, narrators, and those who perform other supporting roles, would be members of the Living History Committee who "float" between the subcommittees as needed. Members of the various Living History subcommittees are not limited to one subcommittee. If members of the Players develop an interest in making/acquiring historically accurate period clothing and attending MNHP workshops, they would be encouraged to join the Guild members, just as the Guild members would be encouraged to perfect some acting skills and participate with the Players. Hopefully, many members might participate with two (or more!) subcommittees. For more information visit: Activities: Living History on this website.

The Living History Guild - looking for:

• M & F re-enactors for colonial period speaking parts
• M & F re-enactors for colonial period non-speaking parts
• People who can sew
• Stage Production -sound & lighting
• Rehersals begin in August for October performances

If you wish to participate contact the committee chair, Darlene Wigton, at 781-933-4976.


The Charlestown/Woburn Militia

To learn more about The Charlestown Militia, visit http://www.charlestownmilitia.org
To learn more about The Woburn Militia, visit http://www.woburnmilitia.org/

Sports History

When the old Woburn High School was razed, the Society was able to rescue all the old 16mm football team films. We have litterally hundreds of reels of film. Some of these go back to the early 1950's. We are now in the process of preserving these films by digitalizing them and storing them on DVD's. Ultimately we would like to edit and narrate these films. This will take a great effort over a very longtime. And we will need knowledgeable people (former players and coaches) to identify and narrate the final product. If you wish to participate contact the committee chair, Walt Kearney at 781-287-0260.


Maps and Manuscripts

Great effort has gone into collecting and digitalizing every map found regarding Woburn. We have printed these in the Woburn Historical Atlas available at the Library and in digital form on the internet. We know that other maps were created but have been lost over time. We are always looking to add old maps & manuscripts. If you want to help maintain the Woburn Historical Atlas or even help locate some of the other lost maps through your own private research and by travel to other libraries and archives, contact webmaster Walt Kearney at 781-287-0260.


Early Photography

The Historical Society does not yet have a permanent phyical home. However we still get donations of early photographs. Our policy is to scan these in and add them to our computerized database. We are fortunate enough to have Mr. Leon Basile, a published expert on early photography, and Ms Darlene Wigton, expert in historical garments by era. Together they usually can estimate the age and origin of undocumented photographs. If you are a collector of early photography or just want to determine the origin of a photo you might happen upon, you might want to join this activity. Mr. Basile is the Chair of the Early Photography subcommittee and can be reached via e-mail at kah849@aol.com

Veterans Oral History Project

Is Looking for:
• People to interview veterans in their homes or at the Senior Center.
• Transcribers to enter recorded conversations into computer format.

It is estimated that there are over 2,000 Veterans from all eras living in Woburn. The WW2 vets are now quite elderly. The Woburn Historical Society is making an effort to record their experiences by taking testimony from them or their survivors in the form of verbal or written recordings, photographs, and other means. This is in conjunction with the Library of Congress program, which provides some funding. However volunteers are needed to interview these vets. And still others are needed to transcribe their testimony to a standard form. If you wish to contribute to this program either as a volunteer to document these veteran experiences, or if you are a veteran or a survivor of a veteran who wishes to have his / her story preserved contact committee chair Kathy Lucero at 781-935-1492

The Woburn Historical Society has now organized an Education Committee to develop a program on local history for school children. If you are a teacher, former teacher, a writer of childrens books, or have skills which you belive can contribute to this effort, please call the office at 781-287-0260.

The Lamplighter is published quaterly and reports on our activities and plans. Clare Hurley is the editor in charge of this effort. If you wish to receive our newsletter please contact us by e-mail. We are always looking for contributors to this publication. If you have a story of interest or if you would like to offer your time and talents, again contact us.

Bill Foley has assisted Brian Ouellette, our technicial person along with Walt Kearney, in creating local history programming. Our programs are shown on both local cable (Woburn Public Media channel cable 9 & 10), and on this website as video on-demand (see History Channel).

The new Woburn Public Media Center offers free training and access to professional television production equipment for a few dollars a year! You can also produce, edit, and broadcast your work over local cable and our webcast page, The Woburn History Channel. This is our webcast feature allowing video-on-demand viewing right on this website. We welcome you to come forward and develop a monthly show featuring the Woburn Historical Society. There already is a wealth of video production produced by former Woburn Historian Tom Smith that has not been broadcast for sometime now. Call the office if interested 781-287-0260.

Woburn sent a large number of men off to the Civil War. And many of these saw action in famous battles. Many were killed and more died of disease. We hope to celebrate the efforts of these brave men and boys with an annual event, a Civil War Era reenactment of a Union Army encampment at Library Field each summer. We know of no such similar event in the state and Woburn would be doing something unique. This could be a regional event. Once again we would be only hosting various groups from out-of-town and perhaps suplimenting there numbers with intown reenactors. Most of these local Civil War groups are small in numbers, but gathering many of them at Library Field would make an impressive event. This project is only at the concept stage. We are in contact with Historian and author Richard Griffin who has contacts with various Civil War era reenactors. If you volunteer and become involved you could organize and chair the entire event. Call the office at 781-287-0260 if interested.

The Woburn Historical Society and the Woburn Public Library have a common interest in documenting and indexing the City's historical records and geneaology. Currently the Library is attempting to finish its efforts on several collections in their archive. If you are interested in working with a professional archivist in a volunteer position contact Sue Ellen Holland at 781-933-8465 or sueholland57@hotmail.com.

The Woburn Historical Society has long term goals of acquiring a permanent home. We also need to fund our regular events and over-head. Our fund raising effort is in its infancy. We will need to plan and nuture various funding sources be they from individuals, corporations, government agencies, or private endowment sources. A committee will be organized to help out our leadership and we will need a staff to correspond with these various sources.