DID YOU KNOW: that on June 17, 1776 Easton recommended independence to the Second Continental Congress?

DID YOU KNOW that June 13, 1885 "The American Architect and Building News" then the leading architectural journal in the country, published the findings of a survey to determine the best buildings in the country. Seventy-five architects mentioned 175 buildings. Richardson's Trinity Church in Boston was declared the best, and Richardson's Oakes Ames Memorial Hall in Easton was the tenth. PLAN TO VISIT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY TODAY between 1 and 5 to view exhibits about the Geddes Family that came to Furnace Village from Scotland in the 1870s.

DID YOU KNOW that June 3, 1853 the last of the wooden buildings that had been built on "The Island" after the fire were moved onto cellars and became "dwelling houses" for workers CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR'S OAHS GRADUATES!!

DID YOU KNOW that May 16, 1855 that railroad cars ran for the first time on the track from Stoughton to North Easton. Plan to visit the Easton Historical Society today between 1 and 5 to view an extraordinary number of Easton postcards that have been collected by Frank Meninno and Robert Vogel.

DID YOU KNOW that May 12, 1844, Paul Dean preached in Easton for the first time.  The Freemasons in Easton were members of the Paul Dean Lodge. Remember it is MOTHER'S DAY.

DID YOU KNOW that May 1, 1855 the population of Easton was 3,948. Plan to come to the Frothingham Memorial Hall today at 3 PM to view the video of King Philip's War prepared by David Ames.  The video uses historians and historical texts to put the events in the war in perspective representing peoples on both sides of the battles.  After the question and answer session light refreshments will be served.  Call 238-3614 for information. Remember the spring Ken Martin bottle drive is this Saturday, the 11th, from 9-1 at the Station.

DID YOU KNOW that on April 26, 1822 Frederick Law Olmsted was born.  The Rockery, which he designed, was at one time called "Jumbo".  The Rockery or cairn was to be a "granite out-cropping" to help balance the view of Oakes Ames Memorial Hall as visitors approached from Main Street. At one time there was an eighty-foot flag pole at the top.  Prior to World War II many of the stones were removed as they were considered a hazard to the motorists.  It is believed it also was a tribute to those who served in the Civil War.

DID YOU KNOW that April 19, 1775, 97 Easton militia responded to the "surprise" attack on Lexington and Concord. Forty-seven men led by Captain Abiel Mitchell marched along the old Stoughton turnpike, and Captain Macey Williams led his men on Bay Road.  The Easton men remailed for at least a week in case another attack from Boston might occur.

DID YOU KNOW that April 11, 1865 General Lee surrendered to General Grant and the Civil War finally ended.  Work was suspended throughout the North, and services were held in all churches.

DID YOU KNOW that April 5, 1874 was Easter Sunday, and Oliver Ames (1807-1877) went with his nephew Oliver, the future governor, to look at the site for the church he was having built - Unity Church.

DID YOU KNOW that March 30, 1815 the Easton Methodists voted to use Bass Viol in the church service.  The church was located at the intersection of Washington and Elm Streets across from the Grange and adjacent ot the Methodist cemetery.

DID YOU KNOW that March 18, 1968 Flyaway Dam, off Lincoln Street, broke due to extensive rains and washed out the intersection of Pond, Mechanic Street and Sullivan Avenue. The Town Moderator William F. E. Buchtmann had to be brought from his home by police in Unionville through Stoughton and Lincoln Street to the second Oliver Ames High School (now the Middle School) to postpone the Town Meeting.

DID YOU KNOW that on March 2, 1726 the first official Easton Town Meeting was held with Josiah Keith as moderator.  Mr. Keith's home on Bay Road is the oldest in existence in Easton built in 1717.  (This year's Town Meeting is May 20th.) DID YOU KNOW that on March 2, 1852 at 11 P. M. the Ames Shovel finishing shop on the Island "took fire" and the shops adjoining it burned down.  One thousand dozen finished shovels stored there were also burned.

DID YOU KNOW that February 27, 1837 E. J. W. Morse bought a quarter interest in the property which became the site of the Morse Thread Factory?

DID YOU KNOW that on Feb. 23, 1874 the future Governor Oliver Ames went to Mount Auburn Cemetery to view Truman Bartlett’s new monument?  He thought “it was the best in the yard”. Do you know where there are examples of Bartlett’s work in Easton?

DID YOU KNOW  that on this day in 1849 the Ames Shovel factory on the Island caught fire during the night and it was not discovered until morning? It started from the bottom of the chimney from the soot.  The building “was almost lost”.

DID YOU KNOW that January 27, 1801 Daniel Wheaton of Bay Road was appointed Postmaster of Easton?  The office was in a cottage just south of his home.  The prior year the first post office was located in a Bay Road inn owned by Nathaniel Wetherby, who received his appointment as Postmaster of Easton, Norton, and Mansfield from President John Adams.

DID YOU KNOW that the first Oliver Ames had a hog killed on this date in 1844.  Would you believe it weighed 500 pounts!!  Visit the Historical Society today to view the displays and activities of the winners of the local National History Day Contest.

DID YOU KNOW that in 1778 twenty-three Easton men were camped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

DID YOU KNOW that on this date in 1714 Elder William Pratt, the first to minister to Easton, died.  His gravestone in the cemetery on the south side of Church Street is the oldest in Easton. Be sure to visit the Historical Society today between 1 and 5 to view new displays and enjoy coffee and pastries.