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Upcoming Events

 



Welcome to the Quaboag Hills Region, Country Roads & Village Greens

2009 is the 50th anniversary of the original antique show in Brimfield
Started by Gordon Reid Sr., and now called J & J Promotions
May 12-17
July 14-19
Sept 8-13

Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce CLICK FOR MEMBER BUSINESSES




Local Historian to divulge “secret information” at Wheeler’s Surprise Celebration
By Ruth M. Lyon Turley Publications Reporter NEW BRAINTREE - Robert Wilder stands gazing across the silent landscape encompassing Winimussett meadow and brook and adjoining countryside. Gesturing, painting in words of descriptive color and an historian’s lively sense of skeptical wonder the scenes of times past he envisions, he describes a village inhabited at times by as many men, women and children as now live in West Brookfield.

He knows where the corn cellars were buried, what the people ate in times of plenty and in hardscrabble hunger, how they hunted and fished and farmed. And how these native people first welcomed, then plotted to deceive; to turn a legally, court-sanctioned meeting, designed to keep the peace, into a murderous rout, planned and executed with cunning and forethought, to drive the land-hungry English from this rich and fertile land. And he knows for certain now, he says, where it all took place, exactly where and how. And he’ll be recounting the tale of Wheeler’s Surprise, and offering in detail highlights of his nine year study of the land’s history, geography, topography, and archaeology’s contribution to a still-stirring story in an upcoming unprecedented event.



That story will be brought to life on Saturday, June 13, in the town where it happened, a small event which overshadowed the horrors to come for the area known as Quaboag Plantation, events which will be observed throughout the year 2010.

The settlement known originally as Pynchon’s Plantation was established in 1660 on Pritchard’s Hill (now Foster Hill in West Brookfield.) Quaboag, a native American word, became the name of the area, encompassing what is now the Brookfields, Warren and New Braintree. The original settlement on Foster Hill was the scene of an Indian attack and three day siege in August, 1675. Wilder is the first to admit that where the event known locally as Wheeler’s Surprise happened, “until now a controversy,” is not the important issue, but the very fact that it did happen, precipitating a scene of terror in which a peaceable settlement on the hill became a central part of what has become known as King Philip’s War, a bloody conflict that witnessed the near destruction of the Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth Colonies.


Captain Edward Hutchinson, accompanied by an escort of about twenty horsemen led by Captain Thomas Wheeler, Ephraim Curtis and three Indians friendly to the English to serve as guides and interpreters, were instructed by court order to arrange a meeting with the Nipmucks, to secure Nipmuck neutrality in an emerging conflict with the Wampanoag tribe. Despite warnings from the Indian guides, Hutchinson and the men proceeded, finally single file, into a funnel-like trap, confronted there by Indians with no peaceful inclinations. Within minutes, three men from Quaboag, and at least five other men lay dead or dying in the New Braintree location, near Winimussitt swamp or meadow. We know of this because Wheeler lived to write an account of the ambush and rout. Philip, son of the great chief Massasoit, was what we’d call a rabble rouser, Wilder believes. “He never seemed to do much of the actual fighting, but he was a marvel at inciting his followers to inflict horrible injury to the settlers. He feared for his tribe’s loss of land and autonomy over it; he disdained their greed for more and more land, and determined to drive them away. For twenty years he planned and perpetrated a reign of terror over New England’s early settlers.”

In the chaos that followed Wheeler’s surprise, the troopers fled back to the fortified house, gathered the nearly 100 residents of the burgeoning community into Ayres’ Tavern, and fought for their lives during a hair-raising three day siege. You may read of it in several books, or you might like to explore the Quaboag 350th web site.

The town of New Braintree is rich with history, much of it related to its early beginnings, its staunch patriots, and the fertile farmland so prized by its native inhabitants from eons ago and onward. It seems only fitting, the town’s historical society members say, that the first important event relating to its early settlers and native history should serve as the kick-off event in the Quaboag 350th anniversary observance to be held throughout the year in 2010. “It started here, where the huge Indian campground hosted other tribes and considered it home territory,” said spokesman Sara Hunt. “We thought we’d give it the full attention such an historically important event deserves by holding it this year.” And quite an event it promises to be. On Friday, June 12, reenactors of both Indians and English troops will set up at the town center. Visitors may witness craft demonstrations, military and native American encampments and activities throughout the day on Saturday. At 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Bob Wilder’s spellbinding talk on Wheeler’s surprise will be presented at the Historical Society’s 1939 Grade School, town center. This is the time at which he will unveil his latest surprise, a definitive display and discussion of exactly where and how the original event took place. A cartographer, he will have on display maps to show the how and why of it all, and a few artifacts discovered on the site to prove his points. At 1:00 p.m., a video tour of other proposed sites will be presented.

Another possible surprise may be forthcoming. Descendents of the original native American Quaboag residents may pay a visit, as they did last fall.

Then, at 3:00 p.m. the crowning achievement, a Wheeler’s surprise reenactment, with a free bus ride to the site from the town center. Both sides will be represented in the conflict.

At 5:30 p.m. there will be a cash bar and silent auction at the town hall, followed at 6:00 p.m with a barbeque dinner at the town hall.

Following the dinner and auction, there will be a slide show, presented by author Michael Tougias, speaking on the subject of King Philip’s War and Wheeler’s surprise.

All activities are free with the exception of the dinner, auction and cash bar. A limited number of tickets, at $20 per person, are available for the dinner and lecture. No tickets will be sold at the door; they will be available at Reed’s Country Store while they last, or by sending a check, payable to QHS350, to Quaboag 350th Committee, P.O Box 1112, New Braintree, MA 01531.








 
4/5/2009 to 8/30/2009 Live Music on the Gazebo, Hardwick Vineyard & Winery, Ware Every 1st Sunday of the Month April-August 2009
4/18/2009 to 10/10/2009 Farmers Market, Brimfield Saturday, Hitchcock Parking Lot
5/1/2009 to 9/4/2009 Every Friday Night Cruise Night, Janine's Frostee 5-8PM
5/24/2009 to 10/25/2009 Hardwick Farmers Market, Sundays on the common
7/4/2009 Monson Summer Fest, Monson
7/8/2009 Summer Concerts on the Common, Premier Swing Band, West Brookfield
7/10/2009 FEATURING THE MELHA SHRINER RIDERS ON THEIR MINI CHOPPERS at A Wireless Solution, Palmer
7/14/2009 to 7/19/2009 Brimfield Antique Shows, 50th Anniversary
7/15/2009 Summer Concerts on the Common,Bennie & the Jets Elton John Tribute Band, West Brookfield
7/21/2009 Brimfield Concerts on the Common, Radio Ranch
7/29/2009 Brimfield Concerts on the Common, Swingtime
8/21/2009 to 8/22/2009 247th Hardwick Community Fair
9/4/2009 to 9/7/2009 Spencer Fair, Spencer Fair Grounds
9/8/2009 to 9/13/2009 Brimfield Antique Shows, 50th Anniversary
9/13/2009 HISTORIC DROVER'S ROAST, Salem Cross Inn, West Brookfield
10/26/2009 Spencer Savings Bank holds a pumpkin carving contest every October just before Halloween, Warren
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View complete calendar of Upcoming Events
     

3 Converse Street  •  Suite #103  •  Palmer, MA 01069  •  Phone: 413-283-2418  •  Fax: 413-289-1355

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