Articles from the Portal
The Medfield Historical Society publishes a monthly newsletter, The Portal, containing articles about our events, our collections, and people and places of the distant and not-so-distant past. Below are selected articles from past newsletters. Looking for a specific topic? Use the search function below to search by subject, author or date. Click to sign up for our free monthly newsletter, The Portal.
July 21, 2026 In the summer of 1889, renowned artist Dennis Miller Bunker was summering in Medfield, painting pictures of the town’s bucolic landscapes. His painting *Roadside Cottage* memorializes the Lucy Bran House and is now part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection.This house has a long history, and
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July 21, 2026 Ever since King Philip’s War reached Medfield in 1676, leaving numerous homesteads in flames, the town has repeatedly had to recover from devastating fires.Town Historian Richard DeSorgher chronicled some of Medfield’s most significant fires in a 2011 Hometown Weekly article (see Richard DeSorgher-Medfield fires 2011). Among them were
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Jun 1, 2026 Medfield is fortunate to have more than forty homes still standing that witnessed the Revolutionary War 250 years ago. Preserved through the care of generations of homeowners and a community that values its history, these “Witness Houses” offer a tangible connection to Medfield’s colonial past. Built when Medfield
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May 1, 2026 In Medfield we are fortunate to have over forty buildings still standing that witnessed the Revolutionary War 250 years ago. This collection reflects the dedication of generations of homeowners who lovingly care for and maintain them, and of townspeople who value and preserve our history. Because of that
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Apr 1, 2026 During the Society’s museum openings on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, one never quite knows what the morning will bring. Some days it is quiet, while on other days there is a steady stream of visitors over the two-hour period. Nearing the end of the
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Mar 1, 2026 In the fall of 1960, just a year after moving to town and seeing that there were no girls’ sports offered, Anna Iverson took on the challenge of forming the Medfield Drill Team, not knowing that it would ultimately provide opportunities for thousands of girls in grades 3
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Feb 1, 2026 For many long-time residents of Medfield, Byron Reed was a familiar roadside sight around town, seated at his easel, painting a local house or landscape while smoking his trademark pipe.And for newer residents, today they can gain an appreciation for Byron’s work through his rendition of the town
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Feb 1, 2026 These days, “the cloud” holds our photographs, possibly forever. And for those of us still blessed or burdened with physical photos cluttering our physical spaces, there are apps that can scan and send them there. I sometimes imagine the amazement of our Medfield forbears if they could see
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Dec 20, 2025 Article written in 2013, excerpted from “This Old Town, Fleetwood 9” by Richard DeSorgherMedfield has a long history of giving thanks and a long list of generous town citizens who want to give back to the community that has given them much. When the first thirteen settlers arrived
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Nov 1, 2025 In anticipation of Medfield’s 375th anniversary celebration in 2026, we have been looking through our archives at past anniversary commemorations. On February 21, 1976, Medfield citizens enjoyed a bicentennial anniversary celebration complete with parade featuring fire trucks from all the neighboring towns, floats representing local groups including our
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Nov 1, 2025 A recent Facebook message from a former Medfield resident wanting to donate a 325th anniversary medal to the Society led to a fulfilling cup of coffee and conversation with Michael “Peter” Higgins and his wife, Anna. The friendly visit, spurred by the keepsake, led to the discovery of
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Oct 1, 2025 In 1920, during a period of post–World War I anti-immigrant and anti-radical sentiment, two Italian immigrants were charged with the robbery and murders of a guard and paymaster at a Braintree shoe factory. The trial opened at Norfolk County Courthouse in Dedham on May 31, 1921, ultimately becoming
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