250th Anniversary of the American Revolution
UNCOVER THE SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WITH THE NAHS
Did you know that North Andover, then part of Andover, was home to many heroes of the American Revolution? In 1775 they met and marched to Concord and Lexington from the old meeting house at North Parish after having trained for the previous few years at the mustering field at Kittredge Farm. These brave souls went on to fight in the Battle of Bunker Hill and beyond. Come discover the amazing stories brought to life at the North Andover Historical Society (NAHS) through REV250, a series of programs and exhibits dedicated to the American Revolution. Located at 800 Massachusetts Avenue, NAHS has an educational celebration packed with inspiring speakers, a captivating exhibit, and exciting activities to honor our town and its heroes. | PRESS RELEASE
Funded, in part, by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism and the North of Boston CVB
THE ASPIRATIONS OF ORDINARY PEOPLE EXHIBIT
The Andover revolutionaries understood that creating a truly free society would take many generations. Their records and artifacts, preserved at the North Andover Historical Society, are here to remind us that history matters. They depict stories of battles won, hardships endured, hometown and battleground heroes, and the start of a long fight for liberty, equality and justice. Their ideals and aspirations are the standards by which we measure our progress today.
The exhibit, Aspirations of Ordinary People, opens April 14 and is open every week, Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.
(Left) NAHS archivist and curator, Robin Siegel, and her intern, Lily, put the final touches on the exhibit, The Aspirations of Ordinary People, a part of the REV250 exhibit.
(Center) A banner used in the 100th celebration of the American Revolution in North Andover.
(Right) This REV250 exhibit displays an arithmetic book from an old school in Andover, educating students on converting English currency to colonial currency. This is a display of a conscious attempt to break from British currency.
They Knew their Place in Time
These are stories of the American Revolution,
from a local perspective.
April 14, 2025 – December 31, 2026
April 19: REV250 Bus Tour of
North Andover & Andover
The North Andover Historical Society (NAHS) and the Andover Center for History and Culture (ACHC) have come together to bring history to life with an exciting dual-town bus ride celebrating the American Revolution. Along the route, historians will share captivating, local stories of the American Revolution while guests view the historical sites from the comfort of a bus.
Tours are offered at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm on April 19, and will begin and end at NAHS, located at 800 Massachusetts Avenue in North Andover. Tickets are $50 per person and must be purchased in advance.
The 1.5-hour bus tour will retrace the route taken by militia through North Andover and Andover en route to the battle at Lexington and Concord. View historical homes and sites from 1775, where the 18th-century owners played a pivotal role in shaping our nation’s path to independence. Our experienced guides from NAHS and ACHC will share captivating stories and anecdotes about our local connections to the revolution.
In North Andover, the bus will stop briefly for a tour of the historic kitchen and dining room of the Timothy Johnson House where you can enjoy a glass of lemonade. The bus continues on to Andover viewing more historic homes and stops briefly at the west Andover Blanchard Upton House for an outdoor tour and a glass of apple cider. From there, the bus returns to NAHS.
Arrive early, 10:00 am or stay after the bus tour and to join a guided steeple tour of North Parish Church, located next to NAHS. The bell, installed in 1807, was cast by Paul Revere and is one of only 23 that survive today. Continue on to enjoy the special Rev250 exhibits at NAHS, including the personal diary of John Stevens that begins as he marched off to battle, and brings to life what it was like to fight for American freedom. BUS TOUR PRESS RELEASE
Please note; bathroom breaks are encouraged at the NAHS Stevens Center since there are no stops along the route. Stop by for breakfast or lunch at Diane’s Café on the Common before or after your tour!
In addition to these events, the Friends of the 1836 Meeting House will be conducting steeple tours and viewings of the Paul Revere Bell on the half hour from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on April 19. Restrictions apply, the tour is not for young children and requires walking up ladders. A video tour will be available for people who cannot climb the ladders.
SELF-GUIDED DRIVING TOUR
Available with the purchase of our map and guide, take your own Revolution driving tour through the history of old Andover.
American Revolution Speaker Program
April 1: Local Historian Alex Cain | TICKETS
The Rise of the Merrimack Valley Minute Men
Alexander Cain, a well-respected and highly sought-after speaker on the military and social influences of 1775 Massachusetts, will speak of the response of the Merrimack Valley in 1774, as they prepared for conflict with England. Years prior, the Merrimack Valley shifted into a wartime stance, forming minute companies, stockpiling weapons, ammunition, and supplies, and setting up a defense network ready to mobilize if British forces advanced from Boston. He will explore the Merrimack Valley's reaction, focusing on Andover, to the British threat and will delve into the formation of the Massachusetts militia and the minute-man system just before the battles of Lexington and Concord.
April 8: David Blauvelt (NAHS) | TICKETS
Revolutionary war graves in the First and Second Burial Grounds
Many of North Andover’s Revolutionary War heroes rest in the town’s First and Second Burial Grounds. Join us as David Blauvelt, NAHS Coordinator of Education, explores their stories — who they were, their battle experience, and what inspired them to take up arms for freedom.
April 15: Antoine Trombino-Ponte (NAHS) | TICKETS
Reconstructing the Voice of James Stevens: A North Andover Revolutionary
NAHS is honored to possess the handwritten diary of James Stevens. This treasure chronicles his time fighting for our country’s independence from the day he took up arms until the end of the war. Linguist and NAHS facilities manager, Antoine Trombino-Ponte, has poured over this diary and reconstructed the 1775 voice of James Stevens. His recordings will be available for all to hear in the Rev250 exhibit at the Stevens Center. Join us as he explains his process for reconstruction the voice.
April 18: Katie Osgood | TICKETS
The Osgoods: 250 Years Ago They Started a Revolution
Based on shared research about their families, cousins Rich Pitra and Kathleen Osgood will bring their research to North Andover on the eve of the 250th anniversary of our town’s involvement in the early days of the American Revolution. From the “shot heard round the world” on April 19, 1775 to September 3, 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, the Osgoods fought in the revolution. Now, 250 years later, Katie and Rich will highlight the family who fought in the opening battles for American Independence, including the Fryes and Osgoods from Andover, the Osgoods and Prescotts from Lancaster, and the Hales from Hollis, New Hampshire. The presentation will follow their routes to Lexington and Concord, and on to the Siege of Boston and the Battle of Bunker Hill.
April 22: Jonathan Lane | TICKETS
Vox Populi - Towns of Massachusetts and the American Revolution
In the two and a half centuries since American Independence was declared and secured, little attention has been spent looking into the roles of communities other than those who participated in significant events or were centers of population. Boston, Lexington, Concord, & Bunker Hill play an outsized role in the public memory of the American Revolution. In this talk we will examine the hearts and minds of the people and communities across Massachusetts to understand why they would risk their lives, liberties and fortunes for a new nation.
April 29: Scott Dianis | TICKETS
Old Andover’s History and the American Revolution
Scott W. Dianis is a longtime resident of Andover with a keen interest in local history, particularly in the stories that help explain the town’s early development and evolution. He recently published an updated edition of Sarah Bailey’s “Historical Sketches of Andover”, detailing the town’s history from founding to the early 19th century.
Programs will take place in the Worden Theater 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m.
Registration is required for the programs. Speaker presentations are free for all NAHS members; guests are $10.
PRESS RELEASE
