“The Preservationist” is the newsletter of the Bedford Historical Society, published several times a year. It includes articles on historical topics and updates on the Society’s programs and activities.
Please click on the links below to open selected issues of The Preservationist in PDF format.
2025-2026 Program Year
- May 2026 — Bedford’s Last Dairy Farm and First and Only Downhill Ski Area, Fitch Tavern Ambrotype
- February 2026 — History of Old Town Hall, Bedford’s Early Tavern- and Inn-keepers
- November 2025 – The Jenks Secretary comes home to Bedford, Living in the Fitch Tavern
- September 2025 – The Eagle: Bedford’s Original Fire Engine, Bedford Center’s Earliest Roads
2024-2025 Program Year
- May 2025 – Historic Headstones Damaged, “Bedford Answers the Call” Exhibition Opening
- February 2025 – 250th Anniversary of April 19, 1775, Mysteries in Nathaniel Page’s History
- November 2024 – Bedford’s Oldest Houses, National History Day award winners honored, Why is Bedford named Bedford?
- September 2024 – Poisonous Artifacts, Bedford’s Role in the Cold War, A Family History Mystery Solved
2023-2024 Program Year
- May 2024 – Bedford’s Memorial Day in 1874, Ambrotype of First Parish, New to the Collection
- February 2024 – The Davis Family, Lexington Park, Bedford by the Numbers, and Bedford’s Healing Waters
- November 2023 – Bedford at Work exhibit, Wallpaper analysis, Lydia Pinkham Revisited
- September 2023 – Special Edition – Bedford Historical Society Celebrates Its 130th Anniversary
2022-2023 Program Year
- May 2023 – Shawsheen Cemetery
- February 2023 – Bedford ski slope
- November 2022 – The Parker Barn and New Additions to Our Archives
- September 2022 – Lane School 5th Graders visit the Society, the Gift of Volunteers, the new Bedford Cultural District, and the History of Carleton-Willard
2021-2022 Program Year
- May 2022 – The Impact of the Cold War on Bedford
- February 2022 – The Historical Society has moved!
- November 2021 – A Holiday Story
- September 2021 – Impact of 128 on Bedford and Our Favorite Historic Bedford Places
2020-2021 Program Year
- May 2021 – Ancient Nursery Rhymes and Society Contributors
- February 2021 – Museum Moving Forward
- November 2020 – Bedford Springs Artifacts Recovered
- September 2020 – The Suffragists Who Lived Next Door
2019-2020 Program Year
- May 2020 – Caretakers of History
- February 2020 – Charles Hodgman
- November 2019 – Bedford’s Growing Schools
- September 2019 – The History of Hanscom Air Force Base
2018-2019 Program Year
- May 2019 – Learn about the early businesses of Bedford and read our annual report.
- April 2019 – Learn about the bells of Paul Revere and the U.S.S. Concord
- March 2019 – Read about Polly’s Restaurant and a museum funding article at Town Meeting.
- February 2019 – Learn more about Rufus Porter murals, Bedford’s meadows, and a Bedford Springs House visitor register.
- November 2018 – Click to read about the Ice Industry, WWI Anniversary, and more.
- October 2018 – Read about the Hayden Family, owners of New York Pharmaceutical Company, based in Bedford, Mass.
- September 2018 – Learn more about Bedford Springs and place names of Bedford.
2017-2018 Program Year
- May 2018. Martha Sage, volunteer Civil War nurse, and a 1776 Abolitionist Pamphlet.
- April 2018 Treasures from our attic: The Farmers’ Almanac & 160 Great Road, Then & Now.
- March 2018. Ornithologist William Brewster’s spot on the river, and the “John Hancocks” in our attic.
- February 2018 .The Bedford Flag around the world!
- November 2017. Introducing some of the Society’s newest acquisitions.
- October 2017. A Rufus Porter mural on the move, more on Bedford in the 1st World War.
- September 2017. Happy 200th to Bedford’s 2nd Meetinghouse, a new Lane family document transcription!
2016-2017 Program Year
- May 2017. Bandits in Bedford, memories of automobiles, and the Society’s work to make an old document legible again.
- April 2017. Continuing our series on Bedford in the 1st World War, along with advice from Dudley L. Pickman on how he created his 1932 Silver Medal winning bog garden.
- March 2017. The beginning of our series about the people from Bedford who served in WW1, in honor of the 100 year anniversary, plus features on the Pickman estate and the Oliver Pollard house.
- February 2017 . When politics in Bedford was civil and fun! We share pictures of some of our newest acquisitions.
- November 2016. A memory from late Town Historian, John Brown. Changes to the New York Pharmaceuticals factory building.
- October 2016. A color retrospective of summer events, including Job Lane Dairy Day, and Bedford Day, plus the story of our mother & daughter samplers.
- September 2016. A special full-color issue of our Preservationist
, with updates about Society programs and displays throughout our community.
2015-2016 Program Year
- May 2016 .The Richard Wheeler House history, a Bedford connection to the Lusitania & nominated Officers and Board members slate for the Annual Meeting.
- April 2016 . More famous Webber family members, and the peoples’ role in initiating the fight for Massachusetts independence from Great Britain.
- March 2016. The Joseph Fitch Homestead history and artifacts, and a the story of the most popular item in the Society gift shop!
- February 2016. The Boston Tea Party revisited, and our replica Tremont Hotel menu’s significance.
- November 2015. Carrie Putnam Webber, Bedford’s celebrity chef; how many Bedfords are there?
- October 2015. The story of the famous Standardbred trotter, Uhlan, born here in Bedford.
- September 2015. A new program year begins; how did we have fun in Bedford; School Committee Report of 1847; an update from the Museum Study Committee.
2014-2015 Program Year
- May 2015. New Society acquisitions: Dimond Papers; the end of the Civil War.
- April 2015. An update on our newest acquisitions!
- March 2015. Willson Park, an overdue correction, and a famous sled dog in Bedford.
- February 2015. New acquisition: Bacon Patent! A.R. Webber’s D-Day connection to France.
- November 2014, Bedford in WWI, and mourning biscuits from the Lane family.
- October 2014. Update on our quest for a museum, and the story of Bedford in the Civil War.
- September 2014. A Letter from our President, with an update on Society activities, and the history of the Pickman Family.
2013-2014 Program Year
- May 2014. “Wild Flower of Bedford”, and a Bedford hero makes the April 1951 edition of Life.
- April 2014. Life in Bedford in the 1900’s, Town Report – 1890s & pre-Hanscom airport.
- March 2014. The Bedford Almshouse, plus how luck played a role in acquiring a treasure.
- February 2014. Continuation of the 1890’s census and Sharon’s journey through the Bacon letters.
- January 2014. The rebuilding of the 1890’s census and a Bacon has a harrowing buggy ride!
- November 2013. Highways and byways – how names have changed & Miss America runner-up.
- October 2013. A look at some our newest acquisitions, and a recap of a busy September.
- September 2013. 120 years preserving Bedford’s history, Lexington Park, and a pony mystery!
2012-2013 Program Year
- May 2013. An update on the Kimball property sale, including plans for the bequest.
- April 2013. Bedford in the 1880’s plus a follow-up to our restaurant article.
- March 2013. The Boston Post Cane & Special Insert: remembering Bedford restaurants.
- February 2013. Remembering Bob Slechta; the Wilson Mill Project, the Kimball bequest is resolved.
- November 2012. The toll diseases took on Bedford’s Civil War soldiers.
- October 2012. More insights the Civil War experiences of Bedford’s young men; recent donations.
- September 2012. Conservation of The Bedford Flag; the story of Bedford’s Civil War Soldiers.
2011-2012 Program Year
- May 2012. The V.A. Hospital – then and now.
- April 2012. Bedford in the 1870’s.
- March 2012. Bedford in the 1860’s and the Jenks Nature Trail.
- February 2012. We celebrate Black History Month with a discussion of Black Revolutionary War soldiers.
- November 2011. The Witch of Shawshine.
- October 2011. Our collection of antique dolls.
- September 2011. This Old House comes to Bedford!
2010-2011 Program Year
- May 2011. Reminiscing about Bedford in the 1890’s; Ellen Michaud, muralist.
- April 2011. The story of the Michael Bacon Home, and his mill.
- February 2011. The Bedford Historical Society has merged with the Friends of the Bedford Flag.
- November 2010. The Quincy Cole Cane Mystery.
- October 2010. The Fitch Farm – Field of Dreams.
- September 2010. Welcoming the new season!
2009-2010 Program Year
- May 2010. The Lanes and their transatlantic trade
- April 2010. The Lane Family Papers; sports in Bedford.
- March 2010. Special edition, mailed to all Bedford residents
- February 2010. The Great Bedford Liquor War, 1912-13
- November 2009. The relocation of the old Kazarian farmhouse.
- October 2009. A postcard history of Llewsac Lodge.
- September 2009. The history of Dudley Road.
2008-2009 Program Year
- May 2009. Bedford dairies.
- April 2009. The mystery of the first Job Lane’s homestead.
- March 2009. Bedford, 100 years ago.
- February 2009. The creation of Springs Brook Park.
- November 2008. Martha Sage and the Civil War.
- October 2008. National History Day winners.
- September 2008. The relocation of the old Kazarian farmhouse.
2007-2008 Program Year
- May 2008. Bedford in the Great War.
- April 2008. Bedford Then and Now photos, part 2.
- March 2008. Bedford Then and Now photos.
- February 2008. John Hancock’s John Hancock. Remembering John Brown.
- November 2007 Bedford, 75 years ago.
- October 2007. The Bedford charter. The Parker Family of Old Billerica Road.
- September 2007. The Shawsheen Cemetery.
2006-2007 Program Year
- May 2007. Aerial views of Bedford Center, 1940. The naming of Mudge Way.
- April 2007. Charles Jenks and his “Green Acres” in Bedford.
- March 2007. Bedford’s Big Dig of 1909, the town water system.
- February 2007. Bedford Depot.
- November 2006. Bedford in 1906. Answers to Mystery Photo Challenge.
- October 2006. Bedford schools, 1826. Mystery Photo Challenge.
- September 2006. Bedford’s memorial boulders.
2005-2006 Program Year
- May 2006. The Bedford Grange.
- April 2006. The Witch of the Shawsheen. The Octopus Tree.
- March 2006. Moving houses.
