Paxton History

11/15/2021

Thank you to those who were able to make it out to today's event - Phrenology: 1830s Quackery or Science of the Mind?

11/05/2021

Friends! Country people! Paxtonians!

Join us on Sunday, November 14th, at the John Bauer Senior Center from 2PM - 4PM when Old Sturbridge Village's Tom Kelleher ("Nelson Sizer") presents "Phrenology: 1830s Quackery or Science of the Mind."

And if you can make the connection between this movie still and the event, you get in for free!!!*

* It's actually a free event, but who doesn't love a puzzle? Am I right?

10/21/2021

Yes! It is Paxton History trivia time again. And this week's question:

Why did the town of Paxton earn the nickname "Dog Village" during the Civil War?

10/12/2021

Thank you to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette for sharing some Paxton history today:

Local history, through photographs

09/09/2021

Good morning!

Welcome to another weekly-ish (heavy emphasis on the "-ish" for this one) Paxton history trivia question:

Before the original Paxton Center School (the John Bauer Senior Center today) was built, Paxton had five schools spread around the town. What were the names of those schools?

08/20/2021

Good morning and welcome back to our weekly(-ish) Paxton History quiz!

After two quizzes without one incorrect answer, it's become clear that these questions need to be a bit more of a challenge. So, here we go.

Moore State Park is known, in part, for its abundance of azaleas, rhododendrons, and mountain laurel (all three of which are part of the heath or heather family - Ericaceae). And while these all occur in the area naturally, the woman below augmented the natural supply on the land that eventually became Moore State Park.

She had a degree in landscape architecture and she was the owner of the Eames Mill property for a period of time prior to it becoming a state park.

What is this woman's name?

Hint: If you do some exploring on the Historical Commission's page, you'll find a link to a number of documents, one of which includes a profile on this impactful woman.

08/08/2021

Good evening, everyone!

Here is the next weekly (or so) Paxton trivia question:

FM radio was invented in the 1930s and the Boston-based Yankee Network was the first radio network to adopt FM radio. The first FM radio station in Massachusetts, and the second in the country, transmitted from Asnebumskit Hill.

In what year was that broadcast made?

1. 1939
2. 1943
3. 1922
4. I've only ever listened to Spotify.

We'll give everyone the week to come up with an answer before we tell you, and we'll give some hints along the way.

Have fun.

07/28/2021

[UPDATE: We'll announce the answer this Sunday to give people time to weigh in.] This is a portrait of Paxton's namesake. What was his name?

1. William Paxton
2. Charles Paxton
3. Michael Paxton
4. Anna Paquin

Those who select the correct answer win bragging rights - and isn't that all anyone really wants in trivia contests?