METHUEN
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
Our Annual Raffle tickets are now available online until July 2!
Tickets will be available at our Fourth of July event on July 4.
Support the Methuen Museum of History by purchasing your raffle tickets. You could be this year's lucky winner of one hundred, $10-dollar Massachusetts State Lottery scratch tickets. Only 500 tickets will be sold.
Raffle ticket orders were available online until July 2. But don't worry, you may purchase your raffle ticket at the event on July 4!
See our home page for additional event information. We hope to see you there!
Happy Fourth of July!
Join Us!
Annual Fourth of July Reading of the Declaration of Independence at Meeting House Hill Cemetery
Event starts at 10 am
The fourth annual reading of the Declaration of Independence will take place on July 4, 2023. Join the Methuen Historical Society as we celebrate our nation’s 247th birthday!
In 1776, the Continental Congress mandated that every town read the Declaration of Independence at their various Meeting Houses. In addition, every town had to print the Declaration in the official records of the community. In Methuen, the Declaration of Independence was entered into our records on July 17, 1776.
All are invited to come to Methuen’s Meetinghouse Hill (located across from the entrance to Holy Family Hospital) to participate in the reading of the Declaration of Independence. On a first-come basis, people will be given a brief passage of the Declaration to read. People may also sign up to read by e-mailing the Historical Society at info@methuenhistoricalsociety.org The participation of children is encouraged.
Following the reading of the Declaration of Independence, Meeting House Hill Cemetery, Methuen’s oldest, will be open for browsing and tours. Forty-seven Revolutionary Minutemen and soldiers are buried there, four soldiers from the earlier French and Indian War, and two soldiers from the War of 1812.
The Historical Society organized an enthusiastic group of volunteers to clean and catalog the graves in this cemetery. Many of the old gravestones were not legible, but after careful cleaning, some look almost new! The project was funded by a grant from the Festival of Trees. In addition to the cleaning project, many of the broken stones will be restored by a professional firm. The cemetery will be open from 10:30 to 1:00 pm following the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Check out this searchable map of the cemetery on our website!
The Historical Society will also draw the winner of their annual lottery fundraiser. The $20 tickets may be purchased online until July 2 and at the event on July 4 prior to the drawing at 12:00 pm. Thank you for your much-appreciated support. We hope to see you there!
THANK YOU!
Your support made a difference! Our city council voted unanimously to move forward with the purchase of our Searles Estate!
Thank you all for voicing your support of this historical decision by our City Council to protect the Searles Estate and its many treasures so that all can enjoy and discover this irreplaceable gem in our city--for generations to come. Thank you to our CIty Council, Mayor Perry, Office of Community and Economic Development, State Representative Hamilton, to so many who spoke at and attended the City Council meeting.
Thank you to the 3,430 individuals who signed our online petition! We are thrilled that the Searles Estate and its artistic treasures will be protected and preserved for all.
We certainly made history—together!
Enjoy this video highlighting the beauty of the Searles Estate!
Raffle ticket orders were available online until July 2. But don't worry, you may purchase your raffle ticket at the event on July 4!
See our home page for additional event information. We hope to see you there!
Happy Fourth of July!
Mayor Neil Perry
December 13, 1957 - September 21, 2024
We are grateful to Mayor Perry for his unwavering dedication to historic preservation in the city of Methuen. Prior to being elected mayor, Neil served as a board member of the Methuen Historical Society and was an active volunteer at the Methuen Festival of Trees.
Despite his many very serious health challenges, Mayor Perry worked tirelessly and courageously to secure the future of the Searles Estate by leading the efforts by the City of Methuen to purchase the estate and many of its art treasures, thus protecting the estate for this and future generations to enjoy. We are deeply appreciative of your vision to preserve our history and your legacy will live on as our city develops plans to carry your vision into the future. We are deeply saddened by your passing, far too soon. Thank you for your service, dedication, enthusiasm, kindness, and your vision to make the city of Methuen a better place for all. May you rest in peace, Mayor Perry.