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Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm

Framingham History Center

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Framingham History Center

Our permanent exhibition, "Framingham's Top 10", is available by appointment only.

The Framingham History Center is a non-profit 501c3 organization whose mission is to preserve and share Framingham's history in order to create connection in the community. The Framingham History Center consists of three buildings:
- The Old Academy Building, at 16 Vernon Street, houses a research library and is presently not open by appointment.

- Edgell Memorial Library, at 3 Oak Street, i

s a memorial building to Framingham's Civil War veterans, and showcases our revolving exhibitions. For more info, visit our website at framinghamhistory.org.

- Village Hall on the Common, at 2 Oak Street, is a beautiful banquet facility available for rental for functions, performances and other meetings.

06/17/2026

On June 17, 1882 Peter Salem Day was officially established in Framingham. Sixty-six years after his death a monument was erected at the Old Burying Ground on Main Street. It commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775 where Salem, a formerly enslaved man from Framingham, fought and famously fired the shot that killed British Major John Pitcairn. This threw the British ranks into confusion and became a major morale boost for the Continental Army.
Salem fought in numerous major campaigns including the Battles of Harlem Heights, Trenton, Saratoga, and Stony Point before finishing his service in 1780.

Beyond Massachusetts, his legacy is celebrated. John Trumbull’s painting of the Battle of Bunker depicts this famous moment. The National Park Service records includes Salem’s heroics in the records of the early Black American soldiers.

Pictured here is "Battle of Bunker's Hill" by John Trumbell (depicting Salem in the far right, FHC Collection 2002.271), the Roster of Framingham Minutemen listing Salem's name (FHC Collection 2007.57), and Peter Salem's gravestone (FHC Collection 2002.466).

06/13/2026

Trivia pop quiz: Who originally appeared as a platoon of 24 in 1975? Answer: the Shoppers' World Soldiers! If you think you know more than the Framingham City Historian, you could win a special prize at the 3rd Annual FHC Trivia Night.

Join us on Thursday, June 18 from 7:00 to 10:00 PM for a night of pop culture, music, history, TV, film, and one Framingham trivia question each round, with hosts Jeff and Kevin Convery. Teams of up to six players can compete for great prizes, including $500 in Jack’s Abby gift cards (first prize is $250!).
Cash bar and snack concessions available onsite.
All proceeds benefit the Framingham History Center. Special thanks to 's Abby Craft Lagers for sponsoring this event.
Tickets available here: https://framinghamhistory.org/events/3rd-annual-trivia-championship/

06/11/2026

With recent grads entering the summer job market, we’ve got money on our minds. Here at FHC, that money is counted in pounds, shillings, and pence! Before the American Revolution, each colony had its own monetary system and tender laws. Values were set on the local level, so the value of a Massachusetts pound was not necessarily the same as one issued in Pennsylvania. The Massachusetts bills of credit were called Codfish bills because of the cod in the border design.

Pictured here is an example of a Codfish bill and a Massachusetts four shilling bill of credit issued in 1776 (FHC Collection: BD913).

06/09/2026

Trivia pop quiz! What Framingham common has ties to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," Henry Knox, and Framingham's first library? Answer: it's the site of the 3rd Annual FHC Trivia Night next Thursday, June 18!

Join us from 7:00 to 10:00 PM for a night of pop culture, music, history, TV, film, and Framingham trivia with hosts Jeff and Kevin Convery. Teams of up to six players can compete for great prizes, including $500 in Jack’s Abby gift cards (first prize is $250!).

Cash bar and snack concessions available onsite.
All proceeds benefit the Framingham History Center. Special thanks to Jack's Abby Craft Lagers for sponsoring this event.
Tickets available here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/framinghamhistorycenter/event/3rdannualtrivia/?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demonfb7754a

06/05/2026

Congratulations, Framingham High Class of 2026! What a huge accomplishment! We’re all cheering you on in Framingham as you take this next step in your adventure of a lifetime.

A special thank you to the Framingham Seniors who volunteered to help at the Framingham History Center this week. Our gardens and basement never looked so good!

Images: 2026 Framingham Seniors at the Village Hall; 1924 Framingham High Graduating Class, FHC Collections, 2001.3.2.

06/04/2026

Thank you to the MetroWest YMCA for hosting the Senior Health & Wellness Day last week. We had a wonderful time sharing about our research opportunities and our upcoming events (like Trivia Night on June 18th and the The Bay State Motor Festival 2026 on June 21st!). What a great turnout!

06/03/2026

Have you heard of Buffy Dunker? Born and raised in Framingham, Elizabeth “Buffy” Dennison Dunker (1906 – 1993) was the second daughter of Henry S. Dennison, President of the Dennison Manufacturing Company (1917-1952). Buffy trained as a feminist therapist and appeared on national talk shows to promote gay rights. She also participated in a National Walk on Washington for Le***an and Gay Rights in 1987.

We highlighted the history of Buffy Dunker during Framingham’s Annual Pride Ceremony and Festival on Sunday. Thank you to the City of Framingham City of Framingham , OUTMetroWest OUT MetroWest , and Gem's at the Arts for kicking off Pride Month; we were so happy to join with many of our neighbors and community organizations!

Table photo courtesy of FHC Intern Emma Tessitore.

05/27/2026

Thank you so much, City of Framingham and Framingham Veteran Services for sharing these wonderful photos from Memorial Day this week.

05/26/2026

Yesterday, the Framingham History Center (FHC) was honored to take part in the City of Framingham’s Memorial Day gathering, alongside community members, veterans, city leaders, and neighbors who came together to remember those who gave their lives in service.

The FHC provided a pop-up history exhibition from our archives and permanent collections that highlighted two Framingham residents whose stories help us remember the human lives behind this solemn day.

James McGrath was born and raised in Saxonville, worked at Dennison Manufacturing Company, and enlisted less than two weeks after the United States entered World War I. He was killed in action on May 31, 1918, at age 25, while trying to warn others of incoming German shells. He was the first Saxonville resident killed in World War I, and Liberty Square was later renamed McGrath Square in his honor. On view were McGrath’s photograph and records from Dennison, listing him as “Killed in Action.”

Alessandro “Sandy” Falconi immigrated to the United States from Italy as a child and grew up in the Coburnville-Tripoli area. In July 1944, he sent his sister a letter and a photograph identifying the crew of his B-24 bomber. Less than a month later, Falconi and his crew were shot down during a run to Mannheim, Germany. He was later declared killed in action. Both the letter to his sister and the photograph were on view at Nevins Hall.

We are deeply grateful to the of Framingham and Veteran Services for bringing the community together.

These are two stories among many. On Memorial Day, we remember their names, their lives, their sacrifices, and their hope for our community’s future.

05/22/2026

Join us for the 3rd Annual FHC Trivia Championship on Thursday, June 18 from 7:00 to 10:00 PM for a night of competition, laughs, and bragging rights.

Bring your smartest friends and test your knowledge in pop culture, music, history, TV, film, and Framingham trivia with hosts Jeff and Kevin Convery. Teams of up to six players can compete for great prizes, including Jack’s Abby gift cards for the top three teams.

First Prize: $250 Jack’s Abby Gift Card
Second Prize: $150 Jack’s Abby Gift Card
Third Prize: $100 Jack’s Abby Gift Card

Cash bar and snack concessions available onsite.

All proceeds benefit the Framingham History Center. Special thanks to Jack's Abby Craft Lagers for sponsoring this event.

Tickets available here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/framinghamhistorycenter/event/3rdannualtrivia/

Address

3 Oak Street
Framingham, MA
01701

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

(508) 626-9091

Website

http://framinghamhistory.org/

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