Description

Sturbridge in the Civil War 

On Thursday, April 25, 7PM at the Publick House, Wally Hersee will discuss how the Civil War impacted Sturbridge and its inhabitants. The response of Town officers, Town Meeting, and volunteers will be explored. Hersee will look at those men who responded to the call to arms and their battlefield experiences. He also examines the stories of those men from Sturbridge who died in uniform. Most of us learned about the Civil War – its causes, battles, and outcomes – but we often do not know about or understand the impact of that all-encompassing war on our own community. 

Wally Hersee grew up in Medfield, where he refined his interest in local history. Having moved to Sturbridge it was only a matter of time before he took an active part in Sturbridge history. A photographer for more than 45 years, his 2017 book, Follow the Light, tells of his photographic journey. Wally retired as a registered nurse in 2019. Today, he lives in Town with his wife, Mary, and is active on Town boards, volunteers at Tanglewood, and writes for the Sturbridge Historical Society on their Facebook page. 

Join us to learn about the role of Sturbridge in the Civil War. The program is free and open to the public, and is generously hosted by the Publick House. 

If you are interested in presenting, or know of someone, or have a topic you would like to hear about, please contact Sandy Gibson-Quigley at sgibquig@gmail.com.