WESTFIELD — Westfield residents of all ages will have a unique opportunity to meet a team of trained oxen when the Westfield Athenaeum Children’s Library launches a series of programs about the Revolutionary War on the 250th anniversary.
The kickoff event about Henry Knox’s Noble Artillery Train will feature Owen Lourenzo and his trained oxen on Jan. 14 at 4 p.m. Lourenzo will talk about the Noble Train and how the oxen were integral to its success. The event is open to all ages and will be held outside on the Court Street lawn by the entrance to the Children’s Library.
“I love history, and it’s pretty big because of Westfield’s connection to that,” said children’s librarian Mary Hoth, referring to when the Knox Noble Train traveled through Westfield carrying armaments and cannons to Boston.
Hoth said this first event in the series is for everyone, while subsequent events in February through May will be held inside the children’s library and geared for children ages 8 to 12. She said the series will seek to go beyond what can be done in the classroom to bring history to life. Most sessions will last an hour.
On Feb. 11, the series will talk about the life of a soldier in Revolutionary times. Reenactor Jay Blain will portray an American soldier in the Revolutionary War, and Dennis Picard will talk about what life was like for a Hessian soldier. Hoth said Picard has been “a huge help” in forming the series.
On March 11, Doug Quigley will talk about the music of Revolutionary times, in particular the fife and drum, which he will play. Hoth said the kids may have an opportunity to play along on the drums themselves.
In April, the series will talk about what life was like at home in Westfield during the Revolutionary War, and planning for the final program in May is currently underway.
Hoth said Westfield Athenaeum’s local history librarian Kevin Pajala and archivist Max Vivacqua are also involved in planning the series.
All of the events are free to attendees. To learn more, go to westath.org
