Petersham Historical Society hosts Revolutionary War reenactment event

PETERSHAM – The Petersham Historical Society welcomes visitors to its upcoming “250th: Tales of the Revolution” program and the annual “Hope for Spring” open house.

The event, which takes place on Sunday, March 8, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., will include meeting Revolutionary War characters, as well as exploring exhibits of what’s new and old in the PHS collection, and a “What could THIS be?” display of mystery items.

Revolutionary guests will include the rebel leader, Daniel Shays, who can explain why the most volatile time for him and his followers was after the Revolution ended, and Petersham’s Tory parson, Rev. Aaron Whitney, who argued against the Patriot cause. Two special soldiers will also treat guests to a glimpse into Revolutionary life.

Morgan Gabrenas, of Petersham, is a soldier reenactor for His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot, which recreates Revolutionary events throughout New England. He will mix music and memory while portraying a British soldier, playing some tunes on his vintage flute that will include both popular and martial selections from the 18th century. His experience with the 10th Regiment included making his own British soldier uniform, or kit, as reenactors call their garb, from start to finish, with authentic detail.

“I will be portraying a private British soldier, but I will talk about and play music,” said Gabrenas. “I see living history and reenactment as a way of understanding past people on a more tactile level. My most memorable event with the 10th Regiment so far was participating in the Battle of Bunker Hill last year and we will be doing reenactments of the evacuation of Boston and the battles of White Plains and Brooklyn this year.”

C.J. Wolanski, of Pawtucket, R.I., is also a member of the His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot reenactors. For this event, he will switch characters and portray Constant Church, a Patriot Continental soldier who was born in Rhode Island, but lived in Petersham during some of the Revolutionary years. As a living history reenactor, Wolanski became intrigued by Church’s life as a soldier and Patriot and decided to research Church’s history to portray his character.

“I first got interested in reenacting when I was 6 years old,” says Wolanski. “I met a great group of reenactors portraying Rhode Island Continental soldiers, and I immediately loved everything about this hobby. I ran into the 10th Regiment of Foot at Fort Griswold in Connecticut just before I turned 14, and almost immediately decided I wanted to join them. Probably one of the most memorable reenactments for me was the Bristol Expedition in 2024, where I got to take the field with several of the same reenactors I first met when I was only 6 years old.”

Gabrenas will perform about 2:30 p.m. and Wolanski will present around 3 p.m., but the reenactors will be mingling to talk to guests and answer questions throughout the event from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This event is free and open to everyone to enjoy Revolutionary and Petersham history. The Petersham Historical Society is located at 10 North Main St. in Petersham.