350th Anniversary Celebration of Quaboag Plantation
In August of 1675, during King Philip's War, the Siege of Brookfield took place on what was Prichard's Hill in Quaboag Plantation. Today this is Foster Hill, West Brookfield. The Quaboag Plantation today is made up of 6 towns: Brookfield, North Brookfield, West Brookfield, East Brookfield, New Braintree, and Warren. The Town which isnow West Brookfield encompasses the site of the first settlement of Quaboag Plantation.
This Weekends Celebrations Schedule is as follows:
Saturday, September 18
There will be all day activities on the West Brookfield town common.
Activities will include Indians dressed in full regalia, descendants of the original families in full period costumes, children games and entertainment by the Brookfields Rotary Club. There will be a re-enactment of the Captain of Infantry on the common.
10:30 a.m. - noon. Foster Hill , "A coming together in a circle of friendship" Introduction, invocation, speakers. A proclamation will be presented to a descendant of King Philip by Steve Prichard, a descendant of William Prichard.*
3 - 4 p.m. The Quaboag Choral Society will perform on the bandshell.
4 - 5 p.m. Mary Rowlandson will appear at the band shell to describe her terrifying ordeal. She and her children were captured by Indians and spent months in Indian encampments in New Braintree (Winimussett) and elsewhere before being ransomed. Her young daughter was killed, and is buried in New Braintree
4 - 6 p. m .Chicken Barbecue. Tickets are $10. Additionally, the Knights of Columbus will sell hotdogs and burgers.
6 - 10 p.m. Block dance at the common. Music by New Braintree's Gary LeFevre and his band. There will be both round and square dancing. The Hayloft Steppers will be there.
Sunday, September 19
9 a.m. Ecumenical Service at Whitefield Rock on Foster Hill, led by the Reverend Lisa Durkee-Abbot .
11 - 11:15 a.m. Parade participants will gather in order to be lined up for the parade. Busing from the parking lots to the staging area will be provided until 11:30 a.m. Participants are advised to be on time or even early.*
11:15 Routes 9 and 67 along parade route closed. Also, Route 67 from Wine Road will be closed.
The parade will travel down North Main Street (Route 67) to East Main Street (Route 9) then Westerly along Main Street to end at routes 19/67 and 9. The distance is 1.3 miles. Parade participants will park at the town-0owned land on Lakeshore Drive, at the machine shop (former Chevrolet dealership) and at the state-owned rest stop on routes 9/67. Two buses will transport participants to the staging areas.
