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Tricentennial committee updates oral history, graveyard tour and house-tour plans; floats idea for First Night/Jan. 1 launch
Summary
Committee members reported progress and setbacks on several historic-event streams: oral histories (studio technical issues), graveyard tour regrouping, a proposed tricentennial house tour (target Sept. 18, 2027) and early brainstorming for a New Year's Eve/First Night weekend to launch 2027 commemorations.
The Town of Southborough Tricentennial Committee on Oct. 8 reviewed several history-focused projects and sketched a preliminary plan to mark the start of the tricentennial timeframe with a New Year's weekend event.
Oral-history project: Committee members said a studio used for interviews is temporarily out of service and they are awaiting the technician (Terry) to resolve technical problems. The organizers reported they have a good candidate list and positive early interviews; one committee member said earlier sessions improved after the first recording. The committee discussed hosting edited oral-history segments on YouTube and screening compiled pieces at library events.
Graveyard tour: Volunteers said interest had waned and organizers planned to regroup; the committee noted a volunteer who approached them at the ice-cream social with historic research experience and would follow up. No formal schedule or vendor obligations were recorded for the graveyard tour.
Tricentennial house tour: The house-tour working group (lead: Kate Battles) proposed naming the event the "Tricentennial House Tour," focusing on about 10 to 12 homes, and tentatively suggested Saturday, Sept. 18, 2027, from noon to 3 p.m. The working group recommended a homeowner agreement (a release/hold-harmless form used in a prior 2019 tour) and said it would circulate a draft letter to prospective homeowners. Committee members asked staff to review the homeowner agreement with town counsel before final use.
First Night / Jan. kick-off: Recreation Department staff (Travis) joined the meeting to suggest planning a First Night/First Day weekend straddling New Year's Eve 2026 and Jan. 1, 2027. He described past experience organizing family-friendly New Year's events, including early ball drops, entertainers, and illuminated sculptures, and suggested pairing a daytime family program with an evening spectacle (drone show or fireworks) to launch the tricentennial calendar. Committee members said the weekend offers flexibility for in-person and indoor contingencies but flagged logistics: venue, permits, fire department coordination and volunteer capacity.
Next steps: Organizers will follow up on the oral-history studio repairs; the house-tour group will refine a homeowner agreement and draft a homeowner outreach letter for legal review; and Recreation Department staff will continue to advise on First Night/weekend planning.
