Kids & Family

DeSorgher's Book on Medfield History is Now Available

The book can be purchased at the Medfield Historical Society, Park Street Books, or by mail.

This press release was submitted by Medfield Town Historian and local author Richard DeSorgher.

By Richard DeSorgher

This Old Town, Remembering Medfield by Richard DeSorgher is now on sale.  

Find out what's happening in Medfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For ten years, I have been writing short stories that cover aspects of the rich history that is Medfield; its people, first and foremost our greatest resource, its natural resources, its businesses, schools, sports teams, government and the joys and sadness that has occurred over our long 364 year history. I have selected 74 of these stories for a new book now on sale entitled “This Old Town, Remembering Medfield.” 

Each of the short stories tells an aspect of what makes Medfield, Medfield.  

Find out what's happening in Medfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

From the dedication to Medfield native Kevin Burr to the beginnings of our town’s history, starting with the first 13 settlers and our break from Dedham. Stories tell of the wolves and wildcats that prowled the swamps of early Medfield, of our first minister John Wilson, and the Native-American attack on the town with resulting death and destruction, a day unlike any other in Medfield’s history. One will read of the first Irish coming to Medfield and the resulting prejudice that followed, and the building of St. Edward Church and the KKK cross burning used as a threat to the Italian immigrants of our town.

Many of the stories bring to life the heroism of our veterans such as 

  • Samuel Cole who died at Fort Ticonderoga 
  • Joseph Pace killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor 
  • Steven Reichert who received the Bronze Star Medal for Valor in Iraq. 

One will see the Acadians who were deported from Canada find their way to Medfield and learn of a British deserter who made his home hiding out in Rocky Woods.

Stories tell about the burning of town hall, twice. One will read about Medfield’s first murder and the horrid tale of body snatching from Vine Lake Cemetery. One will go back in time to when Medfield residents summered along the Charles River at a spot known as "Clark’s Camp." Swimming will once again take place in Kingsbury Pond and the history of Hinkley Pond will be told. Little League Baseball will arrive in town in the early 1950s, thanks in part to the efforts of Red Palumbo with the strong support from a list of many. Coaches Clint Clark and Mel Procaccini will once again be out coaching on the Little League Field and, in the stories, a slower Medfield of the 1950s will be felt.

Education has been an important aspect throughout Medfield history and several of the stories will give insight into Medfield’s schools from our first school house in 1666 to the first Wheelock School on 25 Pleasant Street, the north and south schools named for Lowell Mason and Hannah Adams, the oldest existing Medfield High School (now the Pfaff Center), to our five current schools.

In rapid fire, other stories will tell of war, the jitterbug and Medfield in the 1940s, the Medfield High School football team that lost to Millis 108-0 , the Medfield team that won the 2006 Super Bowl, the 1953 team that won perhaps the greatest Thanksgiving game ever played, and the day Medfield High snapped  32 consecutive defeats. The MHS Class of 1970, Big Blue Basketball with Bo Ruggiero and Dave Gibbs, the 1973 undefeated girls basketball team, the historic homes of Medfield, how Tubwreck Brook got its name, gypsies in Medfield, the Poor Farm, the closing of Friendly’s, Lord’s, Super Duper, Medfield State Hospital, Rocky Woods, Medfield’s golf courses and ice houses, the hat factory, the Library, Beckwith Post #110, the trolley, zip code 02042, the Hurricane of 1938, the great floods of Medfield and the Blizzard of 1978.

The 295-page book is filled with mention of over 650 residents and dozens of photos from the 1800s to present day. It is, of course, the people that made and make Medfield what it is, and in the pages of the book one will read about Ann Thompson, Beth Eby, Bill Pope, the Pederzinis, Larkins, McCarthys, Burrs, Chicks, Iversons, Reagans, Cronins, Hurds, Tom Blake, Medfield’s Mr. Hockey, Bob Hersee—Medfield’s Mr. Holland’s Opus, the Wheelocks, Lowell Mason, the Meaneys, Prentisses, Jacob Cushman, Jeremiah Hale, John A.S. Monks, Hannah Adams Pfaff, and Granville Mitchell, just to name a few. 

There will be two book signings for “This Old Town, Remembering Medfield." The first is on Saturday, Nov. 16, starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Park Street Book Shop (504 Main Street) and the second is at the Peak House Pantry Sale at the Peak House (345 Main Street) on Saturday, Nov. 23, starting at 10 a.m. 

Books can also be ordered directly by including your name and address and a check made out to "This Old Town" for $12.95 + sale tax or a total of $13.77 and mailed to "This Old Town, Remembering Medfield," 13 Lawrence Circle, Medfield, MA 02052.  Books within Medfield will be delivered at no charge to your home. Those wanting the book mailed should include a shipping charge of $2.18 or a total of $15.95. Those ordering by mail and wishing an autographed copy should include a card giving instructions as to whom and how one wants the book signed. 

For further information, call 508-359-5413 or email peakfield@comcast.net. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here