By Alison Courchesne, FHC Board President
This coming year in the Framingham History Center community carries special significance. Across the Commonwealth, we have begun the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which has given us the opportunity to reflect on the events, the people, and the ideals that shaped the founding of the United States. We experienced some of that energy in February when many of us welcomed the re-enactment of Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery outside the doors of Village Hall on the Common, and – yes – it was bitter cold out there.
Now, the “horses and cannons” thing is not the brand of history that I am normally interested in; but, I was out there on the Common – in full snowsuit and snowshoes – because of my 10 year old son, who adores Henry Knox. He is fascinated by Knox’s derring-do and his strategic maneuvering – he identifies with Hero-Knox. But my fascination is with Bookseller-Knox. I leaned in during Anna’s lecture a few weeks ago when she explained that Henry Knox was actually a bookstore owner who rose to the challenge of his time. And, since my primary occupation is as a Librarian, I feel like I’m basically a bookseller. So, it made me wonder… would I have risen to the challenge of Revolutionary times?
When we look at history, we often do so with a sense of clarity and moral certainty. With 250 years of hindsight, it can feel as though “the right side of history” was obvious and that the outcome was almost inevitable. But living through history rarely feels that way.
For the people who experienced the Revolution— firsthand – they navigated a confusing and deeply divided Atlantic world. Family members and neighbors found themselves on opposing sides of political questions. They tried to make the best decisions they could, despite incomplete information, competing loyalties, and very real fears about what the future might hold. At our recent Annual Meeting we heard from incoming Framingham City Historian Kevin Swope about Framingham’s role in the Revolution, and the challenging conversations and decisions that must have occurred as the residents of Framingham had to grapple with who they were and what they believed as a community.
I recently read a book by Omar El-Akkad with the intriguing title: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. In this book, El-Akkad challenges our tendency to look back at history with the easy moral certainty born of hindsight.
The title bears repeating: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. I can’t get this title out of my mind.
Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, we have daily been faced with the uncertainty that accompanies moments of profound change. For the first time in my life, I feel I am living through history, and it’s like wading through a swamp of moral grey areas. It’s tempting to think “Well, I would have hidden cannons in my barn in the Revolutionary War, or I would have organized for the Underground Railroad”… but life in the present is messier than the distilled clarity of the past. In this time, we actually have a chance to find out how we would have faced moral profound challenges; but it turns out that we also need to find time to get groceries, to figure out who’s picking up the kids, and to keep our loved ones safe. Future generations no doubt will look back at our era with their own sense of hindsight and clarity. They may wonder why certain decisions were difficult, or why people disagreed so strongly about the challenges of our time. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.
Our question is this: what can the Framingham History Center offer in this moment of profound change and challenge?
Our role is to tell stories that acknowledge complexity, present multiple perspectives, and encourage thoughtful reflection about how those who came before us have navigated difficult moments in the past. For example, every day in March we welcomed Framingham’s 3rd graders to the History Center, the 50th year we’ve carried on this tradition.
One of the lessons we offered the 3rd graders during their visit introduced the kids to three Framingham residents from the Revolutionary Era: Thomas Nixon, Peter Salem, and Lydia Learned. And yes, Henry Knox too, who we claim as an honorary Framingham resident. The kids learned about all the ways that these very different people met their moment in history with participation, service, and community. The 3rd graders were amazed to see on display some of the actual artifacts that these people held and wrote and used, in a way, to make history. The lesson directly challenged our young people to learn from people’s choices in the past and act in the present, with their own brand of participation, service, and community.
As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, I hope we can approach this milestone not only with pride, but also with curiosity and reflection. Let’s use this moment to ask deeper questions, to explore with humility the full richness of the past, and to think wisely and well about the choices we face in our own time. Thank you for being part of this mission and for supporting the important work of the Framingham History Center.