subject: Massachusetts Infantry. 182d Regiment Militia National Guard. Company A
description- – Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.
- – 1 picture :
- – "The United States declared war against the Kingdom of Spain on April 26, 1898, in response to Spain's oppressive treatment of Cuba and the February 15th destruction of the US battleship 'Maine' in Havana Harbor. More than one-million volunteers answered President McKinley's call to help the 25,000 men in the US Army. A meeting of Company A, Richardson Light Guard was called on April 28, at which time 69 men enlisted. The following day, the number increased to 84. On May 5th, the night before the Guard's departure, the citizens of Wakefield held a grand farewell reception at the Town Hall. At 7:30 a.m. on May 6th, the assembly signal, 12-12, was given on the fire alarm, calling the townspeople to escort the men to the train station. Thousands assembled at the station, and schools were closed for the day. The members, clad in fatigue uniforms, with leggings, canteens, haversacks, overcoats and cartridge belts, boarded the Boston-bound train at 9 a.m. A train from Boston took them to the state campground at Framingham where they were inspected and accepted by the US Army." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
subjectcollectiondate- – 2008-06-24T18:36:43Z
- – 2008-06-24T18:36:43Z
- – 2000.
- – 2000.
publishercreatorrelation- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 2000 ; January.
coverage- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
description- – Photo reprinted from the History of the Richardson Light Guard (1851-1901).
- – 2 pictures :
- – "This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Spanish-American War which was declared on April 26, 1898. This action followed Spain's oppressive treatment of Cuba's struggle for independence since 1895. The declaration of war by the United States against the Kingdom of Spain was the direct result of the 'blowing up' of the battleship Main in Havana Harbor in March. President McKinley called for 200,000 volunteers and 1,000,000 stepped forward to enlist. At that time, the US Army numbered 25,000. The Sixth Regiment of the Volunteer Militia of Massachusetts, of which Wakefield's Richardson Light Guard was a part, was the first regiment to offer its services to then Governor Wolcott. The Company held a special meeting on April 28th at which time 69 men enlisted. An additional 15 men joined the following day. On May 5th, the night before their departure, the townspeople hosted a grand farewell reception at the Town Hall. At 7:30 the next morning, the fire alarm rang the assembly signal (12-12), and the townspeople gathered again to escort the soldiers to the train station. School was closed for the day. The soldiers traveled through Boston, Baltimore, Virginia, South Carolina (where they boarded the 'Commodore Perry" to the 'Yale'), and Cuba. Their final destination was Puerto Rico where they were the first whole U.S. regiment to land, and were one of the 'few fortunate regiments to get under fire.' They were ordered home on October 18th, 1898 and arrived in Boston Harbor aboard the 'Mississippi' on October 27th. They arrived in Wakefield at dusk and were greeted by a 'dense mass' of people from Richardson Avenue to Yale Avenue. 'Red fire lighted up the sky; and with the discharge of dynamite salutes, the ringing of bells, the blowing of horns, discharge of fire works, and the music of two brass bands it was a rare spectacle.' The soldiers were honored at a banquet hosted by the Town on November 9, 1898. The Richardson Light Guard Association of the Puerto Rican Campaign was organized on January 2, 1899, and, on orders of the War Department, were quartered in the armory until mustered out. The men were required to report for roll call each morning and evening, and rations were furnished by a Lynn caterer. On January 21, 1899, the company traveled to the South Armory in Boston where they were mustered out of the U.S. service. It is interesting to note that because of the segregation of the U.S. Army at the time, African-Americans served in Company L of the 6th Regiment, and were trained in Boston. Wakefield resident, 2nd Lieutenant George W. Braxton, served with this Company." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
subjectcollectiondate- – 2007-12-20T21:41:33Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:33Z
- – 1998.
- – 1998.
publishercreatorrelation- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1998 ; April.
coverage- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
warning- – multiple URL identifiers
description- – Photo courtesy of Frank Ripa.
- – 1 picture :
- – "The Richardson Light Guard has a long and colorful history in Wakefield. Chartered in 1851, Company A, Sixth Regiment M.V.M. took as its local name 'the Richardson Light Guard' in honor of Dr. Solon O. Richardson. Historical references note that he had been 'zealously interested in the formation of the company and practically helpful in its membership.' The Richardson Light Guard was without a permanent home until 1894, when an armory was built by the Town just south of the corner of Main and Water Streets. Prior to that the company occupied quarters in several places, with the Town of Wakefield paying rent with a portion reimbursed by the state. On May 1, 1894, Town Meeting voted to appropriate $12,000 to build an armory. Soon after, a lot of land near the Town Hall and next to the Cutler Bros. grocery and grain stores was purchased. The building, complete with an attached drill shed, was dedicated on February 15, 1895. This armory was short-lived, however; its demise the result of a fire which occurred on July 6, 1991 after a lightning bolt struck wires at the street corner, setting fire to Cutler Bros.' The flames spread quickly to the armory, but were kept from destroying the Town Hall and the Henry F. Miller&Sons Piano factory by the diligent efforts of firefighters. Total damage was set at $60,000. The armory fire did not 'burst out in real earnest' until the Cutler building was 'practically' flat. This allowed Company A members to rescue guns, live ammunition, uniforms, trophies, pictures and furnishings. When the fire spread to the upper story of the building, more than 2500 rounds of ammunition (all blank cartridges) exploded with the sounds of battle. After the fire, the company used the old Town Hall auditorium as a drill hall until a new armory was put into service aftr its dedication in January, 1913. The old armory is now the site of the Hodgdon Building. " -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
subjectcollectiondate- – 2007-12-20T21:41:40Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:40Z
- – 1998.
- – 1998.
publishercreatorrelation- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1998 ; October.
coverage- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
warning- – multiple URL identifiers
description