True Tales from Canton’s Past: Heritage Festival

A wartime tableau on display at Copper Mill Hall

By now the story has been well told. In August 2008, the Canton Historical Commission invoked the demolition delay process as a last-ditch effort to raise public awareness in the face of the loss of the Revere & Son Rolling Mill and Joseph Warren Revere Barn. That was the moment that preservation kicked in. The ensuing 14 years have laid the groundwork for what is the Paul Revere Heritage Site. And in less than 48 hours, the promise of Canton’s town common will be a reality.

Of course, the park at the heritage site is now well known and well loved. But until now there has never been an “official” opening celebration — a community event that brings people from across the town and the region together to celebrate history, our social development, and the natural landscape that has been created at this 300-plus-year-old historic site. This weekend the Canton Heritage Festival will embrace a worthy launch of what will surely be the envy of many communities.

Behind the scenes, a large corps of volunteers has been planning every detail of the day, which opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 14. Living historians will gather; celebrated reenactors will be on hand; food trucks will serve the multitudes; and our friends from many neighboring towns will visit. Historical societies, craftsmen, entertainers, politicians and community organizations will be on hand. The day promises some fabulous glimpses into what is possible when a community dreams big. Think about the impact that this day exemplifies: At one point the polluted land was destined for over 600 housing units, and today nine acres are set aside for community use and reflection.

Of great note is the gallery space on the second floor of Copper Mill Hall. For several months curators, educators and designers have been working on a signature exhibit titled “Canton in Wartime.” The stories are poignant and bittersweet. The tales of heroes and lost men and women who sacrificed all so that we can enjoy liberty and prosperity are told through the many installations. Betsy Sugameli, along with Pam D’Agostino, Joyce Stenmon, Daniel Neff and Paul Buckley, have assembled a remarkable exhibit that must be seen to be fully appreciated. Working with privately owned artifacts and those from the Canton Historical Society, the lens peers across more than 200 years of conflict and peace. The roles of several prominent Canton residents are magnified by what has been chosen for this exhibit.

“Canton in Wartime” features many rare items, including posters and ephemera that help visitors learn more about the role of industry and our fellow neighbors in times of conflict. Perhaps the finest item is that of the dress coat worn by Private Leonard Everett. The coat is a deep blue with beautifully detailed buttons and gold thread throughout. The 200-year-old coat will be on public display and speaks to the prominence of this man in our town’s history. Prior to organized national guard units, local militias were mounted as both security and social institutions. Everett was part of a storied group of men, many of whom fought in the American Revolution and assumed the stature of brave souls who fought for independence.

Also on display is the wool cloak worn by a daughter of Canton: Helen Homans. Born in Boston, Homans’ family lived in Canton through the summer months and were the height of Boston society. Homans descended on her mother’s side from John Adams and John Quincy Adams and on her father’s side from the Boston Homanses, who claimed medical honor in Massachusetts. In 1915 Homans took up nursing in France and stayed there in the thick of things until her death from influenza on November 5, 1918, a little less than a week before the Armistice formally ended the so-called ‘Great War.’ Just hours before her death, Homans was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the head of the French medical staff. On her coffin was engraved “Mort pour la France,” meaning “her death for France.” A tablet in her memory hangs over the western doors in the nave of King’s Chapel in Boston. Homans was one of our most memorable heroes. Her cloak, deep blue with a cardinal red interior, has rarely been seen publicly.

A rare photograph taken in France in 1918 at the funeral of Helen Homans

Also rarely seen is the U.S. Army jacket of 1st Lt. Dennis James Maguire. Born in 1875, Father Maguire was ordained in 1904 and spent his early years as a priest caring for the souls at St John’s Church here in Canton. Well known and loved, he answered the call of duty and was a notable chaplain during World War I. The olive green jacket is adorned by a gold cross on the right shoulder.

Also on display nearby is the helmet worn by PFC Alick Carrole, Company D, 16th Infantry. Born in Minsk, Russia (now the capital of Belarus), Carrole came to America in 1905 and a good part of his subsequent years were spent here in Canton. The extraordinary heroism of this man of action took place in the Argonne Forest in France on October 9, 1918. While his platoon was being seriously menaced by hostile machine gun fire, Carrole, the only survivor of his squad, crawled forward and with his rifle killed two gunners and captured the remaining six men. His act enabled the further advance of his platoon. This helmet is a wonderful testament to an ambitious immigrant who received the Distinguished Service Cross.

Among the other items that will be available for viewing as part of the upcoming exhibit is an olive drab green jacket once worn by Sgt. Mike Callanan — a Canton native and son of Irish immigrants who went on to serve as a nose gunner with the 724th Bomber Squadron during World War II. An intelligent and courageous fighter, Callanan had completed over 20 separate bombing runs and was in the middle of another one on August 23, 1944, when the plane he was in was hit by heavy fire, forcing the entire crew to parachute to the ground behind enemy lines. Callanan, just 21 years old at the time, was captured in the ensuing days by a group of foresters in Austria and was later shot and killed by an SS officer while attempting to make his escape. It was not until four years later that Callanan’s body was returned to his family and given a proper burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Lt. Peter M. Hansen, another beloved local hero and the namesake of one of the town’s three elementary schools, is also featured in the upcoming exhibit as visitors can catch a glimpse of his military dress hat. A 1963 graduate of Canton High School, Hansen willingly volunteered for a Vietnam deployment and once overseas, he was tasked with ensuring the safety of the 52 bunkers at Tay Ninh base camp. Promoted to first lieutenant in October 1967, he was killed in action less than two months later at age 22 — becoming the first of Canton’s sons to lose his life in the Vietnam War.

While accounts of his death differ, a telegram sent to Hansen’s mother stated that the vehicle he was riding in had struck an enemy land mine. Hansen’s body was promptly returned to Canton and on a day filled with rain, sleet and snow — apropos for the sadness that blanketed the town — our valiant young man was laid to rest at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

The stories of these and many other local men and women will be highlighted in this fascinating new exhibit, which officially opens this Saturday, May 14, at 10 a.m. inside Copper Mill Hall (2nd floor of the Revere Rolling Mill — above Northern Spy). The articles of clothing in particular help bring these heroes to life while serving as a grim reminder that peace is a fragile and sometimes elusive dream. Counterpoint items illustrate the factories and the citizens at home who helped bring the various wartime efforts right into every living room in town. The items on display all place the reality of war into our very souls at a time of great uncertainty throughout the world.

Meanwhile, the promises made at the local level — to create a gathering place of joy and reflection right here in downtown Canton — finally come to fruition this weekend at our first-of-its-kind Heritage Festival. While there is much to celebrate, there is also much to honor. Paul Revere, one of the greatest American patriots, would have been so proud to see his legacy endure. And as we prepare for Memorial Day, let us play in the shadow of history and also give thanks to the men and women who made our community special. This is the embodiment of the Paul Revere Heritage Site. Please come and reflect upon our heritage.

To learn more about the Canton Heritage Festival and for a full list of activities, performances and vendors, visit the event page at paulreveremuseum.org/happenings.

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