HARVARD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) – A man from Harvard was honored for his involvement in the Boston Tea Party.
The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, in partnership with the Town of Harvard, honored the first resident from the town with a commemorative plaque on his gravesite.
Elijah Houghton was born in 1739 and lived his whole life in Harvard. After participating in the Boston Tea Party, Houghton went on to serve in the Revolutionary War. Following his military career, Houghton worked as a farmer until his death in 1819.
Those in attendance for the ceremony included Town of Harvard Cemetery Commissioner John Lee, Town of Harvard Selectboard Chair Stu Sklar, Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Creative Manager Evan O’Brien and Jonathan Lane with the Massachusetts Historical Society. Also in attendance were students from The Bromfield School, their teacher Kathleen Doherty and numerous area residents.
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The organization said the commemorative plaques are for those involved in the “single most important event leading up to the American Revolution.” Since 2019 a total of 87 plaques have been placed at graves of known Boston Tea Party participants.
The 250th anniversary of the event will fall on December 16, 2023. Leading up to the anniversary, the organization plans on placing additional commemorative markers on all the graves of the 125 known participants. These individuals are buried throughout New England and the United States, with many being located throughout all parts of Massachusetts.
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