Wareham Minutemen perform reenactment at museum exhibit’s debut

Oct 4, 2021

The Wareham Minutemen and Militia Company donned their full Revolutionary War garb in Rochester over the weekend to aid the town’s historical society in launching part two of its Treasures from the Museum Curator’s Show. 

“We just wanted to honor the veterans who were buried here, it doesn’t matter which war they were in,” said Mack Phinney, president of the historical society and member of the Wareham Minutemen, explaining that it was the first time a ceremony had been held to honor them.

Gary Franklin, a member of the Minutemen who has been reenacting with his son, Jay since 2014, said that they’ve done a few grave marking ceremonies around the Cape, as well as war reenactments, parades, and living history events.

Phinney said that the Wareham Minutemen reenactment group is technically an extension of the original militia formed in 1739, as no record of the group officially disbanding has ever been found.

Inside the Rochester Historical Society, the Treasures from the Museum exhibit focused on tools and military items, some loaned or donated from the community, others found around the museum.

The exhibit will be on display and open to the public most Sundays in October and November from 1 to 3 p.m., guests can call Connie Eshbach at (617) 750-2818 to confirm.