Community Corner
Sixteenth Week - Monday's "Medfield Historical Minute"
A little something to read and learn to give you a little break during this time of boredom during isolation due to the Coronavirus Crisis.
A Medfield Historical Minute...
This "Medfield Historical Minute" is brought to you by town historian Richard DeSorgher.
A little something to read and learn to give you a little break during this time of boredom during isolation due to the Coronavirus Crisis. A different "Medfield Historical Minute" will appear each day during the Crisis.
"During the Presidential Election of 1896, Col. Edwin V. Mitchell, owner of the hat factory on North Street, raised the banner of Republican William McKinley up over the front of the hat factory. McKinley was running against Democrat William Jennings Bryan. The industrialist Mitchell used his power to support political candidates, usually Republicans, whom he believed best fit his needs and wishes. Mitchell then held a torchlight parade through the main streets of Medfield for McKinley. The night before the election, he held a grand fireworks display from his mansion (now the site of the post office) As owner of the hat factory, the number one employer in the town, all social, economic and political life in Medfield revolved around Mitchell. Workers at the hat factory knew if they wanted to keep their jobs, the candidate Mitchell wanted, in this case McKinley, better do very well in the town. McKinley carried Medfield overwhelmingly."
