Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson, sculptor of “the Hiker” statue on the Rockery

Although the woman in today’s Women’s History Month Profile may never even have set foot in Wakefield, her work nevertheless is an integral part of the town’s landscape and identity. Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, January 29th, 1871. She was the youngest daughter of Cyrus W. and Anna H. Ruggles. Considered…

Women in Wakefield Revolution 250 edition

“Women in Wakefield” Revolutionary War edition! As we enter the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War, it seems fitting to dedicate one of our Women’s History Month tributes to the town’s women during that period. The war actually lasted for seven long years, from Concord and Lexington past the battle of Yorktown, but the early…

Buffy Sainte-Marie

Today’s Women in Wakefield spotlight is on singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie.  The internationally known singer and Native American activist actually grew up in Wakefield (across the street from the West Ward School!)  She would go on to international acclaim and win an Academy Award for her song “Up Where We Belong.” According to her interview in the excellent…

That Dark Time, the Witchcraft Scare in Wakefield, Reading & North Reading

by Nancy Bertrand Not all of our ”Women in Wakefield” profiles end happily.  Unfortunately, at least one of them ended very sadly indeed.  This is the story of Lydia Dustin. Lydia and her husband Josiah were among the first settlers here in the then brand-new town then named Reading.  (But of course, the majority of those first settlements…