Fiftieth Week, Friday's "Medfield Historical Minute"

A Medfield Historical Minute...

Although the Coronavirus is still part of our daily lives, there is hope on the horizon that we will not be isolated too much longer as vaccinations are now taking place. Medfield Historical
Minutes were Richard's way of "giving you a little break during this time of boredom during isolation" by sharing his knowledge of Medfield history.

These daily postings have been a huge hit with Patch readers, however as we approach 364 pieces of historical information shared, these "little somethings" as Richard called them will come to an end after Week 52. A huge thank you to Richard DeSorgher for his time and
dedication to sharing the history of Medfield with our community for one full year.

This "Medfield Historical Minute" is brought to you by town historian Richard DeSorgher.

"In 1911 it was voted to abolish the office of sexton and dispose of the town hearse. In early town history, the office of sexton played a unique role. It was the duty of the sexton to toll the bell upon the death of a town citizen: three times followed by three for a man and three times followed by two for a woman. The age of the deceased was then tolled so the populace would know which of the ailing had passed away. The sexton provided the black cloth that was placed over the deceased while the casket was borne by four pall bearers. As the funeral train wound its way through the village to Vine Lake Cemetery, the sexton tolled the bell. The hearse had been purchased in 1801 and had been the method of bearing the dead to Vine Lake Cemetery for over 100 years."