On Saturday, May 9th at 2:00 PM, the Willard House & Clock Museum invites the public to step back into the measured rhythms of the eighteenth century for an engaging lecture by Dr. Malcolm F. Purinton, exploring the vital role of taverns and beer in shaping Revolutionary America.

Titled “One for the Revolutionary Road: Taverns and Beer in the American Revolution,” the program offers a timely reflection on how everyday spaces—and the people who gathered within them—helped set the course of history. This program has been made possible through the generous support of the Gaudette Insurance Agency.

In an age before instant communication, taverns functioned as the ticking heartbeats of their communities. Much like the cadence of a finely crafted clock, these gathering places kept time with the social, political, and economic life of the colonies. Here, over mugs of beer and shared news, colonists debated ideas, organized resistance, and forged a collective identity that would ultimately drive the American Revolution forward.

The Earliest Version of Social Media Dr. Purinton will address how taverns served as essential hubs for civic life in both rural and urban settings. From post-church conversations to town meetings and elections, these spaces bore witness to pivotal moments in American history. Decisions made around tavern tables reverberated far beyond their walls, influencing events as significant as protests and acts of defiance, including those leading up to the Boston Tea Party.

“Like a well-made clock, the Revolution didn’t happen all at once—it was built moment by moment,” said Dr. Purinton. “Taverns were where those moments accumulated— where ideas were tested, loyalties were debated, and, over a pint or two, a shared sense of purpose began to keep time across the colonies.”

A Runup to the Third Annual Grafton Beer Festival

This special lecture also serves as a celebratory precursor to the Third Annual Grafton Beer Fest hosted by Rushford & Sons Brewhouse, which will be held on the museum grounds on Saturday, May 16th, beginning at 2 p.m.

Seating for the lecture is limited, and advance reservations are strongly encouraged. To reserve your spot, please visit: https://willardhouse.org/events/calendar/2026/5/9/one-for- the-revolutionary-road-taverns-and-beer-in-the-american-revolution

Dr. Malcolm F. Purinton is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the History Department at Northeastern University, where he teaches courses on World History, the British Empire, and the histories of Boston and colonial America, with a particular focus on beer history. He is the author of Globalization in a Glass: The Rise of Pilsner Beer through Technology, Taste, and Empire, which traces the global spread of one of the world’s mostpopular beer styles.

This lecture continues the Willard House & Clock Museum’s tradition of connecting horology with broader cultural and historical narratives, inviting visitors to consider how time -kept, marked, and experienced- shapes human events.

About Gaudette Insurance Agency

Gaudette Insurance Agency is a third-generation family business founded in Grafton in 1926. As an independent agent, they represent more than 20 different insurance companies. Commitment to the community has always been at the forefront of Gaudette Insurance Agency. From local sponsorships to participating in events throughout the community, Gaudette is proud to go the extra mile and contribute to the improvement of local civic life.

Learn more about Gaudette at gaudette-insurance.com

About Willard House and Clock Museum – Planning for The Next 50 Years

Located at 11 Willard Street in North Grafton, MA, Willard House and Clock Museum exhibits more than 90 Willard clocks in the birthplace and original workshop of the Willard clockmakers, along with family portraits, furnishings and other family heirlooms.

The work of all three generations of Willard clockmakers, focusing on the famed brothers, Simon Willard and Aaron Willard are displayed. The Museum tour includes the original Willard House built in 1718, the original 1766 clock-making workshop, and three modern galleries.

Willard is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.