SAUGUS — Historians will take a step back 100 years in time at the next Historical Society meeting on Wednesday.
The program “The Momentous Year 1918 — 100 years ago” will be led by Historical Society president Laura Eisner, who will talk about local and global events.
In the year 1918, people struggled not only with the Great War, but with the deadly influenza, she said. As the war was finally concluded on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the outcome changed the map of Europe and influenced events leading up to World War II and beyond, she said. On a lighter note, she’ll cover other historic topics, including who won the World Series that year.
Artifacts from 1918, both from the society’s collection and loaned items, will be on display at the meeting. There will be photographs of World War I monuments and of Lynn’s Grand Army of the Republic hall, where the walls are lined with photographs of 150 Lynn soldiers and sailors who died in 1917 and 1918.
Eisner said she hopes people in attendance with family members who fought or died in the war or who had a particularly memorable experience from that year will share stories.
The meeting is being held on Nov. 7, rather than the usual second Wednesday of the month, due to the observance of Thanksgiving. The Garden Club will meet a week earlier because of the holiday, and the society doesn’t want people to have to choose between the two events, she said.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at 30 Main St.
