Arts & Entertainment

Shrewsbury Historian Releases 'Shrewsbury Through Time'

This longtime Shrewsbury historian unleashes another book this fall.

A new book, written by Shrewsbury Chronicle columnist, local historian and lifelong Shrewsbury resident Michael Perna Jr., will be out soon.

“Shrewsbury Through Time” is part of the new “America Through Time” series that features vintage photographs of Shrewsbury. The photos include descriptive captions paired with a color photograph showing the same view as it appears today.  

"The contrast between the old, black and white photographs and the newer colored views is striking," said Perna. "This format also allows current residents, many of whom are too young or new to the town to remember the 'old days,' to see what the town looked like many years ago, before a small farming village with virtually no industry was transformed into the modern, vibrant community it has become today."

Perna has written a weekly history column for the Shrewsbury Chronicle for the past 15 years, and is a local historian and author.  His books include “Remembering Lake Quinsigamond – from Steamboats to 
White City” (1998), "Images of America: Shrewsbury” (2001) and "Lake Quinsigamond and White City Park," 2004. He is a retired First Sergeant and served with the Massachusetts Air National Guard for thirty-six years and is currently the Chief of the Military Records Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  He is a past president 
of the Shrewsbury Historical Society, a member of Shrewsbury Historical Commission and served for many years as a member of the town’s Historic District Commission.  

The new book will be available in local stores in the Fall.


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