Charlestown Historical Society Relaunches Townie Love Stories for Valentine's Season

The Charlestown Historical Society re-launched its Townie Love Stories program the week of Valentine’s Day, inviting Charlestown residents to share “true stories of love rooted in Charlestown” with photographs that the society will feature across its social media platforms throughout February. The program was originally launched in 2024 and returns this year as what the society frames as “A Valentine’s Season Celebration of Love, Loyalty, and Family Ties in Charlestown.”

Board member Aubree Flynn, a member of the Charlestown Historical Society Board of Directors, framed the project in personal terms, saying, “Charlestown is a place where love stories don’t just belong to couples, they belong to families and to the Town itself. My own grandmother’s love story is a Townie Love Story, and that family history is a big part of why Charlestown has always felt like home to me. It’s one of the reasons I love this community so deeply and chose to build my life here.” Flynn’s reference to family memory echoes the program’s emphasis on intergenerational ties.

Charlestownbridge’s announcement lays out the kinds of submissions the society seeks: stories about “couples who met on these streets,” accounts of “families whose grandparents and great-grandparents found love here,” and recollections of “generations who have stayed connected to the town through deep loyalty, shared history, and enduring relationships.” The release situates those personal accounts in place, noting that “love stories are inseparable from place - from first dates on Main Street to lifelong partnerships shaped by the rhythms of a close-knit neighborhood.”

On social channels, CHS has already begun promotion. The society’s Instagram account posted a teaser that read, “Townie Love Stories are special. Stay tuned later today for more information about Townie Love Stories, one of CHS's signature programs, ” and the Charlestown Historical Society said it will feature submitted stories and photographs “throughout the month of February.” The society also described the program as a way to preserve local narratives, saying Townie Love Stories “celebrates those connections and preserves them as part of Charlestown’s living history.”

The announcement leaves several operational details unreported. The society’s materials do not specify how residents should submit stories (email, web form, social-media direct message, or in-person drop-off), whether there is a submission deadline, whether CHS will edit contributions, or whether submissions will be archived in a permanent collection. CHS also did not list a media contact beyond Flynn, nor did the announcement say whether any in-person events - readings or exhibits in Charlestown - will accompany the social-media features.

For Charlestown neighbors interested in participating, the society’s relaunch provides a renewed public forum for local memory: the program returns after its 2024 debut and will run across CHS social channels during February. Reporters will follow up with the Charlestown Historical Society to confirm submission mechanics, deadlines, archiving and permissions so contributors know how to send photographs and family stories for inclusion.