LEOMINSTER — What could the changing of a calendar have to do with Leominster’s birthday — and, ultimately, with the birth of a nation? For local historian Mark Bodanza, it is exactly the kind of unexpected connection that makes Leominster’s history so fascinating.
Bodanza explores that connection and dozens of others in his newest book, “Leominster Chronicles II”, a collection of 40 short stories and more than 100 historic photographs that offers readers another glimpse into the people, places and events that have shaped the city.
The book, Bodanza’s 16th, comes a decade after the publication of “Leominster Chronicles” in 2016. That first collection included 42 stories and 80 photographs. Since then, Bodanza has continued uncovering anecdotes and historical accounts that he felt were simply too interesting — and too important to the character of the city — to leave untold.
“A decade later, I have collected far too many additional anecdotes and interesting accounts not to share them with you,” Bodanza writes in the introduction to the new book.
And 2026 provides a particularly fitting backdrop for the publication.
As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, Leominster is marking 286 years since its incorporation on July 4, 1740 — the same date on which the Declaration of Independence was adopted 36 years later.
But that date wasn’t always July 4.
When Britain and its American colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, 11 days disappeared from the calendar. September 2 was followed by September 14, prompting protests from people who believed they had effectively lost 11 days.
Here in Leominster, the change resulted in the revision of the town’s incorporation date from June 23, 1740, to July 4, 1740.
“Little did the locals know the significance that date would hold 24 years after the calendar change was made, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted,” Bodanza said.
That is just one example of the kind of surprising connection readers will find throughout “Leominster Chronicles II”.
The first section of the book delves into Leominster’s role in the events surrounding the American Revolution. Like many Massachusetts communities, Leominster was an early center of revolutionary sentiment, and its history is closely tied to the events that eventually led to independence.
But the book isn’t intended to be a dry history lesson.
Bodanza’s stories range from the significant to the obscure, with plenty of the quirky and unconventional along the way. Together, they paint a picture of a community that has always been home to people willing to dream, invent, challenge convention and leave their mark.
“Leominster is an extraordinary place,” said Bodanza.
That belief is evident throughout the collection.
For Bodanza, preserving local history means more than remembering famous names or major events. It means capturing the little-known stories that give a community its personality — the details that might otherwise disappear with time.
And Leominster, he believes, has plenty of those stories.
“Steeped in mystery and the unexpected, Leominster has often been a place that has made great contributions to history,” he said.
Bodanza hopes the collection will appeal to longtime residents who may recognize a familiar name or place, newcomers who want to learn more about their adopted hometown, and anyone curious about the history of a city that has never been quite ordinary.
“Enjoy the stories of your hometown, your new town or a place that draws your interest,” Bodanza said.
Bodanza will hold a book signing for “Leominster Chronicles II” from noon until 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Barnes & Noble, located at 120 Watertower Plaza. Readers will have an opportunity to meet Bodanza and pick up a copy of his latest collection of stories celebrating the history — and the unexpected character — of Leominster.
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