Get the latest tech news

The Society in Dedham for Apprehending Horse Thieves

"oldest continually existing horse thief apprehending organization in the United States, and one of Dedham's most venerable social organizations."[1][2][3] Since its founding there have been more than 10,000 members including heads of state, Supreme Court justices, governors, popes, professors, generals, and other notables.[4][5] At one time membership of the "ancient and well known society"[6] was limited to "the pillars of society" and the "very flower and pick of the vigor, manhood and rising youth of the vicinity."[7] It has also been said that "for sheer whimsy, the Society... is without peer."[4] Today it is a tax exempt non-profit social organization[8] that continues to meet "just in case."[9] History[edit] Early years[edit] At the turn of the 19th century the citizens of Dedham, Massachusetts came together to combat the rash of horse theft that was afflicting their community.

The Society was formed inside the Norfolk House, then known as Marsh's Tavern.At the turn of the 19th century the citizens of Dedham, Massachusetts came together to combat the rash of horse theft that was afflicting their community. It is evident that there has been, and probably will continue, a combination of Villains through the northern states to carry into effect this malignant design, and their frequent escape from the hand of justice stimulates them to that atrocious practice. By 1899, horse thefts were becoming so rare that newspapers as far away as The Evening Times of Washington, D.C. were noting that "it might seem to the ordinary observer that the members ought to devote themselves to something worth doing, now that their particular object in life has disappeared.

Get the Android app