Sandwich hops to a year-long celebration. Town to honor the father of Peter Cottontail.

Growing up in Sandwich, Thornton W. Burgess was inspired by the environment around him — the plants and animals, the marshes, beaches and woods. In time, he put those aspects of Cape Cod into his stories, and into a beloved character that delighted children and adults worldwide: Peter Rabbit, also known as Peter Cottontail.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the famed author and naturalist's birth, and the Thornton W. Burgess Society/Green Briar Nature Center & Jam Kitchen in Sandwich, along with other town entities and the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, is planning a number of special events to celebrate.

"The whole purpose of this is to renew Thorton Burgess' legacy to a new generation," said Cape Cod Natural History Museum President and Executive Director Robert Dwyer.

Kicking things off is the Sandwich Public Library where a birthday celebration is planned on Jan. 27.

Sandwich Library kicks off with birthday celebrations

For the birthday celebration, the library is holding two sessions — the first, from 11 a.m. to noon, is full; the second from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., had a few spaces left as of Thursday afternoon. Registration is available on the library's website.

The sessions include story time with former children's librarian Stu Parsons, a craft, a scavenger hunt and meet and greet with Peter Cottontail.

Each child will receive a surprise treat and one of their own Thornton Burgess books, donated by the Kiwanis Club of Sandwich.

Reference librarian Sandra Murray said it's fitting to start the celebration this way, putting Burgess' much-loved stories of characters like Grandfather Frog, Reddy Fox, Jimmy Skunk and Old Mother West Wind "into the hands of the next generation of readers."

Who was Thornton W. Burgess?

In Dwyer's view, Burgess' story is "like a Ken Burns documentary."

Burgess was born to Caroline Haywood and Thornton W. Burgess Sr. on Jan. 14, 1874. He was raised by his mother after she was widowed the same year. During his youth, Burgess took on various jobs around town, such as tending cows, picking cranberries, trapping muskrats, and shipping water lilies from local ponds, according to the Thornton W. Burgess Society in Sandwich.

Spending much of his time outdoors, he developed a great appreciation of the natural world — a lifelong passion that inspired conservation and education efforts, and prolific writing, Murray said.

"He wrote more than 170 books for both children and adults during his lifetime, as well as more than 15,000 newspaper columns which he dedicated specifically to teaching nature to children," she said.

His many children's stories began as bedtime tales he told to his son. Burgess' first book, "Old Mother West Wind," was published in 1910. Burgess' stories were also shared over the airwaves.

"He had a very famous radio show that was listened to just like 'The Lone Ranger,'" said town archivist and reference librarian Deb Rich. "You'd go and sit by the radio and you'd listen to his stories every night."

But Burgess' influence went far beyond his children's stories, Dwyer said.

"His work in conservation was just incredible. He influenced most of what you see today in the conservation movement to protect habitat," he said.

He helped create the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, one of the oldest wildlife protection measures according to the National Audubon Society.

"Everything he believed in started right here on Cape Cod," Dwyer said.

Didn't Beatrix Potter create Peter Rabbit?

Peter Rabbit is one of Thornton Burgess' most beloved characters. Peter Rabbit is also a beloved figure in books by famed British author Beatrix Potter, which began appearing a few years before Burgess started to publish his "Old Mother West Wind" series.

The two rabbits are quite different, though. Burgess' rabbit, drawn by illustrator Harrison Cady, has his own look and a distinct personality. His only similarity to Potter's creation is his name. As the story goes, according to Dwyer, when Burgess began spinning animal tales for his son, the boy — who also enjoyed Potter's works — insisted his father's rabbit character could only be named Peter.

In 1914, Burgess' rabbit was briefly renamed Peter Cottontail in his book "The Adventures of Peter Cottontail." Rich and Dwyer said this appears to have been a way to differentiate the two authors' rabbits. But for some reason, Burgess didn't keep it. In the book, Cottontail, getting teased by his friends for putting on airs with his big name, decided to go back to his plain name.

In 1940, the Peter Cottontail name was used in a song about the Easter bunny, "Here Comes Peter Cottontail," according to the Thornton W. Burgess Research League.

Keeping Thornton Burgess' legacy alive in Sandwich

At the Sandwich Library, Rich oversees a small but growing collection of Burgess-related items.

"We're collecting first editions of his books, and ephemera — things like his Happy Jack Squirrel Saving Club card," she said. The club, which was one of his projects, encouraged kids to save their money for war savings stamps and bonds during WWI.

"We also have a coloring book, and we have a card game," Rich added. "He was famous enough across the world they made toys and figures (inspired by him). He was a pretty big name for a while."

What other events are planned this year?

There are a number of events planned during the year to celebrate Burgess. Some details and events are still getting worked on.

The Sandwich Library, 142 Main St., is hosting:

• The Life and Legacy of Sandwich’s Native Son, 6:30-7:30 p.m. lecture for adults on Feb. 28. Christie Palmer Lowrance, author of "Nature's Ambassador: The Legacy of Thornton W. Burgess," will talk about Burgess' life.

• Nature Lecture Series: Wildflowers, 6:30-8 p.m. on April 11. Janice Dill, manager of the Shirley G. Cross Wildflower Garden at the Green Briar Nature Center, will discuss Burgess’s connection to wildflowers and examine the stages of a wildflower’s life.

• Nature Lecture Series: Animals, 6:30-8 p.m. on May 15. Mary Beers, former director of education for the Thornton W. Burgess Society, will share insights into the public view of nature and the North American animal world during Burgess’ lifetime compared with today.

• Nature Lecture Series: Seashore 6:30-8 p.m. on July 10, presented by Cape Cod author and science educator Gilbert Newton.

The Green Briar Nature Center, 6 Discovery Hill Road, is planning:

• Environmental Cleanup Day on April 22.

• Bluebell Tea on May 14.

• Wildflower garden plant sale on May 18.

• Strawberry Day on June 15.

• Spring Hill History Day around Spring Hill Historic District on June 15.

• Once Upon a Time, a family fair, on July 25.

• Blueberry Day on Aug. 10.

• Cranberry Day on Oct. 12.

Among other plans are a merchant scavenger hunt in February, organized by the Sandwich Chamber of Commerce, and a fundraiser with the Sandwich Arts Alliance.

"We're working with the Arts Alliance on the painted Adirondack chairs with a Burgess-oriented theme," said Dwyer. Local artists paint the chairs which are then put on display. They are later auctioned off.

The Friends of the Sandwich Town Archives is also planning a Burgess historical display in the library and selling T-shirts featuring Peter Rabbit.

Heather McCarron can be reached at hmccarron@capecodonline.com, or follow her on X @HMcCarron_CCT

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Naturalist and author Thornton Burgess inspired conservation movement