Date: Saturday, May 29th, 2021

Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Location: Shirley Historical Society Museum, 182 Center Road, Shirley, MA

Special Instructions: Attendance is limited at three presentations on May 29th. Choose 10:00, 11:00, or 12:00. Or visit another time to view the display. Museum is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.

Space is limited to 4 family groups at each time

Restrooms available on site

Wheelchair accessible

Reservations Required, email mail@shirleyhistory.org

Midcentury Modern in Fitchburg: The Architecture of Carl Koch

Fitchburg Historical Society is creating a live TV special to be broadcast on Fitchburg Access TV, their streaming platform and Facebook live on Monday, May 17 from 7 to 8 p.m. Keith Chenot (Engineering Technology, Fitchburg State University) and Russ Karlstad (City of Fitchburg, previously Taliesin West) will examine mid-century architectural design in Fitchburg, with an emphasis on Carl Koch's Fitchburg Paper Company Headquarters. Discussion led by Fitchburg Historical Society Executive Director Susan Navarre, with opportunities for comments and questions by phone and live Facebook broadcast during the live broadcast on Monday, May 17 from 7 to 8 p.m.

The midcentral Massachusetts city of Fitchburg was a lively industrial powerhouse for most of the 20th century. By the 1960's, its late-19th century streetscape saw a new design approach, with new building in the Modernist idiom, most often supported by city leader George R. Wallace, Jr. The extraordinary new buildings in Fitchburg included the Fitchburg Public Library and Children's Library; Wallace's home, known as "Screwball Terrace"; and the Litton Industries/Fitchburg Paper Company Offices all by Carl Koch. The Fitchburg Paper building has been described by the Massachusetts Historical Commission as "the finest modern building in Fitchburg by a noted architect."

This program will examine Fitchburg's modernist legacy, with a special emphasis on understanding the aesthetic and engineering principles that make a design "modern" in style. Oriented toward a general audience interested in local history and design.

Date: Monday, May 17th, 2021

Time: 7:00-8:00 pm

Special Instructions: To participate live, go to https://www.fatv.org/ at the time of the program, and click on "Live Streaming - Public" to watch the program in real time. After the program has been broadcast, it will still be available online, by visiting https://www.fatv.org/vod (Video on demand). For more information, call 978-343-0834 or 978-345-1157.

Pop-up Museum: Native American Stone Artifacts & Tools

Evidence of Native Americans has been found in Westford areas such as Boutwells Meadow and Providence Meadow, and the Stone Circle at Grassy Pond. There is also evidence of a larger encampment with lodges at what is today called Forge Pond. Many of the Westford Museum’s stone artifacts and tools are from these area.

Join us for storytime at 3:00 pm. We will read Three Sisters Garden by Sandy Baker, a fun story of Cara, Sara, and Bari planting corn, squash, and beans, much like Native Americans have for centuries.

Our featured craft will be to start your own Tree Sisters companion garden with corn, squash and beans.

Date: Sunday, May 16th, 2021

Time: 2:00-4:00 pm

Location: Westford Historical Society & Museum, 2 Boston Rd, Westford, MA

Family-Friendly

A Center Cemetery Tour

This self-guided tour through time explores the days of the town's incorporation through the late 20th century and the lives of Founding Fathers Simon Stone and Peter Atherton, the slave Othello, black Civil War soldier William Henry Hall, stone cutter Isaac Stone, philanthropist Margaret Blanchard, and adventurer William Savage. Each of these former residents pursued their dream of creating a better world for their children and each contributed to making Harvard a better place today. Whether you are guided by our website, harvardhistory.org/events, or follow our guide booklet, this tour is fun for all ages.

Date: Saturday, May 22nd, 2021

Time: 12:00-3:00 pm

Location: Harvard Center Burial Grounds, 1 Still River Rd, Harvard, MA

Weather Policy: Rain date - Sunday, May 23, 2021 12-3:00 PM. Postponement will be posted on The Harvard Historical Society's Facebook page as well as on Harvard Nextdoor at 7 AM, Saturday, May 22, 2021.

Driving Directions: From Rt 2 follow Rt 110-111 South to Harvard Center. Entrance to Burial Grounds is between Harvard General Store & Congregational Church.

From Rt 495 follow Rt 111 North to Harvard Center. Entrance to Burial Grounds is between Harvard General Store and Congregational Church.

Parking Instructions: Parking can be found around center of Harvard as well as at The Bromfield School, 14 Massachusetts Ave.

Family-Friendly

Pet-Friendly

Rock, Stone, Boulder, and Wall: the Earthly Heritage of the Fitchburg Area

When he agreed to speak on stone walls for this Freedom's Way event in Fitchburg, Professor Thorson casually asked the public services librarian about the glacial erratic he'd seen in downtown Fitchburg. The more he learned about the curious case of "Rollstone Boulder," the more he wanted to share what it means for the interested audience. Hence, his talk will divide between a general discussion of New England's stone walls and a celebration and lament regarding Fitchburg's unique case of a boulder that Humpty Dumpty could understand.

About the speaker: Robert M. Thorson. Midwestern native turned Northwestern geologist turned Northeastern academic. Professor of Geosciences and Head (interim) of the Department of Geosciences at the University of Connecticut. An expert on New England's glacial landscape, fieldstone walls, and the historic landscape of Henry D. Thoreau.

Date: Thursday, May 20th, 2021

Time: 7:00-8:00 PM

Location: Online via Zoom

Register: Please register at https://tinyurl.com/fplstonewalls.
The Zoom link will be sent to all registered emails the day prior to the event

Space is limited to 100 registrants

Reservations Required

Tour Original 1857 One-room Schoolhouse with Outhouses

It may have been the last public one-room schoolhouse in the state when the Town sold it. It stands on 1/3 of an acre and has twin outhouses, side by side behind it. From the beginning, Schoolhouse #2 has been kept open to the public and to local elementary schools. Come see the original blackboards, many original desks and chairs, the Teacher’s desk, and many other early school artifacts. See the old pot-bellied stove that was the sole source of heat in the winter. Wear the Dunce’s hat, and learn about the Rules for Teachers in those days. It’s quite an education!

Date: Sunday, May 16th, 2021

Time: 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Location: Schoolhouse #2, 339 Picnic Street, Boxborough, MA

Driving Directions: Rt. 495, take Exit 94 (Old Exit 39), Taylor Road-Littleton-Boxborough. Go Right, uphill for about ¾ mile. Take first Right onto Hill Road. In about 1 mile, Picnic Street intersects at a small triangle. Go Left and see Schoolhouse immediately on Left.

Parking Instructions: Angle park on Common across from Schoolhouse.

Special Instructions: Due to Covid-19, visitors will be ushered in, per rules and regulations. Docent will guide you and respond to questions.

Family-Friendly

Hosted By

Join the Ashburnham Historical Society for a one-hour walking tour of the Meeting House Hill area to learn about the Well House, Animal Pound, and Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery, as well as why this area was selected as the original Town Common.

Family-Friendly

Hosted By

Join the Ashburnham Historical Society for a one-hour walking tour of the Mill and Proctor Streets area to learn the history of the 19th century mills once located here and the story of the Flood of 1850.

Family-Friendly

Hosted By

The Meeting House Historical Museum will open for the season in conjunction with Armed Forces Day and the Town Wide Yard Sale. Stop in to learn about some of the “new” treasures in the Ashburnham Historical Society’s collection.

Family-Friendly

Hosted By

At first, Nonacoicus was part of the town of Groton. Then from 1798 - 1871 it was part of Shirley. Now it is part of the town of Ayer. Learn about the geography, inhabitants, and industries of this area in an illustrated lecture.

Space is limited to 4 family groups at each time

Restrooms available on site

Wheelchair accessible

Reservations Required, email mail@shirleyhistory.org

Hosted By

Join Keith Chenot, Russ Karlstad, and Susan Navarre for a live broadcast during which they will examine mid-century architectural design in Fitchburg, with an emphasis on Carl Koch's Fitchburg Paper Company Headquarters.

Hosted By

The Outdoor Native American Pop-up Museum will feature artifacts from the Westford Museum collection, a related children’s craft and storytime.

Family-Friendly

Hosted By

Come visit the resting places of the people who made Harvard, Massachusetts!

Family-Friendly

Pet-Friendly

Hosted By

Join us for this fascinating virtual discussion on the history of stone walls in our area, as well as the Rollstone Boulder.

Space is limited to 100 registrants

Hosted By

Come tour the original 1857 Schoolhouse and outhouse in its original location. Schoolhouse #2 since 1949 has been preserved by three generations of the Robinson family who bought it at auction from the Town.

Family-Friendly

Restrooms available on site

Hosted By

and the Robinson Family, owners of Schoolhouse #2