Summer offerings by Historic Newton include:
Thursday, June 27, 7:30 PM
HISTORY BOOK CLUB
In this month’s book selection, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin, noted historian Gordon Wood debunks the mythology of Franklin as the quintessential American. In his marvelous and readable book, Wood shows how complex and contradictory Franklin’s life was: his preoccupation with becoming a gentleman; his longtime loyalty to the Crown; the personal character of his conversion to revolutionary; and his controversies with John and Sam Adams and with Congress. The book is a magnificent fresh version of Franklin’s life and reputation, filled with insights into the Revolution and into the emergence of America’s idea of itself. The book club is free and open to all, new members are welcome.
Saturday and Sunday, July 6 and 7, noon-5:00 PM
NEWTON COMMUNITY WEEKEND
Newton residents are invited to enjoy free admission to the museum. Celebrate the birth of our nation by re-visiting Newton’s revolutionary past in our “Newton History Gallery” and “Mapping a New Town” exhibitions.
Sunday, July 14, 2:00 PM
HISTORIC NEWTON WALKS
Crystal Lake: Resource to Recreation
From skating in winter to swimming in summer, Crystal Lake has been an important community resource for outdoor recreation. Did you know that it also provided much of the ice that kept local resident’s food cold before the refrigerator? Join local resident Lucy Caldwell Stair to hear some of the stories behind this beloved community resource, and add your own. Meet in grassy lot adjacent to the Crystal Lake bathhouse parking lot on Rogers Street. Free.
Sunday, July 28, 2:00 PM
HISTORIC NEWTON WALKS
Voices of Newtonville: A Village History
Explore the history of Newtonville from its rural beginnings, through its suburban development as a railroad stop, to the changes brought by the construction of the Mass Pike. Join Harvard graduate student and Historic Newton intern Tracy Lindboe as she leads us through the development of Newtonville using historic perspectives and narratives from past Newtonville residents. Meet at the Newton North High School Parking Lot at Elm Road and Walnut Street. Free.
In addition, current exhibitions include:
Confronting Our Legacy: Slavery and Antislavery in the North: a three-dimensional learning center with hands-on activities and information about colonial slavery, the Underground Railroad, and local abolitionists.
An Architect Ahead of Her Time: Annie Cobb (1830-1911): Arguably the first woman architect in America, Cobb succeeded in fashioning a career for herself in the male world of building in a time when women’s work was mainly limited to the home.
Newton and the Civil War: showcasing Newton residents in the Civil War. Also be sure to visit our new Women’s Fashions of the Civil War Era exhibit.