Events at Historic Newton Oct 2010

Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at Historic Newton/Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street in Newton. For more information, visit www.historicnewton.org. If you need special assistance for any of these programs, please call 617-796-1450.

Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3, noon to 5 pm
NEWTON COMMUNITY WEEKEND
Newton residents are invited to enjoy free admission to the museum.

Saturday, October 2, noon–5 pm
HOMESTEAD HAYFEST
Join us for a family-friendly outdoor festival in celebration of the Jackson Homestead. Travel back in time to the 19th century: learn to weave wool into cloth, make your own butter, press your own cider, and more! Learn through hands-on activities how Newton families lived in the 1800s. Rain date Sunday October 3. Free.

Thursday, October 7, 7 pm
ENCOUNTERING SLAVERY AND RACE IN NEW ENGLAND
The Royall House and Slave Quarters of Medford
Welcome Tom Lincoln, Executive Director of the Royall House, will present an illustrated talk on this National Historic Landmark and highlight the oft-neglected history of colonial slavery in Massachusetts through archaeological artifacts, architecture and narrative. The Royall House and the slave-owning families that lived there were the focus of the book Ten Hills Farm, whose author spoke as part of last spring’s lecture series on the same subject. At Myrtle Baptist Church, 21 Curve Street, West Newton. Free.

Sunday, October 17, 11 am–5 pm
ELLEN JACKSON AT THE NEWTON HARVEST FAIR
Come visit the Jackson Homestead’s table at the Harvest Fair on the Newton Centre Green! Stop by and play games with Ellen Jackson, who will be answering questions about life in the 19th Century. Free.

Tuesday, October 19, 7 pm
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN NEWTON
Welcome Come hear a presentation on archaeology in Newton. Archaeologists hired by the City have preliminary results of an archaeological survey of Newton including information gathered from a ground-penetrating radar survey of the East Parish Burying Ground. Information about the archaeological sites found in the City will be presented. The archaeologists will discuss the archaeological heritage of Newton including Native American occupation, European American settlement, and the City’s historic industrial sites. You will have the opportunity to learn about Newton's past from the material people left behind. Free.

Thursday, October 21, 7 pm
ENCOUNTERING SLAVERY AND RACE IN NEW ENGLAND
The Worm in the Apple: Slavery, Emancipation, and Race in New England
Joanne Pope Melish, Associate Professor of History at the University of Kentucky, will speak about the history of slavery and emancipation in New England. She will address the amnesia New Englanders experience about slavery in their own region and its consequences for the development of racial ideologies. At Myrtle Baptist Church, 21 Curve Street, West Newton. Free.

Saturday, October 23, 2 pm
DIGGING FOR EVIDENCE: AN ARCHAEOLOGY FAMILY PROGRAM
Learn the basic methods of archaeology by taking part in a mock dig in the backyard of the Jackson Homestead. Bring the whole family to see what archaeology can teach us about the Native American people who flourished in this area before European settlement. This program is appropriate for families with children ages 8 and up. Cost: $15 per family ($10 for members) includes museum admission and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register.

Tuesday, October 26, 7 pm
STORM WATER MANAGEMENT: PART TWO
The Flood Next Time – Do We Need an Ark?
Welcome As climate change increases the likelihood of extreme weather, what can Newton do to prevent loss of property? Can future floods be mitigated? Learn about Newton’s past decisions about wetlands, flooding, and water management and how they have influenced the situation today and in the future. A panel of specialists will answer questions about new EPA regulations, the need for regional cooperation, and low-impact development practices. Co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Newton, Newton Free Library, Green Decade/Newton, Newton Conservators, and Historic Newton. At the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton. Free.