Programs, Exhibits and Events.
Fisher School open to visitors first Sunday of the month
2-4
pm 830 High Street
Westwood, MA 02090
The Fisher School is handicapped accessible and the meetings are open to all.
Programs
The Westwood Historical Society is a charitable, educational institution, organized under Chapter 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is completely supported through membership and private donations. The mission of the Society is to preserve Westwood's unique history, educate the community about it, and promote an understanding of its impact on the future. The Society collects, maintains, and preserves documents and artifacts related to the town; serves as a resource for research; and advocates for historical preservation. It supports the study of history by conducting school programs and by educating the community through public programs and exhibits. For more information please visit www.westwoodhistoricalsociety.com.
Winter Programs at 7:30
Westwood Historical program events are free of charge to all attendees
The Society's events are open to everyone at no charge. The Fisher School is accessible to all in accordance with American Disability Act. Please park along the Thurston Middle School driveway, accessed off Nahatan Street, as parking is not permitted along High Street. 830 High Street. For more information, call Westwood Historical Society at 781-326-5334.
Fisher Schoolhouse Named One of 1000 Great Places in Massachusetts to visit
see article "other activities, programs, news.
January 10, 2012 - "HOWARD JOHNSON 28 flavors" by Anthony Sammarco
For
most of the twentieth century, the orange roof of Howard Johnson's was a
familiar sight along the great American roadside. When a motorist
spotted a Howard Johnson's he knew exactly what to expect - with
standardized menus and building designs, a Howard Johnson's miles away
felt as familiar and comforting as the one back home. Howard Johnson
restaurants, in attractive Colonial Revival buildings sporting orange
roofs and sea blue shutters, began to be franchised throughout the New
England area. By the late 1930's with the popularity of the
automobile, these restaurants were opened on major roads and interstate
highways where the traveling public could be assured of consistently high
quality foods that were the same served locally whether in Maine or
Florida. These franchised restaurants sprang up throughout the
eastern seaboard serving the same delicious Ipswich clams, grilled
frankfurters, chops and steaks and twenty eight flavors of his famous ice
cream. The restaurants became known as the "Landmark for
Hungary Americans."
Anthony M. Sammarco has been called "Boston's premier amateur historian" by the Boston Globe. He has lectured frequently on local history, writes newspaper columns for numerous newspapers, and is the author of more than forty books on the history of Boston and surrounding cities and towns. His efforts to make history more accessible to the general public have led to many awards and honors. He teaches history at the Urban College of Boston.
February 14, 2012 - "JOHN AND ABIGAIL ADAMS" by Charles Donahue
John
Adams was a fiercely independent patriot and supporter of the American
Revolution. His independence was seen early when he defended the
British soldiers who were involved in the Boston Massacre. He is
known as the man "to whom the country is most indebted for its
independence." It is questionable whether the Colonies would
have pushed for independence without Adams' persistence. Jefferson
described Adams in the independence debates as "our colossus on the
floor."
Both he and his son, John Quincy Adams, became Presidents of the United States.
Adams' marriage to Abigail is a remarkable and moving love story. It is through the more than 1,000 letters exchanged between them during the 14 years that they were apart that we have access to their private lives and insight into the character of one of the most fascinating and important Americans who ever lived. Abigail was John's dearest friend and top political advisor. He considered her smarter than any man he knew.
Adams was appointed by the Congress to serve twice in France; first to negotiate for French support for the war effort, and second to conduct negotiations with the British for the end of the war and peaceful relations.
Adams and Thomas Jefferson had a special relationship. Initially Adams was a mentor to Jefferson. Later they became political enemies, but died on the same day as dear friends. In his lecture, Charles Donahue will chronicle the major events of Adams' life and explore the unique relationship between Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Our speaker. Charles Donahue, Jr., graduated from Brown University. After graduation he served as a Peace Corps volunteer working in a tuberculosis control program in Kuala Trenganu, Malaysia. After his Peace Corps experience, he received his M.A. from Cornell University. He has worked as a health care professional for more than thirty years. He is a co-founder and former President of HealthCare VALUE Management. He served as the Executive Director of the Health Planning Council for Greater Boston for ten years. He is currently an investor in a start-up company. Via Resume, at the Cambridge Innovation Center in Kendall Square.
March 13, 2012 - "THE WAR OF 1812 at 200 YEARS" by Gary Hylander
On land and at sea, the United States and Great Britain struggled for three years in a war that many historians see as the final chapter of the American Revolution. From 1812 to 1815, the U.S. Navy was on the front lines worldwide as it fought the Royal Navy. At home Canada and U.S. were both battlegrounds as capitals burned and the tides of war flowed back and forth. The War of 1812 settled the issue, once and for all, of American's relationship with Great Britain and established the new nation as quite thoroughly independent. After 200 years, Gary Hylander looks back at the War of 1812 from an historical perspective and evaluates its impact.
Gary L. Hylander earned his Ph.D, at Boston College. His advisor and dissertation director was the noted Boston historian. Thomas H. O'Connor. Dr. Hylander is a professor of American History at Stonehill College where he specializes as a Presidential Historian. Gary is a frequent presenter at library forums, historical societies, senior living center, and civic and professional organizations.
April 10. 2012 - "A TYPICAL 1800s SCHOOL DAY" by Irene Buonopane
Annual Meeting 11am Fisher School
Exhibits: 2-4 p.m. at the Fisher School Open House
The exhibit is free to everyone and handicap accessible in accordance with the Americans Disability Act. everyone is welcome. Please park along the Thurston Middle School driveway off Nahatan Street. For more information call Westwood Historical Society at 781-326-5334
February 5, 2012 "West Dedham's participation in the Revolution and the War of 1812."
April 1, 2012 "One Room Schoolhouse"
April 21, 2012 "Spring Cleanup"
May 6,2012 "One Room Schoolhouse"
May 12,2012 "Plant Sale" 9-12pm
August 5, 2012. "Quilts"
December 4th. " Needlework"
An eclectic display of varying forms and styles of needlework representing the past and the present will be on display. The works highlight the talents and handiwork of West Dedham/Westwood residents and their families. Items provided by members of the community, including Joan Murphy, Marcia Grey, Susan Dyer and Joy Sudduth are included along with items from the Historical Society's collection.
Exhibit items include samplers made in April 1796 by Lucy Phipps Farrington aged 10, a hand woven embroidered sampler made in 1828 by 12 year old Nabby R. Baker, a bed jacket made by Marjorie S. White as a 4-H project in 1920 and a quilt made by the Dorcas Society in 1932 consisting of squares containing the names of Westwood residents. Several cross-stitch pieces will be displayed along with examples of handmade and crocheted doilies. Other items included in the exhibit illustrate the diversity of needlework from the late 1700s to the current day. If you have any items that you would like to include in the exhibit, please contact us at 781-326-5334 or westwoodhistorical@comcast.net
The Society's events are open to everyone at no charge. The Fisher School is accessible to all in accordance with American Disability Act. Please park along the Thurston Middle School driveway, accessed off Nahatan Street, as parking is not permitted along High Street. 830 High Street. For more information, call Westwood Historical Society at 781-326-5334.
School Days
School Programs
"1800s School Days" by Joan Swann
In May--Once again thirteen third grade classes, one class at a time, step back during May for an 1800s day at the Fisher School. "Scholars" arrive in period clothes and bring an old fashioned lunch, read from McGuffey's Reader, do arithmetic from West Dedham resident Warren Colburn's 1847 Intellectual Arithmetic, write with quill pen and ink, participate in a spelling bee, play old fashioned games at recess and visit the old Westwood Cemetery. A dunce chair is ready lest a student misbehaves. This is the ninth year of the popular program which compliments the third grade history curriculum.
Philbrick Art Class at Westwood High School
Longtime Historical Society member and former art teacher Irene Buonopane, coordinating with High School art teacher gave a presentation to art classes at the High School on March 30th, using Margaret Philbrick's step by step process for silk screening. Irene's program complemented that of the art teachers who received a 2006 "mini grant" from the Westwood Educational Foundation to purchase equipment for silk screening.
Third graders gathered on the steps of the Fisher School
Photo courtesy of John Pritchard
winter 2012= 2013
Map
to Westwood Historical Society, Fisher School
