Category Archives: Programs

Get Schooled at the 2016 GHC Summer Ramble

The Groton History Center invites you and your children to our much anticipated Annual Summer Ramble. This year we invite you to walk through Groton’s historic one-room schoolhouses on July 17, 2016, from 2 pm to 5 pm. We have two such Groton schoolhouses preserved today, one located on Sandy Pond Road in Ayer (formerly Groton) and one on Chicopee Row in Groton.

gallery_schoolhouse2Guided tours of the Sandy Pond Schoolhouse will be 2 – 4 pm with schoolyard games for children behind the building. This schoolhouse, now in Ayer, is located at the junction of Sandy Pond Road, Willow Road and Westford Road. Parking will be available along Westford Road.

The Chicopee Row Schoolhouse and its outhouse will be open from 3 -5 pm. Members of the Sawtell (Chicopee Row) Schoolhouse will be there to greet and inform visitors about the schoolhouse experience. The school is found on the corner of Chicopee Road and Sawtell Dr. Parking will be available along the sidewalk side of Sawtell Dr.

Please join us for this exciting and informative Ramble. Refreshments will be served. This program is possible thanks to the Sandy Pond Schoolhouse Association, the Chicopee Row Schoolhouse Association and a generous grant from the Groton Commissioners of Trust Funds. Donations to support the work of the Groton Historical Society at The Groton History Center will be gratefully accepted. Please note there are no bathrooms at these venues.

New England Homes Prior to 1870 (Video)

On April 26, at 7 pm, at the Groton Public Library, Nicholas Langhart spoke about the architecture of homes in Massachusetts prior to 1870. Mr. Langhart illustrated a few of the earliest houses, showing medieval features, then transitioned to more typical colonial houses and showed how they are rooted in the work of the English Renaissance which we know as Georgian. He also looked at some of the post Revolutionary era homes of the Federal style and pointed out features that distinguish them from true colonials. He closed with examples from the Greek Revival style, the first of the great variety of Victorian styles that ran through the 19th Century.

Video of the talk is available courtesy of the Groton Channel.

Mr. Langhart is the director of the Forbush Memorial Library in Westminster, holds an MA in historic preservation from Cornell University and has served as property manager at Historic New England, Boston. He has taught courses on the history of architecture on Long Island, NY and at Clark University, Worcester State and WPI. He instructs docents at Preservation Worcester and is currently teaching courses on New England architecture in the ALFA program at Fitchburg State University.

Three upcoming GHS programs

Mark Your Calendars: The Groton Historical Society has three great programs coming up in April, May and July. All events are free thanks to a grant from the Commissioners of Trust Funds. Any donations will be gratefully accepted.

On April 26, at 7 pm, at the Groton Public Library, Nicholas Langhart will speak about the architecture of homes in Massachusetts prior to 1870. Mr. Langhart is the director of the Forbush Memorial Library in Westminster, holds an MA in historic preservation from Cornell University and has served as property manager at Historic New England, Boston. He has taught courses on the history of architecture on Long Island, NY and at Clark University, Worcester State and WPI. He instructs docents at Preservation Worcester and is currently teaching courses on New England architecture in the ALFA program at Fitchburg State University.

Mr. Langhart will illustrate a few of the earliest houses, showing medieval features, then transition to more typical colonial houses and show how they are rooted in the work of the English Renaissance which we know as Georgian. He will also look at some of the post Revolutionary era homes of the Federal style and point out features that distinguish them from true colonials. He will close with examples from the Greek Revival style, the first of the great variety of Victorian styles that run through the 19th Century.

On May 14th, the Groton Historical Society will participate in Freedom’s Way, Hidden Treasures program 10 am to 3 pm. The antique Torrent fire pump will be on display in the driveway of Boutwell House. At 1 pm, Harrie Slootbeek, Groton resident and director of the USS Constitution Museum, will speak about local inventor Loammi Baldwin Jr., who designed the Torrent and later the dry docks at the Charlestown Navy Yard. Our own Fire Department will be there with an emergency vehicle and a fire man to answer questions (10 am to noon). Visit our open house to see our historical fire buckets, fire marks and other historical items related to fire fighting in early New England. See www.discoverhiddentreasure.org for more information.

On July. 17th, our Annual Summer Ramble, will take place on Sunday afternoon beginning at the Sandy Pond Schoolhouse in Ayer (originally part of Groton). Families with children will be interested to see what school was like in the early days of our town. As always, home-made ice cream will conclude our program. We will provide updates as more details are confirmed.

All events are free thanks to a grant from the Commissioners of Trust Funds. Any donations will be gratefully accepted.

chairs_brooks

Pull up a chair with John Brooks

The Groton Historical Society is very pleased to present “Pull Up a Chair, Three Centuries of New England Chairs,” on Sunday, February 28 at 2 p.m. at the Boutwell House, 172 Main Street.

Our guest speaker will be John Brooks of John Brooks Fine Furniture, Groton, MA. He will discuss design development, structure, finishes and for more recent chairs, the manufacturers, using chairs from the Boutwell House collection and photographs. Participants are welcome to bring photographs of their own antique chairs for evaluation and any questions they may have.

Mr. Brooks has been involved with antiques for over twenty years, and conserves and restores important furniture and objects of value. In addition, he is active in the antiques marketplace. John consults on, and buys and sells antiques and estates. He studied fine art, with a focus on sculpture, receiving his BFA from the Art Institute of Boston now Lesley College. You can find more information about John at his website, www.johnbrooksfinefurniture.com .

This event is free thanks to a grant from the Groton Commissioners of Trust funds. Donations to help preserve and share Groton’s unique history through the Groton Historical Society will gratefully be accepted.

Clara Silverstein speaks about "Ginger to Jello: an Unexpected Christmas History" in a December 2015 program.

Ginger to Jello: an Unexpected Christmas History

On December 1, the Groton Historical Society welcomed sixty people to the beautiful Boutwell House for a program about the history of Christmas celebrations through popular foods of the 1770’s, 1850’s and 1930’s thanks to the Groton Commissioners of Trust Funds.

The presenter, Clara Silverstein, is the Community Engagement Manager for Historic Newton and a former food writer at the Boston Herald. She has published three cookbooks, including The New England Soup Factory. Clara blogs about historic recipes at heritagerecipes.com.

Participants were treated to samples of Sarah Boutwell’s Cider cake and hot cider prepared by Bobbie Spieglman, President of GHS, Bonnie Carter and Liz Strachan. The Boutwell House was decorated with festive greens, fruit, popcorn and cookies. These were provided by Penny Hommeyer, Lynne Kavanaugh and Linda Andelman. Outdoor planters were decorated by Ann White and Laura Semple. The Woman’s Club provided a decorative swag for the front door and the Nashoba Board of Trade donated poinsettias. Special recognition goes to the GHS program committee members, who did the prep work to bring this program to Groton, Nancy Barringer and Judith Adams.

3 Centuries of Holiday Celebrations in New England from John Ellenberger on Vimeo.

cookies

Open House Thanks

Thanks to all who attended today’s very special Groton Historical Society open house, where we experienced the sights, sounds, and tastes of the holiday season.

Sights were provided by Garden Club members including: Lee Burton, who put forward the suggestion for members to help out; Penny Hommeyer, Lynne Kavanaugh and Linda Andelman, who did the indoor decorating; and Ann White and Laura Semple, who did the planters. The majority of the lovely greens came from the home of Peg McWade, and Penny and Lynne brought some lovely greens and winterberry as well. The swag hanging on the front door was donated by the Groton Woman’s Club, and the poinsettias were donated by the Nashoba Board of Trade.

Sounds were provided by the following student musicians of Indian Hill Music: Kristen Williams, flute soloist; Claudia Castro and Erin O’Neill with instructor Sue Gleason, all on flutes; and the adult recorder group of Barbara Murray, Camilla Blackman and Dorrit Schuchter.

Tastes, of course, were provided by all who shared their cookies and the traditional family recipes from whence they came.

Sara Adelia Boutwell’s Cider Cake (1850s) made by Clara Silverstein.

Sara Adelia Boutwell’s Cider Cake (1850s)

Clara Silverstein, who will be presenting heritage recipes at the Society’s program on December 1st, has released a version of Groton’s own Sara Adelia Boutwell’s 1850s-era cider cake, a dessert fit for a 19th Century governor! This updated recipe was originally published on Clara’s Heritage Recipe Box website.

Sara Adelia Boutwell’s Cider Cake (1850s)
Makes 16 (2 inch square) pieces

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons powdered ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup apple cider
1/2 cup molasses
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1/3 cup sour milk or buttermilk (see note)
Powdered sugar, for serving (optional)

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-by-8-inch pan.
  2. Sift together the flour, ginger and baking soda and place in a large mixing bowl.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix together the cider, molasses, melted butter and buttermilk.
  4. Slowly add the cider mixture to the flour mixture, stirring gently, just to combine the ingredients (do not mix too much).
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for approximately 18 minutes, until the top springs back when lightly pressed and a toothpick comes out clean.
  6. Let cool before slicing and serving. Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar if desired.

Note: The original recipe called for sweet milk, but I wanted a more acidic ingredient to help the baking soda work effectively. To make your own sour milk, add a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk, stir, and let it sit until bubbles form on top, about 5 minutes.

Groton Hunt Club Program Video

The fox-chasing Groton Hunt Club operated from 1922 to 1964. Panel members Anna Eliot, Zoe Eleftherio, Guy Alberghini, Betsey Reeves and Mary Curry reminisced about their days with the club before a capacity crowd event at a Groton Historical Society event at the Groton Legion Hall on October 20, 2015.

Video by The Groton Channel.