Upcoming Programs
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 | 7 pm | A Zoom Presentation
Part 6: Rediscovering Northampton: Local History Viewed Through an Ecological Lens
Agriculture, Art, Tourism and the Natural History of Northampton's "Meadows"
A Zoom Presentation by co-director and naturalist Laurie Sanders
View of the Meadows, Northampton, Massachusetts
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Northampton's extensive and fertile floodplain along the Connecticut River has been continuously farmed and managed for thousands of years-first by the Nonotuck and, since 1654, by English settlers and later immigrants to the Valley. Today, however, this landscape--once integral and celebrated--is unfamiliar to many Valley residents.
In the final presentation of her six-part series, Laurie Sanders will explore the important roles that Northampton's 3,000-plus acres of rich meadowland have played in the City's cultural, economic, and ecological history. She will discuss the floodplain forest, one of the most imperiled and vulnerable habitats in Massachusetts, and will explain how we can preserve this important natural area. Learn More Admission Fee: Sliding Scale $0 - $20
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Sponsored by River Valley Co-op and Meadow City Conservation Coalition
Thursday, April 22, 2021 | 7 pm | A Zoom Presentation
Rediscovering Northampton: Local History Viewed Through an Ecological Lens
Rediscovering Northampton: A Natural History Q & A Free-for-All
Question and Answer session about local places with co-director and naturalist Laurie Sanders
Elwell Island on the Connecticut River
This island formed only after the first bridge was built across the Connecticut River in 1808. |
Ever wonder why the Mineral Hills are called the Mineral Hills? Or, what part of Northampton was known as Lonetown? Or …. how the morning chorus of bird song differs from what it was a century ago?
If you have questions about the interrelationship between Northampton’s human history and the natural world, join us for an hour of questions with naturalist and co-director Laurie Sanders. Learn More Admission Fee: Sliding Scale $0 - $20
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Sponsored by Greenfield Savings Bank
Tuesday, April 27, 2021 | 7 pm | A Zoom Presentation
Connecticut River Valley Flood of 1936
A Zoom Presentation by Joshua Shanley, author of Connecticut River Flood of 1936
Bridge Street, Northampton during the Flood of 1936
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In his new book, Connecticut River Valley Flood of 1936, author Joshua Shanley recounts the greatest flood in New England history.
Early in the spring of 1936, nearly two feet of rain over a two-week period created havoc on a massive scale, killing more than one hundred people and leaving tens of thousands homeless, unemployed and without power for weeks. Northampton in particular stands out as an example of the impact of flooding in New England. A system of flood walls, levies, pumps and stop logs were built to protect downtown Northampton from another major flood. This infrastructure has gone largely unchanged since built. Shanley will recount the flood of 1936 and examine the potential for future floods. Learn More Admission Fee: Sliding Scale $0 - $20
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Sponsored by Whalen Insurance