Upcoming Programs
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 | 7 pm | On Zoom
Knives Out: Pen Knives, Jackknives and Other Fixed Blade and Folding Knives of New England & Beyond
A Presentation & Demonstration by Bob LaPalme
A Presentation & Demonstration by Bob LaPalme
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In the past, almost everyone carried a pocket knife. That's because knives were critical tools, with designs developed for specific purposes. Their usefulness went well beyond sharpening a writing quill or whittling a stick. In fact, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, no matter what your trade -- ferrrier, gardener, carpenter, sailor, seamstress ... you name it -- you owned a specific knife to help you accomplish specific tasks.
In this presentation, local expert Bob LaPalme will showcase some of the knives in his personal collection to highlight the evolution of knife technology, their designs, uses, and cultural significance. His demonstration will be followed by a Q & A. Sliding scale admission: $0 - $20. Learn More |
Friday, June 18, 2021 | 6 - 8 pm | Masks Required
Exploring Northampton: Focusing on the Mill River, Smith College to Federal Street
A Walking Tour led by John Sinton and Gaby Immerman
A Walking Tour led by John Sinton and Gaby Immerman
Mill River near Smith College
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The Mill River has played a fundamental role in the history of Northampton. To highlight its significance, this summer Historic Northampton and the Mill River Greenway Initiative will offer a series of walks that highlight three important stretches in Northampton.
The walks will be led by John Sinton and Gaby Immerman, co-founders of the Mill River Greenway Initiative, and include a mix of Indigenous, industrial, and natural history, plus share conceptual designs for possible routes for the Northampton portion of the "Mill River Greenway Shared Use Path." The June walk will cover the stretch from Smith College to Federal Street. Limit 25. The meeting location will be provided by email prior to the walk. Sliding scale admission: $5 - $20. Learn More |
Tuesday, June 22, 2021 | 6 - 8 pm | Masks Required
Human and Natural History Along the Northampton Bike Path in Leeds
with Laurie Sanders, Co-director and Naturalist and Elizabeth Sharpe, Co-director
with Laurie Sanders, Co-director and Naturalist and Elizabeth Sharpe, Co-director
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Talk a stroll along the bike path in Leeds. Elizabeth Sharpe, co-director, will show how this stretch of the path played a critical role during the Mill River Reservoir Disaster of 1874. Laurie Sanders, co-director and naturalist, will highlight the plants that live along the border.
In partnership with Leeds Civic Association and the Mill River Greenway Initiative. Limit 25. The meeting location will be provided by email prior to the walk. Sliding scale admission: $5 - $20. |
Thursday, June 24, 2021 | 7 pm | On Zoom
Entangled Lives: Stories about the Working Women of Early Hadley and Northampton
Marla R. Miller, Director of the Public History Program & Professor of History, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Marla R. Miller, Director of the Public History Program & Professor of History, University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Professor Miller will share stories uncovered in the writing of her latest book Entangled Lives: Labor, Livelihood, and Landscapes of Change in Early Massachusetts (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2019).
The records, artifacts, and homes of Valley families in the era of and after the American Revolution yield glimpses into a wide range of experience, from the White and Native women who labored as domestic servants, to enslaved and free Black workers, to White tavernkeepers and caregivers. Learning about how these stories have been both preserved and obscured helps us think about our own roles as pastkeepers today. Sliding scale admission: $0 - $20. Learn More |