BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//The Natick Center Cultural District - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://natickcenter.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The Natick Center Cultural District REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20230312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20231105T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20260316T184342Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T185746Z UID:10007563-1773860400-1773864000@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:VIRTUAL: Amalia Kussner’s Paintings & The Characters Of The HBO Series "The Gilded Age" DESCRIPTION:Amalia Kussner was one of the preferred artists of Gilded Age New York\, especially in the 1890s when she painted miniature portraits of the elites. Fans of the critically acclaimed HBO series\, The Gilded Age\, will appreciate Kussner’s portraits of several key characters\, including Mrs. Astor\, the reigning matriarch of the social scene and her two daughters; famed actress Lillian Russell; English soprano Marie Tempest; and wealthy socialite Consuelo Vanderbilt.  Kussner even met Ward McAllister\, the arbiter of Gilded Age society. He advised her not to pursue her career as an artist and\, thankfully\, she ignored him. \nIn this program\, author and historical researcher Kathleen Langone will reveal how Kussner’s portraits and interactions with these famous people can provide more insights into their extravagant lives. \nKathleen Langone is the host of the podcast People Hidden In History and the author of the book Miniature Painter Revealed: Amalia Kussner’s Gilded Age Pursuit of Fame and Fortune. \nThis program is held in collaboration with the Bacon Free Library and the Tewksbury Public Library. \n  \nPlease register to receive the Zoom link. \n  \nRECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/akussner326/ CATEGORIES:Art,History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AKussner.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T120000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20260209T175823Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T181748Z UID:10007547-1773313200-1773316800@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:History Book Club DESCRIPTION:If you enjoy reading and talking about history\, check out the history book club hosted by the Bacon Free Library and the Natick Historical Society.   Each discussion\, led by the director of the Natick Historical Society\, is held over Zoom\, so you can join from the comfort of your home. \nCopies of each book (regular print\, large print\, & audio) are available to check out from the Bacon Free Library.   Or you may order your own copy if you prefer to pick up at another library. \n  \nThis month\, join us for a virtual discussion of The Boston Massacre: a family history by Serena Zabin. \nAccording to Library Journal\, this book is “A compelling history of the Boston Massacre\, weaving personal stories together to present a comprehensive view of this turning point incident.“ \n  \nFor details on how to attend this virtual meeting via Zoom\, please contact  director@natickhistoricalsociety.org \nThe Zoom link to the discussion will be sent at a later date. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflhistbcmar26/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/HistoryBCMarch26.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T120000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20260105T211138Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T211138Z UID:10007510-1770894000-1770897600@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:History Book Club DESCRIPTION:If you enjoy reading and talking about history\, check out the history book club hosted by the Bacon Free Library and the Natick Historical Society.   Each discussion\, led by the director of the Natick Historical Society\, is held over Zoom\, so you can join from the comfort of your home. \nCopies of each book (regular print\, large print\, & audio) are available to check out from the Bacon Free Library.   Or you may order your own copy if you prefer to pick up at another library. \n  \nThis month\, join us for a virtual discussion of Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People by Tiya Miles. \n“Though broad strokes of Tubman’s story are widely known\, Miles probes deeper\, examining her inner life\, faith and relationships with other enslaved Black women to paint a deeper\, more vibrant portrait of a historical figure whose mythic status can sometimes overshadow her humanity.” –The New York Times \n  \nFor details on how to attend this virtual meeting via Zoom\, please contact  director@natickhistoricalsociety.org \nThe Zoom link to the discussion will be sent at a later date. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflhbc226/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FebHistBookClub.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20251230T193121Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251230T193121Z UID:10007509-1770836400-1770840000@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:Virtual: The Art Spy - The Extraordinary\, Untold Story of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland DESCRIPTION:Listen in as award-winning journalist and author Michelle Young discusses her new book.  A riveting and stylish saga set in Paris during World War II\, The Art Spy: The Extraordinary\, Untold Story of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland uncovers the true story of how an unlikely heroine infiltrated the Nazi leadership to save the world’s most treasured masterpieces. \nRegister for the Zoom link \nThis program is held in collaboration with the Bacon Free Library and the Tewksbury Public Library. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflvalland226/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ArtSpy.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20251209T191919Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T191919Z UID:10007503-1769022000-1769025600@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:VIRTUAL: How Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of WWII DESCRIPTION:Author Elyse Graham will discuss her new book\, Book and Dagger: How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War II\, the true untold story of the academics who became OSS spies\, invented modern spycraft\, and helped turn the tide of the war to defeat the Nazis. At the start of WWII\, the US found itself in desperate need of an intelligence agency. The Office of Strategic Services (OSS)\, a precursor to today’s CIA\, was quickly formed—and\, in an effort to fill its ranks with experts\, the OSS turned to academia for recruits. Suddenly\, literature professors\, librarians\, and historians were training to perform undercover operations and investigative work—and these surprising spies would go on to profoundly shape both the course of the war and our cultural institutions with their efforts. \nThis program is offered in collaboration with the Bacon Free Library and the Tewksbury Public Library. \nRegister to receive the Zoom link URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflgraham126/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/BookDagger.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260108T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260108T120000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20251028T172720Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T210010Z UID:10007482-1767870000-1767873600@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:History Book Club DESCRIPTION:If you enjoy reading and talking about history\, check out the history book club hosted by the Bacon Free Library and the Natick Historical Society.   Each discussion\, led by the director of the Natick Historical Society\, is held over Zoom\, so you can join from the comfort of your home. \nCopies of each book (regular print\, large print\, & audio) are available to check out from the Bacon Free Library.   Or you may order your own copy if you prefer to pick up at another library. \n  \nThis month\, join us for a virtual discussion of Into Siberia: George Kennan’s Epic Journey through the Brutal\, Frozen Heart of Russia by Gregory Wallance. \nAccording to The History Reader\, “Into Siberia… is a thrilling work of history about George Kennan’s harrowing journey into Russia and the light it shone on some of history’s most heinous human rights abuses.” \n  \nFor details on how to attend this virtual meeting via Zoom\, please contact  director@natickhistoricalsociety.org \nThe Zoom link to the discussion will be sent at a later date. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflhistbc126/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/HistoryBCJan26.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260107T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260107T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20251209T185318Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T185318Z UID:10007501-1767812400-1767816000@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:VIRTUAL: Love and Loss After Wounded Knee: A Biography of an Extraordinary Interracial Marriage DESCRIPTION:In this program\, author Julie Dobrow will discuss her new book\, Love and Loss After Wounded Knee: A Biography of an Extraordinary Interracial Marriage. Like most star-crossed lovers\, they came from vastly different worlds. Elaine Goodale\, a white woman who grew up on a farm in the remotest part of the Berkshires\, was a poet\, writer and teacher who’d come to the Dakota Territory in 1884 to teach Native American children. Ohíye S’a\, or Charles Alexander Eastman\, was a Santee Sioux\, born in Minnesota and one of the only Native Americans educated at Dartmouth College and Boston University Medical School. He’d come to Pine Ridge as a reservation physician. Elaine and Charles improbably met in December 1890\, and more surprisingly\, fell in love. And then the Wounded Knee Massacre happened\, and changed everything. \nThis program is offered in collaboration with the Bacon Free Library and the Tewksbury Public Library. \nRegister to receive the Zoom link URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflwoundknee126/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/WoundedKnee.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251202T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251202T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20251028T153250Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251028T153250Z UID:10007480-1764702000-1764705600@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:VIRTUAL: A Charles Dickens Christmas with Bill Thierfelder DESCRIPTION:Charles Dickens has famously been called “The Man Who Invented Christmas.” Inspired by the writings of Washington Irving earlier in the 19th century\, Dickens wrote five Christmas novellas between 1843 and 1848 and over a dozen short stories between 1852 and 1866. Each of these–including the perennial favorite A Christmas Carrol–helped to shape how the holiday season is celebrated in Britain and America. This program explores these wonderful flights of holiday fantasy and their lasting influence. \nThis program is offered in collaboration with the Bacon Free Library\, the Groton Public Library\, and the Natick Historical Society. \nPLEASE REGISTER HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK. \n  \nAbout the Speaker\nDr. Bill Thierfelder is a retired professor of arts and humanities\, with a PhD in English literature\, an MA in theology\, and a BA in English with additional concentrations in music history and art. After teaching second grade for four years and high school seniors for six months as a replacement substitute\, Bill spent the next 32 years teaching a variety of arts and humanities courses at several New York and Long Island universities and colleges\, including St. John’s University\, Hofstra University\, and Dowling College. \nBill is currently docent emeritus at the American Museum of Natural History where he continues to give both Zoom and in-person presentations\, work on special editing projects\, and give tours. He also lectures regularly for libraries and educational organizations nationwide via Zoom. Bill’s classroom\, library\, and museum vocations have taught him that life is all about “making wings\,” hence\, the name of his website: Making Wings. Indeed\, Bill’s philosophy–rooted in years of practical study and life experience–is simple: “The most important thing you can do is to make wings for yourself and fly to places that fulfill your potential\, that allow you to develop your unique gifts\, and that open you up to a world of possibilities.” \n  \nRECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bfldickens1225/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library CATEGORIES:Cultural Events,FREE,History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CharlesDickens.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251125T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251125T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20251020T185755Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251020T185755Z UID:10007479-1764097200-1764100800@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:VIRTUAL: The Impact of 500 Years of Colonialism on the Abenaki and Wabanki Tribes with Anne Jennison DESCRIPTION:The “People of the Dawnland” (Abenaki/Wabanaki) of New Hampshire and the Northeast are the first Indigenous peoples in North America to have had contact with Europeans.  In this presentation\, Anne Jennison examines how European colonization of North America impacted generations of Abenaki/Wabanaki people and highlights the ways in which the Abenaki/Wabanaki peoples have acted as agents of their own change through education\, self-advocacy\, and efforts to revitalize their languages and traditional arts\, as well as by working with archeologists\, anthropologists\, and scientists to recover and reveal more about their history and traditional knowledge. \nThis program is offered in collaboration with the Bacon Free Library\, the Groton Public Library\, and the Natick Historical Society. \nPLEASE REGISTER HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK. \n  \nAbout the Speaker\nAnne Jennison is a traditional Native American storyteller and historian of European and Abenaki heritage.  While Anne’s storytelling skills have been polished by more than 30 years of experience sharing Indigenous lesson stories with audiences of all kinds\, she also believes that her growth and development as a human being has been deeply influenced by internalizing the content of the Northeastern lesson stories that she tells.  With Master Degrees in both storytelling and history\, Anne also brings a wealth of cultural and historical knowledge to enrich her retelling of timeless Northeast Woodlands Native American stories.  Anne is listed on the New Hampshire Traditional Artists Roster as a traditional Native American storyteller & craftsperson and now also has two presentation programs available through the Humanities To Go\, a program offered by NH Humanities. \nAdditionally\, Anne is the current Vice Chair of the NH Commission on Native American Affairs and is also a member of the the Indigenous NH Collaborative Collective\, an Affiliate Faculty member for the University of New Hampshire Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) Minor\, and a co-creator of the “People of the Dawnland” interpretive exhibit about the Abenaki/Wabanaki peoples at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth\, NH.  Anne continues to act as a consultant for the museum’s ongoing Abenaki Heritage Initiative — a plan to develop and sustain exhibits and events at Strawbery Banke Museum that focus on the history and culture of the Abenaki\, Indigenous peoples of New Hampshire and the Northeast\, both past and present. \n  \nRECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflajennison1125/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Wabanki.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T120000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20251014T190237Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251020T165129Z UID:10007474-1763031600-1763035200@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:Virtual: History Book Club DESCRIPTION:If you enjoy reading and talking about history\, check out the history book club hosted by the Bacon Free Library and the Natick Historical Society.   Each discussion\, led by the director of the Natick Historical Society\, is held over Zoom\, so you can join from the comfort of your home.   Copies of each book (regular print\, large print\, & audio) are available to check out from the Bacon Free Library.   Or you may order your own copy if you prefer to pick up at another library. \n  \nThis month\, join us for a virtual discussion of The Name of War: King Philip’s War and the origins of American identity by Jill Lepore. \nKing Philip’s War\, the excruciating racial war—colonists against Indigenous peoples—that erupted in New England in 1675\, was\, in proportion to population\, the bloodiest in American history… Telling the story of what may have been the bitterest of American conflicts\, and its reverberations over the centuries\, Lepore has enabled us to see how the ways in which we remember past events are as important in their effect on our history as were the events themselves. – Penguin Random House \n  \nFor details on how to attend this virtual meeting via Zoom\, please contact  director@natickhistoricalsociety.org \nThe Zoom link to the discussion will be sent at a later date. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflhbc1125/ LOCATION:Natick Historical Society Museum CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/HistoryNov25.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251103T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251103T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20251014T181926Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251014T183156Z UID:10007471-1762196400-1762200000@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:VIRTUAL: The History of the Flying Santa of the Lighthouses 1929-2025 DESCRIPTION:Since 1929\, Flying Santa has visited the men\, women\, and families of the Coast Guard who keep watch over our coastal waters at USCG stations and lighthouses.  The pioneering Maine pilot Bill Wincapaw inaugurated this program and\, along with his son Bill\, flew for two decades.  They recruited Edward Rowe Snow\, the popular New England historian and storyteller\, to join them; Snow kept the flights going through 1980. \nToday\, the nonprofit organization Friends of Flying Santa donates thousands of hours each year to ensure the success of the flights that visit the children of Coast Guard families from Maine to New York. \nJoin Jeremy D’Entremont\, historian of the U.S. Lighthouse Society and vice president of Friends of Flying Santa\, to learn about the colorful history of the Flying Santa program from 1929 to the present day. \nThis virtual program is presented in collaboration with the Bacon Free Library and Ashland Public Library. \nPLEASE REGISTER HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK. \n  \nNOTE: This program will be recorded and available to view on the Ashland Library’s YouTube Channel. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflflysanta1125/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/flying-Santa.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251004T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251004T120000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20250908T200947Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250908T201028Z UID:10007447-1759575600-1759579200@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:No Safety for Us: The internment of Native Americans on Deer Island DESCRIPTION:This year marks the 350th anniversary of King Philip’s War.   This 14-month rebellion\, which was led by the Wampanoag chief Metacom (later known as King Philip)\, was the Native Americans’ last-ditch effort to resist English authority and stop English settlement on their lands (history.com).\n\n\nSoon after the war began\, colonists set up an internment camp on Deer Island to relocate “Christianized” Indigenous people whom they believed could turn against the English and join the rebellion.  In the winter of 1675-76\, approximately 500 Native Americans were imprisoned on the island\, many of whom perished without adequate food or shelter in the harsh New England temperatures (National Park Service).\n\n\nThe Natick Historical Society and the BFL will host Shawn Quigley from the National Park Service to discuss this tragedy on Deer Island.  Shawn’s program will explore the historic use of the Boston Harbor Islands\, their role as an internment camp for Native Americans from praying towns\, and stories of survival and reliance from those imprisoned on Deer Island.\n\n\nThis program will take place at the Natick Historical Society\, located downstairs from the BFL.\n\n\nRegistration is required.  URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflkp1025/ LOCATION:Natick Historical Society Museum CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/kingphilip.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250820T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250820T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20250721T183040Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T183040Z UID:10007415-1755716400-1755720000@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:VIRTUAL: George Boutwell – The Most Consequential American Political Figure You’ve Never Heard Of DESCRIPTION:Listen in as historian Jeffrey S. Boutwell discusses his new biography\, Boutwell: Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy. \nGeorge S. Boutwell is the most consequential American political figure you’ve probably never heard of.  For seven decades\, George Boutwell sought to “redeem America’s promise” through racial equality\, economic equity\, and the humane use of American power abroad.  During his career from 1839 to 1905\, he was Governor of Massachusetts\, served in the U.S. House and Senate\, was Treasury Secretary for Ulysses Grant\, and Commissioner of Internal Revenue for Abraham Lincoln\, he also helped create the Republican Party in the 1850s\, and challenged the efforts of Presidents McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt to annex the Philippines in 1900 following the Spanish-American war.  Boutwell was instrumental in framing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments\, initiating the impeachment of Andrew Johnson\, and investigating white vigilante violence against blacks in Mississippi in the 1870s. \nThis virtual program will be held in collaboration with the Bacon Free Library and the Ashland Public Library.  It is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library. \nPlease register here for the Zoom link.  URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflboutwell825/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick\, MA 01760 United States CATEGORIES:FREE,History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Boutwell.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250813T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250813T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20250721T185628Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T185628Z UID:10007416-1755111600-1755115200@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:VIRTUAL: The History of Contagious Disease Hospitals in Massachusetts DESCRIPTION:Often located near poorhouses\, asylums\, and prisons\, contagious disease hospitals reveal how fear of contagion intersected with social reform\, nativism\, and evolving ideas about poverty and public responsibility.  Historian and author Dr. Katherine M. (Anderson) Benson\, MFA\, EdD\, will take us on a virtual exploration of the complex history of contagious disease hospitals in Massachusetts from the 19th to the early 20th century.  She will highlight their role in shaping public health policy\, immigration control\, and institutional development.  Drawing from historical records and case studies\, Dr. Benson will examine how these institutions targeted immigrant and marginalized communities under the guise of care and containment\, leaving a lasting impact on the Commonwealth’s institutional landscape. \nDr. Katherine M. (Anderson) Benson\, MFA\, EdD\, is an institutional historian and an award-winning author.  She has been a special educator for more than 20 years in residential treatment facilities\, juvenile corrections\, and therapeutic programs.  Dr. Benson has written about and lectured on the history of institutional treatment in Massachusetts.  She lives in Western Mass with her husband\, a very bitey cat\, and a special needs dog. \nThis program is sponsored by the Public Health Museum\, presented with support from the Tewksbury Public Library and the Bacon Free Library. \nPlease register for the Zoom link URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflcontaghosp825/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick\, MA 01760 United States CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/contagiousdisease.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250604T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250604T170000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20250527T171805Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250530T141923Z UID:10007321-1749024000-1749056400@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:Art Exhibit: Maps of Natick DESCRIPTION:Stop by the Bacon Free Library to view a selection of Natick Historical Society’s maps of Natick\, on display May 21st to June 30th.  These fascinating reproductions show the streets\, properties\, and bodies of water of Natick\, while some also display sketches of trees & buildings\, and in one case\, the handwritten names of property owners.  Among the historic gems are: \n\nan 1830 land survey of Bigelow Mills\nan 1887 map of Cochituate\nan 1887 rendering of South Natick including sketches of noteworthy buildings\na map of Felchville\, circa 1908\nan illustrated map reproduced in 1976 by Natick Five Cents Savings Bank for the Town of Natick Bicentennial Committee\n\nThese maps are available for viewing and for sale year round in the Natick History Museum.  For more information\, visit www.natickhistoricalsociety.org URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/natickmapsbfl25/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick\, MA 01760 United States CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Bacon-Library-Map.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250410T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250410T190000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20250225T195211Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250324T175535Z UID:10007164-1744308000-1744311600@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:Virtual: Lost Treasures of the Titanic with Art Historian Mallory Mortillaro DESCRIPTION:James Cameron’s Titanic told the invented story of the Heart of the Ocean–a fictional blue diamond necklace lost tragically in the ship’s famous sinking. But what about the real treasures that were lost when the Titanic sank? \nFor over a century\, the world has been intrigued by the story of the Titanic. When tragedy struck on April 14\, 1912\, in addition to the incredible loss of life\, a nearly incalculable amount of goods plummeted into the ocean\, never to be seen again. This lecture takes a closer look at and tells the stories of some of the more interesting and valuable treasures lost on that fateful night. \nMallory Mortillaro is an art historian and educator. She has ten years of teaching experience and has worked on various art research projects for museums and organizations in the New York metropolitan area. She studied at Drew University. Mallory resides in New Jersey with her husband and daughter. \nThis program will be held over Zoom. Please register to receive the meeting link. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/titanic425/ CATEGORIES:Arts Classes and Education,History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mallory-Mortillaro.png LOCATION: END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250310T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250310T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20250211T183900Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250211T183900Z UID:10007156-1741633200-1741636800@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:Virtual: Boston Light: Three Centuries of History with Author Jeremy D’Entremont DESCRIPTION:Based on Jeremy’s book\, Boston Light: Three Centuries of History\, this virtual talk focuses on Boston Light Station\, the site of the first lighthouse on the North American continent. Jeremy will trace its history through three centuries of tragedy\, rescues\, and colorful human interest stories of keepers and their families. \n  \nThis program is presented by the Bacon Free Library in partnership with the Ashland Public Library and a multitude of MA & NH libraries; it is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library. \n\n\nPLEASE REGISTER HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK. \n\nAbout the Author:\n\nJeremy D’Entremont is the president and historian of the American Lighthouse Foundation\, historian for the U.S. Lighthouse Society\, and the author of more than 20 books and hundreds of articles on lighthouses and maritime history. He’s the producer and host of the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s podcast\, Light Hearted. He has appeared on the popular Ghost Hunters TV show\, as well as Haunted Lighthouses of America on the Travel Channel. He has also appeared on the History Channel\, Public Television\, and National Public Radio speaking about lighthouses. \n\n\n\n\n  \nRECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflbostonlight/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick\, MA 01760 United States CATEGORIES:History,Library END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250122T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250122T150000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153508 CREATED:20241217T181226Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250104T162059Z UID:10007141-1737554400-1737558000@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:In Conversation with Author and Historian Philippa Langley: Finding King Richard III and “The Princes in the Tower” (virtual) DESCRIPTION: We are looking forward to chatting with author and historical sleuth\, Philippa Langley\, about her book The Princes in the Tower: Solving History’s Greatest Cold Case and her discovery of the grave of King Richard III in 2012. Join us as she discusses her research methods\, her team\, her findings\, and how solving this cold case affects our understanding of the royal monarchy (in the 1500s\, of course). \nThis program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library  and is held in collaboration with the Bacon Free Library\, the Ashland Public Library\, and a multitude of MA Libraries. \n\nPLEASE REGISTER HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK \n  \n\n\nAbout the Author:\nPhilippa Langley\, MBE is an historian and award-winning producer\, best known for her discovery of Richard III in 2012. She is co-author of the bestselling The Lost King with Michael Jones (first published as The King’s Grave\, John Murray 2013)\, and Finding Richard III\, the official account of her Looking For Richard Project. On the ten-year anniversary of discovering Richard III\, her extraordinary story was released as the internationally acclaimed major feature film\, The Lost King\, directed by Sir Stephen Frears and starring Sally Hawkins. \nIn November 2023\, Philippa once again rewrote the history books in her new work The Princes in the Tower: Solving History’s Greatest Cold Case (The History Press\, UK; Pegasus\, USA). Based on her remarkable new research initiative\, The Missing Princes Project\, its now seven-year investigation revealed the Princes survived to challenge Henry VII\, the first Tudor monarch\, for the throne of England. It has been made into a feature-length Factual Special TV documentary by Channel 4\, PBS in America and SBS in Australia. \n  \nAbout The Missing Princes Project:\nFollowing years of intensive research by Langley and her international team\, she reveals the findings of The Missing Princes Project. Using investigative methodology\, it places the most enduring of mysteries about what happened to the Princes in the Tower under a forensic microscope\, unearthing an astonishing untold story of survival and uncovering remarkable new archival discoveries of proof of life. It is the first time that police cold case investigation analysis has been applied to a centuries-old historical mystery\, leaving no stone unturned\, and the results are extraordinary. \n\n  \nIf you’d like to purchase a signed copy of Philippa’s book\, you can do so through Aesop’s Fable.  In the comment section of checkout\, note that you would like your book to come with a signed bookplate. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/langley125/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick\, MA 01760 United States CATEGORIES:History,Library END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241201T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241201T170000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153509 CREATED:20241105T174153Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241105T174153Z UID:10007120-1733068800-1733072400@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:Carols by Candlelight with Diane Taraz DESCRIPTION:Join the Bacon Free Library and the Natick Historical Society to hear Diane Taraz perform traditional Victorian Christmas carols this holiday season. \nMany of our holiday traditions and Christmas music were revived or created during the Victorian era in the mid-1800s. Diane will present these beloved carols and fascinating stories about their origins as she performs in a hand-sewn 1850s dress and accompanies herself on guitar and dulcimer. \nDiane Taraz has been writing her songs for years and breathing new life into traditional ones. She explains the intricacies of her music with a dry wit and a light touch. \nThis event is free\, but please register HERE in advance. \n  \nThis event will take place at the Natick History Museum (downstairs from the Bacon Free Library). URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/dtaraz1224/ LOCATION:Natick Historical Society Museum CATEGORIES:Cultural Events,Family Friendly,History,Performances ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/VictorianChristmas.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241125T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241125T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153509 CREATED:20241007T184522Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241029T171934Z UID:10007110-1732561200-1732564800@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:Q&A with Author and Historian Kathleen DuVal: “Native Nations: A Millennium in North America” (virtual) DESCRIPTION:The Bacon Free Library is partnering with the Ashland Public Library to bring you this conversation with Native American historian Kathleen DuVal. Listen in to learn more about the history of local Indigenous Peoples as well as for insight into their resilience and battle for self-sovereignty. \nProfessor\, historian\, and author Kathleen DuVal will discuss her book Native Nations: A Millennium in North America.  According to The Wall Street Journal\,  DuVal’s latest book is “An essential American history that places the power of Native nations at its center\, telling their story from the rise of ancient cities more than a thousand years ago to fights for sovereignty that continue today.” \nKathleen is a professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her field of expertise is early American history\, particularly interactions among Native Americans\, Europeans\, and Africans on the borderlands of North America. Her books include Independence Lost: Lives on the Edge of the American Revolution and Native Nations: A Millennium in North America. Find her on X. \n  \nThis program will be held over Zoom.  Please register to receive the meeting link. \nTo purchase a signed copy of her latest work\, go to the Aesop’s Fable website and request a signed book in the notes section at check out. \nRECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/duval1124/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick\, MA 01760 United States CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/nativenations-e1728326712839.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241028T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241028T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153509 CREATED:20241007T181559Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241007T183059Z UID:10007105-1730142000-1730145600@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:Even More Haunted Lighthouses of New England with Author Jeremy D’Entremont (virtual) DESCRIPTION:Just in time for Halloween\, join us for some spooky tales set in the hauntingly beautiful lighthouses of New England. The Bacon Free Library is partnering with the Ashland Public Library to bring you author Jeremy D’Entremont. \nJeremy is the president and historian of the American Lighthouse Foundation\, historian for the U.S. Lighthouse Society\, and the author of more than 20 books and hundreds of articles on lighthouses and maritime history. He’s the producer and host of the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s podcast\, Light Hearted. He has appeared on the popular Ghost Hunters TV show\, as well as Haunted Lighthouses of America on the Travel Channel. He has also appeared on the History Channel\, Public Television\, and National Public Radio speaking about lighthouses. \nNOTE: This program will be recorded and available to view on the Ashland Library’s YouTube Channel. \nPLEASE REGISTER HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/hauntlighthouse/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick\, MA 01760 United States CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/hauntedlighthouse-e1728324952521.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240930T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240930T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153509 CREATED:20240827T172653Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240827T172653Z UID:10007034-1727722800-1727726400@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:Great Boston Fires with Author and Historian David Kruh (virtual) DESCRIPTION:The Bacon Free Library is partnering with the Ashland Public Library to bring you author and historian\, David Kruh. \nIn this virtual program\, David will guide us through several devastating fires and their impact on Boston\, from the many “great” fires of the 17th\, 18th\, and 19th centuries (including the truly Great Fire of 1872)\, the Cocoanut Grove tragedy of 1942 (which killed 492)\, and the Hotel Vendome fire of 1972 (which resulted in the deaths of eight fire fighters.) \nHow did these fires happen? What was learned from these events? What\, if anything\, was done to try to prevent similar catastrophes? David’s newest slide show\, filled with images from these events\, answers these and other questions. \nPlease register HERE for the Zoom link. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflkruh924/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick\, MA 01760 United States CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/davidkruh-e1724779605709.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240909T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240909T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153509 CREATED:20240826T204723Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240826T204723Z UID:10007026-1725908400-1725912000@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:Author Evan Friss Discusses “The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore” (virtual) DESCRIPTION:Who among us hasn’t spent time in a bookstore just meandering around and finding hidden treasures? As we love all things books\, we can’t wait to chat with author Evan Friss about The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore – an affectionate and engaging history of the American bookstore and its central place in American cultural life\, from department stores to indies\, from highbrow dealers trading in first editions to sidewalk vendors\, and from chains to special-interest community destinations. \nWe hope all of our book lovin’ friends will join us for this special conversation!  This program is offered by the Bacon Free Library in collaboration with the Ashland Public Library. \nPlease register HERE for the Zoom link. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflefriss924/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick\, MA 01760 United States CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Friss-e1724705236297.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240716T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240716T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153509 CREATED:20240625T162434Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240708T174244Z UID:10006996-1721156400-1721160000@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:Author James L. Parr Discusses “World War II Massachusetts” (virtual event) DESCRIPTION:The Bacon Free Library is partnering with the Tewksbury Public Library to bring you author James L. Parr\, who will discuss his new book\, World War II Massachusetts. \nOver 500\,000 Massachusetts residents answered the call to military duty in the Second World War\, while the rest of the state’s citizens fought the war on the home front. Everyone in the family\, including pets\, found creative and essential ways to contribute. Thousands worked in factories\, volunteered for Civil Defense\, watched for enemy aircraft\, and took part in salvage collections and bond drives\, all while dealing with rationing\, blackouts\, rumors\, and a host of other wartime inconveniences. And while thousands of service members left to fight overseas\, the Bay State also welcomed thousands more to serve on its military bases that were such an important part of our nation’s defense. Learn some of the stories of these brave and dedicated citizens — from the famous to the ordinary — as they faced wartime challenges. \nJames L. Parr taught elementary school for 34 years before retiring in 2022. A longtime volunteer at several local historical organizations\, Parr is the author of three additional books for The History Press. \nThis program will be held over Zoom; please register for the Zoom link. \nRECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program. \n  URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bflauthorparr/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick\, MA 01760 United States CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/james-l-parr.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240709T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240709T200000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153509 CREATED:20240624T174531Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240708T175145Z UID:10006991-1720551600-1720555200@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:Author Dawn Tripp Discusses “Jackie: a Novel” (virtual event) DESCRIPTION:The Bacon Free Library is partnering with the Tewksbury Public Library to bring you bestselling author Dawn Tripp. Dawn will discuss her new novel\, Jackie\, about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Jackie is the story of a woman—deeply private with a nuanced\, formidable intellect—who forged a legacy out of grief and shaped history even as she was living it. It is the story of a love affair\, a complicated marriage\, and the fracturing of identity that comes in the wake of unthinkable violence. \nTripp is also the author of the novel Georgia\, which was a national bestseller\, a finalist for the New England Book Award\, and the winner of the Mary Lynn Kotz Award for Art in Literature. She is the author of three previous novels: Game of Secrets\, Moon Tide\, and The Season of Open Water\, which won the Massachusetts Book Award for Fiction. Her poems and essays have appeared in the Virginia Quarterly Review\, Harvard Review\, AGNI\, Conjunctions\, and NPR\, among others. \nThis program will be held over Zoom; please register for the Zoom link. \nRECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program. \n  URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bfljackie/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick\, MA 01760 United States CATEGORIES:History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/jackie.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240613T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240613T190000 DTSTAMP:20260406T153509 CREATED:20240507T181818Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240507T181818Z UID:10006704-1718301600-1718305200@natickcenter.org SUMMARY:The Dogs of Chernobyl\, a Story of Hope and Resilience DESCRIPTION:Animal welfare expert Stephen Quandt was part of a group that traveled to Chernobyl\, 35 years after the nuclear accident\, to participate in a spay/neuter and research campaign for the dogs that were descended from the pets left behind after the nuclear plant disaster of 1986. \nIn this presentation\, Stephen chronicles his experiences in the Exclusion Zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.  Through photos and videos\, Stephen tells his story of meeting the inhabitants of the mostly abandoned town of Chernobyl City (you will meet 2 squatters\, one a hero of the disaster)\, the totally abandoned city of Pripyat\, and the dogs (and some cats!) that his group encountered. He will discuss the presence of radiation in this environment as well as its effects on the dogs’ lives.  You will also meet some inhabitants of the town of Slavutych\, which was built in the year following the accident to house the inhabitants of Pripyat after they were belatedly evacuated. \nThe Dogs of Chernobyl is a story of resilience\, hope\, life\, and even heroism.  Stephen will answer your questions at the end of the presentation. \nStephen Quandt\, Feline Behaviorist\, FFCP\, most recently with the Animal Care Centers of NYC (nycacc.org) and also of the ASPCA.org\, has worked in animal welfare for more than 20 years. \n\nThis virtual program is hosted by the Bacon Free Library.  It will be held over Zoom. Please register to receive the program link. URL:https://natickcenter.org/event/bfldogschern/ LOCATION:Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick\, MA 01760 United States CATEGORIES:FREE,History,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://natickcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/dogschernobyl-e1715105889385.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR