July 30th, 2010 by Julie Pike
Ancetry.com and New England Historic Genealogical Society have teamed up to present Boston Family History Day 2010 on Saturday, October 16, 2010 at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA. The cost for the full day is $38.00.
Some of the activities that you can participate in are classes to get the most from your Ancestry.com membership; questions answered by Ancestry.com staff; general family history classes to help you grow your tree; opportunities to have documents and photos scanned on high-speed scanners; chances to meet one-on-one with professional genealogists, and more.
For more information log onto www.FamilyHistoryDay.com
Questions: send email info@familyhistoryday.com
This would be a good opportunity to get those questions about where to go from here or why should I use Ancestry.com answered. You will leave there with more information that you know what to do with now, but later the information will be worthwhile. Enjoy the day.
Posted in Events, Genealogy, family activities | No Comments »
July 30th, 2010 by Debbie DeSmet
Are you coming to the Market at Saturday? We have lots of a great vendors and entertainment for you. So come on down to that Andover Historical Society at 97 Main St. and check it out!
This week students and faculty of the Andover Community Music School will be delighting the crowds as they demonstrate their musical talents in the barn starting at 1 p.m. where you can also find family friendly crafts for kids.
At 2 p.m. participants of the Summer Theatre Ensemble will be performing a portion of the upcoming musical Oliver! Stop by the barn and watch youth from Andover and nearby communities as they sing and act out some of this classic production during the Andover Farmers’ Market!
The Summer Theatre Ensemble is proud to announce the opening of its twelfth season with the production of OLIVER!, one of the greatest musicals of all times. Celebrating fifty years of Lionel Barts’ timeless masterpiece and winner of three Tony awards, this beloved British musical is based on Charles Dickens’ classic, “Oliver Twist.“ Set in Victorian London, it vividly brings to life the poignant tale of a young orphan who “asks for more” in the workhouse and thus begins his search for happiness through a series of events filled with mystery and intrigue. Audiences will be captivated by spectacular musical numbers portraying the pathos and drama of the many colorful characters he encounters: “Food, Glorious Food”, “Om Pah Pah’’, “Consider Yourself”, “I’d Do Anything”, “Who Will Buy,” “Where is Love?”, and “As Long As He Needs Me.” This fast moving and engaging family-oriented production, performed for the first time at the majestic Collins Center, will be accompanied by a fifteen piece professional orchestra.
Artistic director, Charles Gracy of ACT Theater Company, leads a talented cast of twenty-seven young people from Andover and surrounding communities. They will take the stage on Friday, August 6 and Saturday August 7th at 7:30 pm with a matinee performance at 4:00 pm on Sunday, August 8th. Tickets ($14 seniors and students , $16 adults) can be purchased from Learning Express, Park Street; Department of Community Services on Bartlet Street 978-623-8274, from cast members, and at-the-door. Producer contact wseavey@comcast.net.
Don’t Miss your chance to check it out during the Andover Farmers’ Market from 12:30-3:30.
If you would like more information about the Andover Farmers’ Market please contact Debbie Desmet at 978-475-2236 or email ddesmet@andoverhistorical.org.
Posted in All About AHS | No Comments »
July 29th, 2010 by Elaine Clements
This week’s Andover Stories by local historian and author Joan Patrakis, “What our ancestors did for summer fun,” describes warm weather entertainment before the digital age. How did people entertain themselves during the dog days of summer? Many are familiar family activities today. Boating, picnics, cycling, swimming, amusement parks, and sports still top lists of summer fun. Follow the link to the Andover Townsman Online to learn how these popular activities have changed over the past 125 years.
Tags: Andover Stories, Haggett's Pond, summer
Posted in 100th Anniversary, Andover History | No Comments »
July 28th, 2010 by Elaine Clements
This week’s photograph is a staff favorite. This image is part of a collection of photographs of these children and their families enjoying an outing at Haggett’s Pond. Given that public swimming was outlawed in Andover as late as 1895, it’s not surprising that the children are not dressed in swimming attire. All of the other people in the party were similarly dressed. Today it’s hard to imagine keeping children this age completely dressed and out of the water!
Children enjoying the beach at Haggett's Pond at the turn of the last century.
Haggett’s Pond has had many uses over the past 150 years. For many years it was the home of Bailey’s Grove, a private recreation area that included dining areas, a dance floor, boating, and even for a time, a world-renown boxing camp! Little is known about the camp beyond this news article that describes George Dixon, the “famed Boston pugilist,” coming to the Grove for training.
Tags: boxing, Haggett's Pond
Posted in Andover History, Photo of the Week | No Comments »
July 27th, 2010 by Elaine Clements
The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism just released its list of 1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts. Two Andover attractions, the Andover Historical Society and the Addison Gallery of American Art made the list. The list is designed to promote tourism in Massachusetts, and we’re hoping that being listed will promote Andover as a travel destination.
There’s so much to do and see here! Visit the Historical Society and the weekly Farmer’s Market. Anticipate the reopening of the new Addison Gallery. Explore the Phillips Academy campus. Stroll Main Street and sample the shops and restaurants (don’t miss the Society’s exhibit in CVS’s window!). Settle into a comfortable chair at Memorial Hall Library and let a book and your imagination take you anywhere. Or visit the Andover Book Store which has been a part of Andover since 1809. Go for a hike in Harold Parker State Park, or along any of the Andover Village Improvement Society or Conservation Commission trails. Visit a farm stand in West Andover, or one of Andover’s many houses of worship.
Andover – One Great Place!
Tags: 1000 Great Places, Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, Visit Andover
Posted in All About AHS, Farmers' Market, Local Events & Activities, family activities | No Comments »
July 23rd, 2010 by Debbie DeSmet
Are you coming to the Market this Saturday? There will be lots to do and see, so don’t miss out! This week the Andover Historical Society will be hosting an Open House from 1-3 p.m. Come walk through our period rooms and learn about our upcoming events AND the 100th Anniversary of the Andover Historical Society.
Katfish 4 will be playing from 12:30-1:30 in the barn and family friendly crafts will be located near the barn entrance. The recently crowned 2010 Miss Massachusetts Outstanding Teen, Kendall Wipff, will also be visiting. Kendall will be facepainting on the porch and will also be selling “Glow for Kids” bracelets as a fundraiser for the Children’s Miracle Network.
With so much to do, you won’t want to miss out on this Saturday Farmers’ Market. And another exciting bit of news, we have TWO new vendors attending the market this week. Stop in to visit Simone Farms and Emmett’s Edibles.
If you want to read up on our vendors, see what’s coming up, or learn about this week’s activites check out The Marketer -July 24, 2010 . The Marketer is produced weekly and is full of fun and interesting information. If you would like to subscribe to receive the Marketer via email, send a request to farmersmarket@andoverhistorical.org or sign-up at the AHS tent while you are walking through the market this Saturday!
Posted in All About AHS | No Comments »
July 22nd, 2010 by Elaine Clements
Today’s Andover Stories column, Poor Wagon Shop became underground stop, ‘casino’, has a somewhat cryptic headline that leads into a fascinating story about the Poor Wagon Shop, the Underground Railroad, and William Wood. Written by Historical Society Board member Don Robb, the story tells how Joseph Poor helped people escape from slavery. Hundreds of slaves were helped along the Underground Railroad by Andoverites. Follow the link to the Andover Townsman Online to ready the full story and learn about this important slice of Andover history — and find out how a casino fits into the story!
The Poor Wagon Shop as it appeared in the mid-19th century.
Tags: Poor Wagon Shop, slavery, Underground Railroad, William Wood
Posted in 100th Anniversary, Andover History | No Comments »
July 21st, 2010 by Elaine Clements
Would you like to get involved?
The Andover Farmers’ Market is now in its fourth year, and growing by leaps and bounds. Hundreds of people flock to the market each week to enjoy the fresh produce and fun activities. Market manager Debbie DeSmet has planned a full program of activities, crafts, demonstrations, and live music that make the Andover Farmers’ Market a fun place to be on Saturday afternoons. The Historical Society needs volunteers to help with set up, staffing the Society’s information booth and reception desk, and clean up. The Market runs Saturdays, 12:30-3:30 pm, through October 9th. This is a terrific opportunity for high school and college students, or for anyone who enjoys the Farmers’ Market and working with the public. To learn more about the volunteer opportunity or to request an application, contact Debbie DeSmet at 978-475-2236.
Tags: Farmers' Market, Volunteers
Posted in All About AHS, Events, Farmers' Market | No Comments »
July 21st, 2010 by Elaine Clements
Gail Ralston wrote July 15th’s Andover Story, “For whom the bells toll? Academy boys lost in World War I.” Gails’ article tells the story of the bell tower at Phillips Academy. The tower was built in 1922 as a memorial to the 89 Phillips Academy men who died in service during World War I. The tower is a landmark on Main Street and the Phillips Academy campus. Click here to read the full story on The Andover Townsman On Line and learn more about the bell tower and the 49-bell carillon that graces the campus and Andover.
Tags: bell tower, Phillips Academy
Posted in 100th Anniversary, Andover History | No Comments »
July 21st, 2010 by Elaine Clements
This week, we have another view of Boy Scout Camp Manning on Pomp’s Pond. The caption at the bottom of the photograph reads: “EATS Enough Sed! Camp Manning B.S.A. Andover, Mass”.
Dining Hall of Camp Manning in the 1920s or 30s
Tags: Boy Scouts, Camp Manning, Pomps Pond
Posted in Andover History, Photo of the Week | No Comments »
