The First Parish Book Group is reading Black Walden
Posted on | September 9, 2011 | No Comments
The Women’s Book Group will discuss: Black Walden: Slavery and Its Aftermath in Concord, Massachusetts Elise Virginia LemireWhere: First Parish in Concord, 20 Lexington Rd, Concord, MA 01742Date/Time: Sunday evening, Oct 30, 7:30-9:00pm and Tuesday morning, Nov 1, 9:30-11:00am.
DGP Minutes – August 3rd 2011
Posted on | September 7, 2011 | No Comments
The Drinking Gourd Project
August 3rd, 2011
7:30 pm
Minutes
- Present: Maria Madison, President; Polly Attwood, Vice-President; Liz Clayton, Treasurer; Lorell Gifford Ambrose, Ronni Olitsky; Donna Thomas, Linda Ziemba. Anne Forbes, Nancy Ehrlich, Beth Knauss Wong, Leslie Obleschuk, David Fisher, Co-Project Manager; Larry Sorli, Co-Project Manager.
- Maria opened the meeting with a brief description of the goals and objectives of the Project, outlining the committees designated to work on each goal.
- Liz gave the Treasurer’s report: CPC grant ($300.000.00) is available. Liz prepared the application for the 1772 foundation Grant asking for $20,000.00. Larry saves the day with a brick and mortar request. Liz will also look into the Historic Trust Grants that give grants for planning.
- Status of the Robbins House property: Dave reported on the house – which has been stabilized, the outdoor ramp/ access is being discussed and will be part of the forthcoming designs. The ‘outdoor classroom’ has been renamed the ‘gathering space’ per NPS standards, as a classroom would indicate interpretation, which is not planned for at present. The idea is that the house will hold 8-10 visitors while groups will be ‘gathered’ outside. This also points to the need of extending the interpretive space and stories outside. NPS is reviewing the Toni Morrison bench for placement. There is concern that the bench which is made of polyester and steel which is not in keeping with NPS materials. Further discussion will be needed. John Bakewell made the suggestion that sheep and goat from 4-H club could be kept in the yard (!) interesting idea. Tax records may shed light on critters being kept, (although Cesar was a hog butcher.) Dave will bring the plan to the next mtg. for a walkthrough. Larry reported that stones have been delivered and foundation is underway. (With the beauty of hindsight, I must note that these have been laid beautifully and very successfully, tuck point w/ lime mortar.) Once mortar sets, sills will be placed.
- Discussion of the need and formation of the Building Committee followed. 1st mtg. will be coordinated by Dave and Larry to be held @ the Old Manse. These meetings will focus on the building and decisions specific to the structure. A Board representative will be in attendance and will bring all issues requiring decisions to the Board for final approval.
- Further discussion of the Robbins/ Hutchinson ownership. Nancy E. had an interesting fact; 50% of the Concord population owned no land. This places the uniqueness of the house ownership into perspective. Another poignant thought was that marginal peoples leave marginal evidence. There is much importance in context. Anne Forbes, Bob Gross and Jack Larkin continue to contribute to the knowledge base. Bill Flint has submitted the dendrochronology report that will be on file in the DGP file cabinet.
- Dave showed aerial map overlays placing the original house location according to early surveys done of the Great Meadows area.
- The meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.
ADDENDUM TO NOTES
MEETING OF THE BOARD
The meeting of the board took place prior to the regular meeting reported in the above minutes.
AGENDA
• Thoreau Annual Mtg.
• Office Space
• Long Term Planning
Thoreau Annual Mtg.
DGP Historian’s Bob Gross, Joanne Pope Melish, Jack Larkin, and Lois Brown to present ‘How Much Land Does A Man Need?’ a panel discussion supported by DGP. Liz to coordinate bicycle tour with Sue Merlino, 18 people registered. Elise Lemeire to be present @ book signing on Sat. as well as DGP Historian’s. Maria to host lunch @ Colonial Inn.
Office Space
John Butman offered his space in Concord center; despite generous offer the feeling is to pursue space @ Old Manse that will have less overhead and upkeep.
Long Term Planning
Alas, alas, Maria will be stepping down in 2012. Brava, what a job well done. New officers and existing ones will be forwarded and voted in. Discussion of other organizations to model ensued with further research and discussion to follow.
Linda Ziemba
9/7/2011
DGP Agenda – September 7, 2011
Posted on | September 6, 2011 | No Comments
The Drinking Gourd Project, IncWednesday, September 7, 2011Old Manse Meeting Room7:30 pmAgenda
- Welcome!2. Approval of minutes of the previous meeting
- Secretary volunteer for this meeting
- Treasurer’s Report
- Grants
- Verizon
- Bill Barber
- Tax return
- Graduate student
- Upcoming programs
- September 10 – CCHS grads: Polly
- October19 (?) – Mill Dames Luncheon – Liz
- October 29 (?) – Historic architects group – Larry & Anne
- October 15 – First Parish 375th program
- Brochure development
- Commemoration Committee
- Brister Freeman Boulder bench dedication
- Robbins House update
- Progress on the structure
- Landscaping update
- Historical research update
- DGP office
- archival material
- records
- Any other business
- Adjournment
Stone marker commemorates freed slave’s home in Concord’s Town Forest
Posted on | August 27, 2011 | No Comments
Michael Cedrone Jr., left, and Michael Cedrone Sr. use an X-Acto knife and duct tape to peel extra paint and the glue used to hold down the stencil off of a commemorative stone in Concord's Town Forest. (Cheryl Lecesse/Wicked Local staff photographer)
Stone marker commemorates freed slave’s home in Concord’s Town Forest
By Cheryl Lecesse/Staff Writer
Wicked Local Concord
Posted Aug 27, 2011 @ 02:15 PM
Concord — Saturday morning, residents living near the Brister’s Hill portion of the Town Forest, on Walden Street by Route 2, may have eaten their breakfast to an odd whirring sound — the sound of sandblasting on rock.Those who wandered over Aug. 27 would have found Michael Cedrone Jr. using a tool that resembled a water hose to sandblast stenciled words onto a flat stone, not far from the handicapped parking spaces by the Brister’s Hill trail. The stone and the words now engraved in it mark the approximate location where Brister Freeman built his house. Why is this worth marking? Freeman was exactly that — a freed slave, finally able to build a house on his own land.This project is one of several on the Drinking Gourd Project’s agenda that may be less high-profile than the Robbins House restoration, but nevertheless just as important to the organization’s mission — to shed light on and to preserve Concord’s abolitionist and African American heritage.
Engravers create Brister Freeman stone marker in Concord
Posted on | August 27, 2011 | No Comments
Cheryl Lecesse/Wicked Local staff photographer
Aug 27, 2011 @ 02:13 PM
Stone engravers Michael Cedrone Jr. and Michael Cedrone Sr. worked Saturday, Aug. 27, to engrave words on a stone marking the approximate location of freed slave Brister Freeman’s house in Concord’s Town Forest. The stone marker is one of many projects the Drinking Gourd Project is undertaking to raise awareness of Concord’s abolitionist and African American history.
View more photos on Wicked Local Concord
Brister Boulder Bench Placed at Brister Freeman Home Site in the Town Forest
Posted on | August 1, 2011 | No Comments
We placed the boulder/bench at the home site of Brister Freeman in the Town forest in August. The inscription reads:
Near here lived Brister Freeman (d. 1822) formerly enslaved in Concord.
Fenda Freeman (d.1811) and their family.
‘Down the road on the right hand, on Brister’s Hill, lived Brister Freeman… there were grow still the apple trees which Brister planted and
tended…’
Thoreau. Walden (1854)
