The Friends of Lawrence Heritage State Park formed in 1999 to support the Park and its activities. The principal founding member was Mary Girouard, a long-time volunteer at the Park as well as a long-time member of the Park's Advisory Board.
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The first President was Jonas Stundza, another experienced Park volunteer and avid local historian. We quickly became a 501c3 non-profit corporation. The Friends first service to the Park was to act as a fiscal agent, receiving grant funds to support Park programs. Over time the Friends have gradually increased our activity to the point that we now conduct or support several events per year, as well as raising money to support Park maintenance and improvements. The Friends elect Officers and other Board members who meet monthly, and hold an annual meeting in the Fall. The Friends keep membership fees low, and have approximately 75 members. If you appreciate the Park, and the work the Friends do to support it, please consider joining. Friends members are kept up-to-date on events by mail or email notices. Lawrence Heritage State Park opened to the public in 1986. As a part of the state's system of Heritage Parks, it has a broad mission: to preserve and reuse historic structures in the city: to celebrate local history and culture; to offer educational and cultural programming; to provide a community meeting space; to provide recreational green space in the city; to offer these amenities to Lawrencians and to visitors, and by doing all of the above, to be a catalyst for the city's revitalization. Starting with the Visitor Center in an original mill worker boardinghouse, the Park has grown to include Visitor Center Park, the North Canal Walkway, Pemberton Park, Riverfront Park and the Bashara Boathouse. The Park is a unit of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, successor to the Department of Environmental Management, under which the Heritage Parks were created.
Operating as usual
Our own Jim Beauchesne making us proud in this NBC10 Boston spot!
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/ten-towns/lawrence-the-immigrant-city/2378856/?amp
The diverse community of Lawrence, Massachusetts, continues to show its resilience.
Our own Jim Beauchesne moderated this session at the Lawrence History Center Community Symposium on Public Safety in Lawrence on May Day or International Workers Day!
LHC Virtual Community Symposium on Public Safety in Lawrence, Sat May 1, 2021 A. When the Walls Trembled: The Fall of the Pemberton Mill Speaker: Robert Forrant,…
Happy Earth Day! Read about how Massachusetts created the first national park system in 1893. Find more about the history of preserving our natural world on our Mass Moments website: http://ow.ly/9xNR50ElXA4 #MassHumanities
The Lawrence Heritage State Park may still be closed to the public due to COVID, but the Friends of the Lawrence Heritage State Park have posted some virtual walking tours (a Walk to the Great Stone Dam Tour and a Bread and Roses Sites Tour in English and Spanish) on their site:
http://friendsoflawrenceheritage.org/programs/
Exhibits & Tours NOTE: The Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitor Center remains closed to the public due to COVID-19 until further notice. Please visit our page to see upcoming events. Upcoming Events and Virtual Tours New! Virtual Walking Tours: Great Stone Dam Virtual Tour (DCR, September....
During Women’s History Month, we remember the achievements of Ella Findeisen, a labor activist and suffragist from Lawrence, MA, who participated in the White House protests for the women’s vote in 1917.
She was imprisoned in the infamous Occoquan Work House in Lorton, VA, on November 14, 1917, along with forty other suffragists. Conditions were intolerable. – Watch the presentation on her story and that of other women we commemorated at the 2020 Bread and Roses Festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD0Shw_b_t8&t=54sNote
Note the odd entry of her name in the prison log! Also examine her affidavit.
Essex National Heritage Area is hosting a virtual talk on April 13 at 6:00 PM called "Merrimack: The Resilient River" by local author-scholar Dyke Hendrickson.
The talk is free and here is the registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/145111822367
An illustrated talk about one of New England's most historic rivers.
Angelo "Andy" Puglisi is a 10-year-old Lawrence boy who went missing on August 21, 1976 from the Higgins Memorial pool across the street from his apartment in the Stadium Housing Projects, Lawrence, Massachusetts. The case remains unsolved.
His childhood friend, Melanie Perkins McLaughlin, has never given up hope that he will be found. This from Melanie:
"Hi everyone. Eager to share our social media is expanding for “Have You Seen Andy?” as we prepare for our podcast docuseries launching in August 2021, “Open Investigation”. Follow us for updates to Andy’s case, leads in other unsolved cases and never before seen footage from the production of the Emmy award winning HBO documentary (currently streaming on HBOGo). Follow us @haveyouseenandy on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter."
We need your help! Instagram: haveyouseenandy Facebook: Have You Seen Andy? *STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES* #haveyouseenandy
PLEASE VOTE for the Lawrence History Center's image in the Massachusetts History Conference Image Competition!
https://masshistoryalliance.org/2021-image-competition-entries/
PLEASE VOTE for the Lawrence History Center image in the 2021 Mass History Conference Image Competition!
The theme for the conference is - History: A Massachusetts Community Activity
The conference planners were looking for images of people gathering, meeting, eating, etc. Given the past year, we felt this was a good and representative image. VOTE NOW (please)!
https://masshistoryalliance.org/2021-image-competition-entries/
Image Credit: "Dr. Nina Scarito at the YWCA Health Clinic, c. 1970". Courtesy of the Lawrence History Center Photograph Collection. Dr. Scarito was born in Lawrence and is credited with having delivered 20,000 babies as the first female obstetrician/gynecologist in the Merrimack Valley. Dr. Scarito is pictured standing on the far right with her hands on a patient's shoulder. The woman seated to the left of the patient, and with the child right next to her, has been identified as Aurora Fantauzzi, by her daughter Sonia.
YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts
March 3, 2021 at Noon!
The Building Bridges project is hosting a virtual film event to learn about Massachusetts-based worker-artist Ralph Fasanella. The event, scheduled for Wednesday, March 3 at noon, is part of the Office of Equity and Inclusion’s “Watch.Learn.Grow.” film series.
The event will focus on the ways in which Fasanella’s art portrays the 1912 Lawrence, Mass. “Bread and Roses” strike, how his art reflects labor and working life in the time and culture in which he lived, and how his life and work connected with the struggles for worker, civil and human rights.
This film event combines footage from a gallery talk from the Smithsonian American Art Museum entitled, “Ralph Fasanella: Lest We Forget” with interview excerpts of Fasanella discussing his work on the Bread and Roses strike.
Registration is required for the free, public event.
https://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/building-bridges-host-film-event-%E2%80%98ralph
The Building Bridges project is hosting a virtual film event to learn about Massachusetts-based worker-artist Ralph Fasanella. The event, scheduled for Wednesday, March 3 at noon, is part of the Office of Equity and Inclusion’s “Watch.Learn.Grow.” film series.
SECRETARY GALVIN’S OFFICE NOW ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS TO PRESERVE VETERANS’ HISTORY
Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin and the Massachusetts State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) are pleased to announce a new round of funding for matching grants to preserve objects, sites, and document collections that are significant to the history and experiences of military veterans in the Commonwealth.
The program is in its fifth year beyond the initial awards made by the Massachusetts Sesquicentennial Commission of the American Civil War. Over multiple rounds of funding, the SHRAB has awarded over $800,000 in matching funds to over 60 projects across the Commonwealth. The program is open to Massachusetts municipalities and non-profit organizations, such as libraries, historical societies and commissions, museums, schools, and universities. Grants provide state matching funds of up to 50 percent of a project’s total cost.Applicants can apply for up to $20,000.00 per project.
Eligible projects must be relevant to veterans and their military encounters, and may include:
- preservation or digitization of historic documents and photographs;
- increased access to archival collections; oral history projects;
- renovation, rehabilitation, restoration, or enhancement of existing monuments or memorials;
- proposals to construct new markers for historically significant sites;
- planning projects will also be considered.
Please note that general civic enhancement projects, such as flag poles or public green spaces, will not be accepted.
Applicants are asked to submit their final applications by April 9, 2021. Applicants may submit a draft application for the Board to review and provide comments up to three weeks before the final application deadline. Draft applications or general questions about the program can be submitted to [email protected].
The application and grant guidelines are available on the Massachusetts Archives website under the State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) section: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcidx.htm
Examples of Previous Veterans’ Heritage Grants
- Dorchester Historical Society – Dorchester Veterans Project to create an online presence for biographies of Dorchester veterans
- Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War – erection of a memorial to veteran, educator, and nurse Susannah “Susie” Baker King Taylor
- Easter Seals Massachusetts – Women in Military Service oral history project
- Hatfield Historical Society – Veterans’ Oral History Project
- 1638 Fund Charitable Trust – Fabrication and installation of display cases and pedestal stands, modification of existing display cases, and restoration of ornamental features for the Military Museum and Armory on the 4th floor of Faneuil Hall
- Belmont Veteran’s Memorial Committee – Renovation of existing veterans’ memorials
- Office of the Mayor, City of Gloucester – Funding for display case for Civil War uniform at Gloucester High School
- Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery – Restoration of grave markers
- Newburyport Maritime Society – Restoration of USS Richard S. Bull model ship
- USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee – Revitalization and update of the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials on board the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.
- Green Hill Park Coalition – Restoration of Memorial Grove
- Pollard Memorial Library – Veterans Collection project to rehouse, arrange, describe, and digitize veterans records
Lawrence History Center Executive Director Susan Grabski is a member of the Massachusetts State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) and, therefore, is happy to share this important funding opportunity supporting the preservation of historic veterans' monuments, memorials and collections in Massachusetts.
Pictured (Hatfield Historical Society – Veterans’ Oral History Project): Pat Douglas is shown in the Vietnam War era. She was in the U.S. Nurse Corps beginning in 1963 and spent three years on the ortho/neuro-surgical ward at Travis Air Force Base. Photo Courtesy of the Hatfield Historical Society
Our condolences to Rich Padova, honorary member of the Friends of the Lawrence Heritage State Park board and LHSP park interpreter, on the passing of his father Salvatore "Sam" Pauta at age 98.
In addition to the rich life described so lovingly in the obituary below, Sam along with his wife were also members of the Friends of Lawrence Heritage State Park.
He will be missed. May he rest in eternal peace.
https://obituaries.eagletribune.com/obituary/salvatore-sam-pauta-padova-1081549570I
Salvatore
Offered by the White Fund Lecture Series on February 3, 2021.
To register for the next Essex National Heritage Area Teaching Hidden Histories session on March 27, 2021 -- The Struggle for Liberty, Equality, and Property: Examining Resistance to Exclusionary Policies Against Black People in Essex County -- please visit:
https://usingessexhistory.org/teachinghiddenhistories/
COVID-19 Relief Fund for Individuals – Mass Cultural Council
Grants of $1,500 to people who have lost income derived from their work as individual artists and independent teaching artists/humanists/scientists as a direct result of COVID-19 related cancellations and closures in Massachusetts.
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day the National Park Service is offering free admission to all National Parks around the country this Monday! Here at Lowell National Historical Park the Boott Cotton Mills Museum will be free for all visitors on Monday, January 18th. The museum is open from 12 noon to 5 p.m., so come by and explore the multitude of stories that shaped this industrial city.
To learn more about the ways the National Park Service is observing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day visit https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/mlk-day.htm
#FindYourPark #Lowell #OpeningDoors #LikeLowell
(Photo credit Meghan Moore)
On this day in 1860:
In what is described as the worst industrial disaster in state history, the Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Mass., collapses, trapping 900 workers, mostly Irish women. More than 100 die, scores more injured in the collapse and ensuing fire. Too much machinery had been crammed into the building
Watch:
https://youtu.be/Z1EtIR6Hzt4
[Right: Rebuilt Pemberton Mill today]
Fasanella Fascination
Remembering artist Ralph Fasanella The City Sometimes a community needs an outsider to help it remember its history. When artist Ralph Fasanella came to
Go back to 223 Haverhill St, covered in snow. Read more on the link. ❄️❄️❄️
Go back in time with us to the late 1800s with this stereoscopic image of the snow covered Barbour residence at 223 Haverhill Street. Click the link to read the full post and follow our special collections blog.
Blog: https://queencityma.wordpress.com/2020/12/17/snowy-lawrence-in-3d/
#snowday
Bread & Roses Heritage Festival
Our webstore is officially closed, and our remaining merchandise is officially here at Lawrence Heritage State Park and ON SALE! Our beautiful T-shirts are now $15 and make perfect presents for all your friends and family (unless they take a Medium, which we're out of... but a Large might shrink!). Posters are $5
Unfortunately the Visitor Center is still closed due to Covid restrictions, so your best bet is to make an appointment with Jim Beauchesne to buy stuff. He is usually there Mon-Fri, 8-ish to 4-ish... but makes the suggestion to make an appointment, lest you come down here and be disappointed.
As always, we only take cash or checks here, but one CAN pay by credit card, using the Paypal button on our website. and your far-away friends can have their orders mailed to them... by paying an additional $5 for shipping & handling. (just remember that for some reason the Post Office is kinda slow these days, so leave plenty of time for holiday orders). Also, we are willing to deliver locally so please send us a direct message if you are interested in setting something up.
Now please spread the word about this fabulous offer!
Jim Beauchesne
Visitor Services Supervisor
Lawrence Heritage State Park
1 Jackson Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
978-794-1655
From our friends further down the Merrimack River:
Join us via Zoom tomorrow at 6:30 PM for Pentucket on the Merrimack, a presentation by Melissa Drake of the Buttonwoods Museum about the history and culture of the Pennacook people. This program is made possible through CARES Act funding to Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. #MBLCCaresAct #IMLSGrant #LSTAinMA #HPLLibrary #HaverhillMA
Lawrence History Center
"Voting is the most important duty of citizenship..."
The section below is from the November 16,1925 edition of The Evening Tribune, held in the Lawrence History Center collection.
Bread & Roses Heritage Festival
The beautiful 2020 logo design is still available on posters and t-shirts while supplies last. Pick yours up today!
Makes a fabulous holiday gift.
This is a limited run of merchandise and once it's gone it's gone for good, so act fast if you want to get your hands on one of these beauties.
Call the Lawrence Heritage State Park at 978-794-1655 and ask for Jim, or leave a message on this FB Page.
Our thanks to our Annual Meeting guest speaker Brad Buschur of Groundwork Lawrence for speaking to us about the trail development project along the Merrimack River, west of the Bashara Boathouse (a DCR property), current brownfield cleanup projects, the Storrow Park redevelopment and the Merrimac Paper site projects. We all learned a lot about our city!
Join Essex National Heritage Area on November 17, 2020 at 5:00pm for the second conversation in their virtual fall program series, "Redefining Heritage: The Struggle for Labor Equity in Essex County." Jim Beauchesne, Visitor Services Supervisor at Lawrence Heritage State Park, is a speaker!
Registration in FREE, but required.
About the event:
Throughout history, the struggle for labor equity has been a catalyst for change and reform. Despite these efforts to move forward, there is still much to be done and much that we can learn from studying the past. Join Salem State University Professor of History Aviva Chomsky, Ipswich Town Historian Gordon Harris, and Visitor Services Supervisor at Lawrence Heritage State Park Jim Beauchesne to discuss the history of workforce strikes and protests in Essex County and the struggle for equitable labor practices, especially in immigrant communities. By looking at two examples from the early 20th century - the "Bread and Roses" Strike and the Ipswich Hosiery Mills Strike - we will examine how we are still fighting against the issues of inequity and unfair treatment of laborers today.
Following the talk will be a moderated Q&A, with questions from the audience.
About the speakers:
Aviva Chomsky is Professor of History and Coordinator of Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean Studies at Salem State University in Massachusetts. Her books include Central America’s Forgotten History: Revolution, Violence, and the Roots of Migration (forthcoming 2021); Undocumented: How Immigration Became Illegal (Beacon Press, 2014; Mexican edition, 2014), A History of the Cuban Revolution (2011, 2 nd ed. 2015), Linked Labor Histories: New England, Colombia, and the Making of a Global Working Class (2008), They Take Our Jobs! And Twenty Other Myths about Immigration (2007; U.S. Spanish edition 2011, Cuban edition 2013), and West Indian Workers and the United Fruit Company in Costa Rica, 1870-1940 (1996). She has also co-edited several anthologies including Organizing for Power: Building a Twenty-First Century Labor Movement in Boston (forthcoming 2021) The People behind Colombian Coal: Mining, Multinationals and Human Rights/Bajo el manto del carbón: Pueblos y multinacionales en las minas del Cerrejón, Colombia (2007), The Cuba Reader: History, Culture, Politics (2003, 2 nd edition 2019) and Identity and Struggle at the Margins of the NationState: The Laboring Peoples of Central America and the Hispanic Caribbean (1998). She has been active in Latin America solidarity and immigrants’ rights movements for several decades.
Gordon Harris, town historian for Ipswich MA since 2014, and current chair of the Ipswich Historical Commission (not to be confused with the Ipswich Historical Society, now known as the Ipswich Museum.) A native of Mississippi, Gordon has lived in Massachusetts since graduating from Millsaps College in 1971, and moved to Ipswich in 2004. Although he majored in sociology, he makes his living as a carpenter, with a special interest in architectural history. In addition to leading walking and bicycle tours of Ipswich, he created and produces the Historic Ipswich website, which now receives 400,000 pageviews each year.
Jim Beauchesne is the Visitor Services Supervisor at Lawrence Heritage State Park, a unit of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. He is responsible for the Park's educational and cultural programs, including exhibits, tours, and concerts, as well as visitor and tourism services. He is also a member the Bread and Roses Heritage Committee, which organizes the annual Bread and Roses Labor Day Heritage Festival. He has given presentations about the Bread & Roses Strike at numerous locations, including the Old South Meeting House and the Massachusetts Historical Society. He has also served as a board member of the Lawrence History Center, Lawrence's historical society, and previously worked at Lowell National Historical Park. He holds an M.A. in Public History from Northeastern University, and a B.A. from Merrimack College. Jim was born and raised in Lawrence, back when the Strike was still a suppressed memory.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/redefining-heritage-the-struggle-for-labor-equity-in-essex-county-registration-123000404521?utm_campaign=556f46189d-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_27_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Essex+Heritage+Mailing+List&utm_term=0_c206bcd117-556f46189d-73578641
Join us for the second conversation in our virtual fall program series "Redefining Heritage".
1 Jackson St
Lawrence, MA
01840
| Monday | 09:00 - 16:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 16:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 16:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 16:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 - 16:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 16:00 |
| Sunday | 09:00 - 16:00 |
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