Category: Past Talks

 

Honoring Isaac Stratton
Rescheduled to Saturday, May 5, 2018
2 p.m.
Southlawn Cemetery
Program will be followed by refreshments at the Williamstown Historical Museum
A cooperative event presented by the South Williamstown Community Association and the Williamstown Historical Museum

On Saturday, May 5 at 2 p.m., you are invited to join us at the graveside of Isaac Stratton in Southlawn Cemetery for a brief ceremony honoring South Williamstown’s first European settler.  This event is being held to recognize the recent installation of a flag holder indicating that Stratton fought in the American Revolution.

In addition to settling South Williamstown, Isaac Stratton farmed the land, served as an early town clerk, and contributed a great deal to the life and growth of Williamstown.  Regina Rouse, who has researched and carried out a successful project to preserve the historic headstones of Southlawn Cemetery, will present information about Isaac Stratton’s historic life.

Following the recognition event, refreshments will be served next door at the Williamstown Historical Museum.  In the event of rain, the program will begin at the Museum.  This cooperative program is sponsored by the South Williamstown Community Association in collaboration with the Williamstown Historical Museum.

 

Buxton:  The History of West Main Street
from Benjamin Simonds to Cole Porter
presented by Dustin Griffin
Saturday, February 17
11 a.m.
Sweetwood of Williamstown
1611 Cold Spring Road

Buxton Lecture Video

Dustin Griffin’s popular lecture Buxton: The History of West Main St. from Benjamin Simonds to Cole Porter was presented on Saturday, February 17 at Sweetwood of Williamstown.  This short stretch of Main St., once known as the “Buxton District,” is the site of the initial settlement of Williamstown, of two of the oldest surviving houses, and of the town’s first cemetery.  “Buxton Place” on West Main was for more than a hundred years the home of the Danforths, one of the town’s leading families. “Buxton Hall” –demolished nearly 60 years ago –was once one of the town’s grandest mansions, the summer home of the Lawrie family. And a big house called “Buxton Hill” was once the home of the town’s most  famous summer resident, Cole Porter.
Over the last ten years the lecturer, Dusty Griffin, has presented many talks in the Museum’s lecture series, including “A Short History of Treadwell Hollow,” “The History of Flora’s Glen,” “Captain and Corporal: Two Williamstown Soldiers in the 37th Massachusetts,” “Three Eph Generals in the Civil War,” “The Hoosic and the Ohio: The Cincinnati Connection,” “The History of Fort Massachusetts,” “The History of the West Hoosuck Blockhouse,” “A Tale of Two Cities — and a Country Town,” and (just last June) “Enemies of the People: Political Divisions in Early Williamstown.” He has curated exhibitions at the Museum on “Williamstown in the Civil War,” “Big Days in a Small Town,” and (with his wife, Gale), “Williamstown in the Golden Age of Postcards.”

For this talk Dusty drew heavily on the Museum’s rich collection of photographs, especially of the Danforth Farm, the Lawrie Mansion, and the “Cole Porter House.” Dusty considers his lectures to be “micro-histories,” deep dives into narrowly-focused topics in local history. A collection of his essays on the history of Williamstown and Williams College will be published in the fall by the University of Massachusetts Press.

The History of the Botsford House
Saturday, November 11, 2017
11 a.m.
777 Main Street

Homeowner, Cynthia Payne, presented a history of one of the striking homes of Main Street.  Cynthia shared information about the site, the builder, the three families who lived in the home, the building’s life as a library and the home of the House of Local History, and the controversy over the building’s future when the library moved out.  Cynthia also spoke about the restoration of the building from library to a home again.  After the lecture, refreshments were be served at the Botsford House and a tour of the first floor was led by Cynthia.

View a video of the lecture here: Botsford House Lecture Video

Other topics in the works for the 2017-2018 lecture season include the history of the Williams College Faculty Club, the history of several West Main Street properites and families and  Arthur Latham Perry.  Check the website often for updates about programs!