[identity profile] redcolumbine.livejournal.com
Milk Row Cemetery, Somerville's historic burial ground, will be open to members of the public Sunday and Monday. Volunteer docents dressed in historical clothing will lead tours and tell stories about the early Somerville residents buried in the cemetery, which was established in 1804.


When/where: Sunday, July 13, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Monday, July 14, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Milk Row Cemetery, 439 Somerville Ave.


Last one of these I attended, they were asking $5 for the Historical Society, but I don't see that listed in the ResiStat bulletin.

[identity profile] ronhaha108.livejournal.com
Didn't see this posted in the davis_square community..

Tony Lavelli sings "Somerville is my home town"
ExpandRead more... )
[personal profile] ron_newman
Tomorrow (that's Sunday, May 11) is the 100th anniversary of the Somerville Theatre's opening day in 1914.

They're celebrating the occasion with a 6 pm show: seven six vaudeville acts, followed by selected short subjects, followed by The Wizard of Oz in glorious 35mm. Admission is $10. Please come to this event and launch our neighborhood theatre's next glorious century!

[tagging: [livejournal.com profile] svilletheatre just to ensure they see this]
[identity profile] twilighttremolo.livejournal.com
What: Art and history exhibit
Where: Tufts University, Koppleman Gallery
When: May 6-18. Opening reception Tuesday, May 6, 2014, 5:30-8pm.
How much: Free! Suggested donation, $3.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/snapshots15takes/info

Museum Studies students at Tufts were given a challenge: choose an image that inspires you from the photographs in Historic New England's exhibition, The Camera's Coast, and use it as a jumping-off point for a full-blown exhibition plan. From May 6-18, Tufts University Art Gallery will host an exhibition that will offer a peek into their minds, with mini-exhibitions showing what each of them came up with. The student-planned exhibitions range far and wide from the source collection, which depicts late 19th and early 20th century life in coastal New England. They focus on such diverse topics as fashion and food; labor and leisure; immigration, shipwrecks, maritime voyages and social mores of the past and present. These fifteen curators from a variety of disciplines demonstrate the many paths the imagination can take when challenged to design a dream exhibition around a single photograph.
[identity profile] somerfriend.livejournal.com
Does anyone know of a map that would show where the underground streams and rivers in our general area are (for example Miller's River)   Before buying a house, I'm curious to know the potential for basement flooding.
[identity profile] twilighttremolo.livejournal.com
How many stories can an object tell? That’s the question fifteen students in the Tufts University Museums Studies Program explore in Snapshots: 15 Takes on an Exhibition, opening Tuesday, May 6th in the Koppelman Gallery at Tufts University. On view until Sunday, May 18th, experience a sampling of the stories they have uncovered.

The opening is from 5:30-8 pm in the Koppelman gallery on Tuesday, May 6 -- that's three weeks from today,  (I'll post one last plug the weekend before). The gallery is inside the Aidekman Arts Center, essentially the nearest part of the Tufts campus to Powderhouse Square that isn't a field, a twelve-minute walk from Davis Square. Admission to all public events in the Koppelman gallery is free, with a suggested donation of $3.

ExpandEvent photo and map below the cut. )
[identity profile] twilighttremolo.livejournal.com
Hi all, if you're not familiar with the Koppleman Gallery in Aidekman Arts Center, it is one of the nearest points of the Tufts campus to Powderhouse Square -- just past the field -- so it's a stone's throw from Davis. I am one of the co-curators for this particular exhibition, so it's shameless plug time, but any of you interested in art (or in this case, history and art) should keep this gallery on your radar.

Snapshots: 15 Takes on an Exhibition is to take place at the Tufts University Koppleman Gallery May 6-18, 2014. Opening reception Tuesday, May 6, 2014, 5:30-8pm.

Museum Studies students at Tufts were given a challenge: choose an image that inspires you from the photographs in Historic New England’s exhibition, “The Camera’s Coast,” and use it as a jumping-off point for a full-blown exhibition plan. In May, the Tufts University Art Gallery will host an exhibition that will offer a peek into their minds, with mini-exhibitions showing what each of them came up with.

The student-planned exhibitions range far and wide from the source collection, which depicts late 19th and early 20th century life in coastal New England. They focus on such diverse topics as fashion and food; labor and leisure; immigration, shipwrecks, maritime voyages and social mores of the past and present. These fifteen curators from a variety of disciplines demonstrate the many paths the imagination can take when challenged to design a dream exhibition around a single photograph.

See the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/snapshots15takes
[identity profile] mem-winterhill.livejournal.com
Today there was an interesting talk on the history of the Mystic River at the Somerville Museum. If I hadn't been on the Historic Somerville mailing list, I might not have heard of it. I found out about that once on a walking tour.

It reminded me of a conversation I had with someone at Blue Cloud Gallery recently. We were saying that it seemed like there were a whole bunch of mailing lists, and resources of local stuff to do, talks to hear, historic tours, studios, shows and openings, and possibly neighborhood lists or blogs, that you just don't know about except almost by accident.

I know there are links to some local sites on the DSLJ, but I'm wondering if we could create a discussion of good lists we are currently on, with locally relevant activity stuff, that might not be widely known. Good twitter accounts to know about. Facebook pages to know about. I feel like I'm missing stuff.

Feel free to flog your own blogs/lists/whatever. I'm not on Facebook, maybe everything happens there. Or if this kind of list exists somewhere else point me to it.

(I do wish some of the groups were better or more consistent at outreach via blogs/forums/twitter/etc too.)
[identity profile] sjcap.livejournal.com
There will be a public meeting concerning the proposed sale of the Somerville Main Post Office and the fate of the interior 1937 mural, 'A Skirmish Between British and Colonists Near Somerville in Revolutionary Times' by artist Ross Moffett hosted by the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission on Thursday March 6 at 7pm at City Hall. All fellow Somervillians who want to see this public treasure preserved, rather than sold off to the highest bidder, should attend this meeting.

Across America, the US Postal Service is liquidating historic post offices in the name of budget cuts. Many of these buildings contain significant New Deal era public artworks, like in Somerville. USPS has identified our main post office in Union Square as the only such post office in Massachusetts to be auctioned off. (Why us?) While the buildings are often repurposed, the beautiful artworks inside often get removed from public display and effectively become restaurant or office decorations for the new owners, available for viewing by appointment only.

If you have any concerns about the privatization of Somerville's historic post office or the preservation of the irreplaceable Moffett mural, it is important that your voice be heard now. Very important. The fate of Somerville's most cherished historical public art piece could be determined in the coming weeks. Please take the opportunity to join your neighbors and attend this meeting on Thursday to discuss the steps being taken to preserve Somerville's magnificent New Deal art legacy for generations to come.

Public Meeting: Potential Adverse Effects of USPS Proposed Sale
Somerville Main Post Office (National Register of Historic Places
Hosted by Somerville Historic Preservation Commission
3rd Floor Conference Room, Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave. Somerville
Thursday March 6, 7pm

If you can't join the discussion at City Hall, comments can also be forwarded to the Historical Commission at historic@somervillema.gov
[personal profile] ron_newman
The interior of the Rosebud Diner has been totally demolished. It's unrecognizable now.

One of the diner's front windows has two city permits displayed -- one for the demolition, the other for a dumpster. The permits were issued on January 31, so this work happened fast once it started.

If anyone has any news or even relevant rumors about what the owner's plans are, please post them here.
[identity profile] mzrowan.livejournal.com
This video is long but fun. It was made in 1959 as part of the re-election bid of Mayor Donovan (which failed). The first eight minutes is a bit dry unless you're really into trucks, but after that it picks up. I especially enjoyed the list of disasters at the end. Remember: "This is Practical Progress!"
[personal profile] ron_newman

Every New Year's Day, the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission celebrates the January 1, 1776 raising of the First American Flag on Prospect Hill.

At 11:30 am, "George Washington" on horseback leads a short parade from the City Hall concourse to Prospect Hill Park. The main event starts at noon, featuring songs, readings, short speeches, military re-enactors (both Colonial and British), and refreshments (usually donuts, coffee, hot chocolate, and cider). I've enjoyed this event for many years and encourage all of you to attend it too.

In some years, the city has invited the public to climb the tower at the end of the ceremony. I don't know if it will be possible this year, since the tower has been undergoing some repairs.

To reach Prospect Hill from West Somerville, take the #87 bus to Union Square, then walk up Stone Avenue. Or take the #80 or #88 or #90 bus to McGrath Highway, and walk up Greenville Street or Prospect Hill Avenue to the park.

Here is the city's official press release about the event.

[identity profile] twilighttremolo.livejournal.com
>Hi all,

Tourism to the greater Boston area (and that includes, by extension, visitation to our beloved local businesses in Davis Square) is likely to be hit hard by the shutdown because a large portion of Boston's tourism is driven by history tourism, and a number of the sites are affected by the shutdown. Those that are not shut down are bracing for the economic impact of less tourism and of people assuming they are not open.

So, if you were thinking of finally getting around to walking the Freedom Trail, or if you have out-of-town friends considering a visit to the area, please support the sites that are open during the shutdown! If you are a media creator with a tourism, Boston, or history audience, please spread the word.

The following sites, as independent nonprofits, are still open:

Old South Meeting House

Old State House

Paul Revere House

Old North Church

African Meeting House

Most tour companies, for-profit and nonprofit, are also still open.

State-run sites, such as the Boston Harbor islands which are run by the DCR, are still open.

A few independent nonprofits are not on the open list because the federal government is their landlord (essentially).
[personal profile] ron_newman
The house at 88 Dover Street has an orange DEMOLITION PERMIT sign in the window. Last month, the Historic Preservation Commission determined that the house is "historically significant". They will hold another public hearing on September 17 (at City Hall) to determine whether it should be "preferably preserved".

If they vote yes, a 9-month "demolition delay" period will begin, during which the property owner is encouraged to meet with the Historic Preservation Commission and neighbors to work out possibly alternatives to demolition.

This house is next door to 82 Dover, which was demolished earlier this year even though it was demed to be historically significant and preferably preserved. The Historic Preservation Commission eventually determined that the replacement house now being built on the site will be sufficiently in character with the neighborhood. (Some DSLJ discussion here and here.)

I recall that yet another Dover Street house, just north of this one, was demolished a few years ago so that Ideal Engine could expand. I'd hate to see my whole neighborhood slowly get demolished, one house at a time.
[identity profile] dashford.livejournal.com
I've been wondering for the past week or so what happened to it -- wherever shall we fly our Grand Union flags?
ExpandPhoto behind cut... )
[identity profile] pbockelman.livejournal.com
“Somerville by Design” is coming to Davis Square! http://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/PosterDavisSquare.pdf

It has been thirty years since the City prepared the “Davis Square Action Plan” to guide change associated with the MBTA Red Line Extension. When we look around Davis Square today, we see many physical characteristics that are the direct result of that plan. Here's the 1982 plan:http://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/1984-DavisSquareActionPlan.pdf

Plans typically have a lifespan of twenty or thirty years, so the time is ripe for a community dialogue about the next generation of physical design improvements in Davis. The City will be launching a planning series this spring and summer that is similar to our recent Green Line “Station Area Planning Series” and the “Complete Streets Series”.

Please join us in a “Crowdsourcing Event” to set the table for our work over the next six months.
Date: Tuesday May 21st
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Place: Somerville Community Baptist Church (31 College Avenue)


Brad Rawson, Senior Planner
City of Somerville, Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development

This is Paul. If you want to see the 1982 plan, contact me.
[personal profile] ron_newman
I'd love to have as many of you as possible join us. We're meeting outside Somerville City Hall at 2 pm this Sunday for a casual ramble around the city, visiting various places of industrial importance to Somerville, past and present.

The ride will be about 10 miles long, and will finish up around 4:30 pm at the Somerville Museum (where some of the Somerville Open Studios Artists' Choice exhibit will still be on display).

Some earlier publicity said that we would be visiting the interior of soon-to-open Brooklyn Boulders rock-climbing gym on Tyler Street, but right now it looks like that probably won't be possible due to the current condition of their construction. Instead, folks can optionally tour Artisan's Asylum next door.

Somerville police will help escort the ride, which will be dedicated to the late officer Sean Collier.

Our ride is sponsored by the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission and the Somerville Bicycle Committee. We ask for a $3 donation to support the Historic Preservation Commission.

Here's a Google map of our route, showing some of the places we will ride by.

(Usually I'd publicize this kind of event weeks in advance. I've been a bit occupied with other matters lately....)
[identity profile] pekmez.livejournal.com
Has anyone noticed that the train noise around the Davis/Ball/Teele Square end of Somerville seems much more pronounced lately? It seems to be perhaps connected to the preparatory construction on the train tracks. Lately I can hear the trains passing by in neighborhoods I didn't think were that close to the tracks, and the sound seems louder at my house a few blocks away than it used to be. The construction work has been cutting trees down here and there to make room for widening the track, and I know they are blowing the horns more, presumably to alert workers along the tracks when a train is coming... but I'm still surprised by how much more I'm noticing it. Is it just me?

(edited parenthetical comments below; thanks for pointing out the real 'noise' tag, Ron.)

(sorry for the silly tag, I mean those grounded airplanes with the purple stripes on them that run out to West Medford on the Lowell Line, and it made *me* laugh, anyway.)

(And now that I've tagged this properly with a general "noise" tag, or I can also snark about the idiots who just set off firecrackers on their front porch across the street. Sigh.)
[personal profile] ron_newman
Thanks to Ron Bargoot in the Facebook group "Somerville: The Good Old Days", David Misch's early-1970s song "Somerville" is now a YouTube music video. Enjoy!

The Facebook discussion of this video is here.

(Here's the MP3 audio file for your downloading pleasure, and here are the lyrics.)

ExpandVideo is behind this cut )
[identity profile] witchdogtor.livejournal.com
Apologies for not being specifically Davis... but it's not too far.

Does anyone know the status of the round house on Atherton St.? Supposedly, a local contractor had bought it in 2007 with plans to restore it, but it's still looking kind of sad.

It's been a while since we've done a Somerville site for Historic Walking Tours, so I thought we'de visit there tomorrow. There's actually a lot of info on it, online, but I just got to wondering about its current state. Thanks!

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