Somerville Museum Programs 2015
Sunday, January 25, 2014 at 3:00 p.m.
El Canto del Caballero: Renaissance Music from Spain (1530-1630)
Virtuoso countertenor and cornettist Michael Collver will join El Dorado Ensemble (Carol Lewis, Janet Haas, Paul Johnson Mai-Lan Broekman & Alice Mroszczyk, violas da gamba; Olav Chris Henriksen, vihuela & archlute) in a concert of tientos, ricercadas, villancicos, canciones and motets by Vasquez, Ortiz, Cabezón, Selma, Guerrero & Trabaci.
Admission is $19 for the general public, $14 for students, seniors, and Museum members.
More about Early Music Afternoons.
Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 3:00 p.m.
Stylus Phantasticus: Capricious Music of the German Baroque
Ensemble Très Maresienne (Lisa Brooke, violin; Olav Chris Henriksen, theorbo & Baroque lute; Carol Lewis, viola da gamba) perform suites, variations and sonatas by Biber, Reusner, Walther, Muffat, Buxtehude & Schmelzer.
Admission is $19 for the general public, $14 for students, seniors, and Museum members.
More about Early Music Afternoons
Sunday, March 29th, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.
Boston and the Civil War, Hub of the Second Revolution
Historian and author Barbara F. Berenson will present her new book, Boston and the Civil War: Hub of the Second Revolution. Inspired by their Patriot forefathers and nurtured in the nation's "cradle of liberty," Boston's abolitionists sparked a Second American Revolution - this one intended to force the nation to live up to the promises of liberty and equality contained in the Declaration of Independence. Come hear Berenson's lively description of these times that changed the fate of our nation.
Books will be for sale and signing at the Museum. General Admission: $8; free to members. Reception to Follow.
Sunday, April 12, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.
My Life in the First African-American Aviation Unit of the US Army Air Force.
Lieutenant Colonel Enoch Woodhouse, USAF, Retired, Surviving Member of the Tuskegee Airmen, describes his experience as one of the famous P-51 "Red Tails" of the 332nd fighter group, aka the Tuskegee Airmen.
General Admission: $8; free to members.
Thursday, April 23, 2015, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Somerville Open Studios Artists' Choice Exhibit Open Reception
The exhibit continues from April 24 through mid-May, 2015.
The Artists' Choice Exhibit offers the best opportunity to preview the studios and artists' work: a group show that is unparalleled in diversity and excitement. Come to the Artists' Choice Exhibit first to plan your weekend. More about Somerville Open Studios
Sunday, April 26, 2015 at 3:00 p.m.
Ballet des Dieux: Musical Delights from Renaissance France
El Dorado Ensemble (Carol Lewis, Janet Haas, Mai-Lan Broekman, Paul Johnson, Alice Mroszczyk, violas da gamba; Olav Chris Henriksen, lute & Renaissance guitar) perform fantasies, dances and character pieces from the French ballet de court, with works by Le Roy, du Caurroy, Le Jeune, Ballard & Moulinié.
Admission is $19 for the general public, $14 for students, seniors, and Museum members.
More about Early Music Afternoons
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.
History of Agriculture in Somerville: Early Farms to Current Urban Farming
In 2010, the Somerville Garden Club published a small brochure entitled: The History of Urban Agriculture in Somerville. Dyan Blewett and Vilma Sullivan, two of the contributors to that booklet, will share their recent research into this subject. From a population of 1,013 in 1842, when Somerville became a town until today, with a population of over 78,000, the landscape and agricultural practices of Somerville have changed rapidly. With new visuals to add to the subject, this will be a lecture of interest to all.
General Admission: $8; free to members.
Sunday, June 14, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.
The Art Glass of Union Glass Company, Somerville, Massachusetts, 1893-1927
Kelly Conway, Curator of American Glass at the Corning Museum of Glass, discusses the history of the Union Glass Company, located in Somerville, Massachusetts. The Company made a wide range of glass over the years, including pressed, mold-blown and free-blown objects in colorless, iridescent, silvered and many colored varieties. This lecture focuses on Union Glass Company's development of art glass from 1893 to 1927. The majority of known catalogs, correspondence and identified glass relates to this period, including a large range of materials represented in the Corning Museum of Glass.
General Admission: $8; free to members.
Recently released: The Story of Somerville Lumber by Verissima Productions. Research and images contributed by the Somerville Museum.
Part I: https://vimeo.com/114085362
Part II: https://vimeo.com/114942735
Somerville Museum Book, Postcard, & Ephemera Sale
Saturday, September 19, 2015
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Early bird entry and silent auction. $5.00; members free.
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Free entry
Books and postcards will be 1/2 price after 3:00 p.m.
A sample of what's on sale....
Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.
The Charles Williams Jr. Story – Somerville and the First Telephone.
Chris Wisniewski recently authored a book for the Williams Jr. family as their personal historian and was fascinated by the threads connecting this family to so many other prominent families of Somerville and Boston. Her lecture will feature not only many new details of Charles Williams Jr.'s well-known work with Bell and Watson, but will also delve into the much less well known connections to the Tufts, Kidder, Cole and Vinal families.
Admission: $8; free to members of the Somerville Museum and Historic Somerville. To buy your ticket now, click here.
Sunday, October 4, 2015 through mid-December
Union Square at Work
Photos and stories of people who work in Somerville's oldest commercial district. The exhibit also features music from bands and artists working in Union Square, as well as historical images of some of the Square's major employers in years past.
Article about the exhibit from Boston Globe
Opening reception on Sunday, October 4, 2015, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 22, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Union Square at Work Museum Tour
Join us for an insider tour of Union Square at Work with exhibit creator Charan Devereaux.
Sunday, October 25, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.
Somerville Past and Present: A Journey Through Time Using the Museum's Photographs of Old Somerville and Myers' Comparative Contemporary Images.
Jeff Myers is a software engineer by day and a volunteer archivist at the Somerville Museum on weekends. His passions have come together in his work digitizing the Museum's photographs and collecting other public source images at very high resolution and then seeking out the same exact spot for a comparative modern photographic image. His talks are visually superb and are accompanied by his knowledgable and engaging commentary.
Thursday, October 29, 2015, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. 
Inside Market Basket: A Commercial Anchor of Union Square
The ever-busy Union Square Market Basket is both a neighborhood store and a destination for shoppers throughout greater Boston. But for many, it's more than a place to shop. "Market Basket is the beating heart of Union Square," says Somerville Museum director Evelyn Battinelli. "It feeds our souls." Come meet Market Basket store manager Joe Amaral – who grew up in Union Square – and learn about the logistics, products, and people it takes to run this high-volume operation. Moderated by Mimi Graney, former executive director of SCATV and founding executive director of Union Square Main Streets. Special guests include Somerville poet Karen Miller reading her Market Basket ode. One lucky attendee will receive a free Market Basket gift bag! Email your favorite Market Basket stories, products or people to charandev@gmail.com.
Sunday, November 1, 2015 at 3:00 p.m.
Concert Spirituel: Instrumental Music of the French Baroque.
Recorder virtuoso Aldo Abreu joins Duo Maresienne (Carol Lewis, viola da gamba; Olav Chris Henriksen, the oboe & Baroque guitar) in suites, chaconnes, and pièces de caractère by Philidor, Hotteterre, de Visée, Marais & others.
Admission is $19 for the general public, $14 for students, seniors, and Museum members.
More about Early Music Afternoons
Wednesday, November 4, 2015, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Metal, Cars, and Meat: A History of Boynton Yards
Join Joe Nissenbaum of Nissenbaum’s Used Auto Parts, local historian and retired Somerville firefighter Bob “Monty” Doherty, and Allen Talewsky from Talwesky’s/J&A Auto Parts for a panel discussion about Somerville’s Boynton Yards. Explore the area’s history of slaughterhouses, salvage yards, auto recyclers, and other industries. Nissenbaum’s and Talewsky’s have each been owned and operated by the same family since the early 1900’s.
About Boynton Yards
Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.
From Smyrna to Belleau Wood: George Dilboy and the Second Battle of the Marne
Prof. Dan Breen puts Dilboy's sacrifice of life in the context of the larger offensive that led to the beginning of the end of WWI.
Admission: $8; free to members of the Somerville Museum and Historic Somerville. To buy your ticket now, click here.
Sunday, November 15, 2015, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Union Square at Work: Concert featuring Jennifer Kimball
The Union Square at Work exhibit includes songs from 20 Union Square bands and artists. Come join us for a concert featuring the gorgeous, open-hearted vocals of critically acclaimed, Boston Music Award winning singer-songwriter Jennifer Kimball. (Kimball is also a Union Square resident).
Tickets: $15 general admission/$12 for students, seniors and Somerville Museum members.
Sunday, November 29, 2015 at 3:00 p.m.
From Fantasy to Fandango: Early Guitar Music from Spain.
Olav Chris Henriksen (vihuela, Renaissance & Baroque guitars) will play some of the finest Spanish music for early plucked instruments, including works by Milan, Narvaez, Mudarra, Valderrábano, Sanz, Santa Cruz, de Murcia & others.
Admission is $19 for the general public, $14 for students, seniors, and Museum members.
More about Early Music Afternoons
RESCHEDULED - Date to be announced
Reinvigorating a Neighborhood through Arts, Culture, and Food: The Somerville Council's ArtsUnion/Nibble Project
Friday, December 11, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Joint Winter Holiday Party with Historic Somerville
Live music, good food, historic clothing fashion show, raffles and prizes.
General admission: $10; members, volunteers and supporters free
For more information, email info@historicsomerville.org or call 617-666-9810 and leave a message.