Events

                       Program for 2012 - 2013


WAYLAND CENTER TOUR

Sunday, September 30, 2012                                                                                 2 PM
Grout-Heard House Museum

Do you know which building is the oldest in the Historic District?
Have you seen the recently renovated Freight House? We are
fortunate to have Gretchen Schuler to lead our walking tour of
Wayland Center. We will not only hear about the late 18th and early
19th century development of East Sudbury around the iconic
meetinghouse, but also the effect of the opening of the 1881 Mass.
Central Railroad on commerce and home construction at the end of
the 19th and early 20th century. The walking tour will be replaced
with a slide show in the event of inclement weather. We are cosponsoring
this program with the Wayland Historic District
Commission.

Refreshments afterwards at the GHHM: Barbara MacDowell

BEFORE AND AFTER WAYLAND ELECTIONS?

Sunday, October 14, 2012                                                                                       2 PM
Grout-Heard House Museum

A lot needs to happen on the local, state, and national level before
and after you and I vote. With the presidential election coming up,
we thought you’d be interested in hearing about some of this
necessary activity. Judy Ide, as Moderator, will introduce Marilyn
Pettito Devaney, who has represented Wayland in the past on the
Governor’s Council and who will shed light on this governmental
body. Judy’s next introduction will be Wayland Town Clerk Lois
Toombs, who manages all our elections, following state law. What
happens before and after you mark your ballot? Finally, you may
think YOU elect the president but in fact the US Constitution calls for
an electoral college to formally elect the president and vice president.
Cathy and Russ Ashton have served as presidential electors and will
tell you how it all works. Bring good questions to learn more about
the roles of these important less well-known elected positions. This
program is co-sponsored with the League of Women Voters.

Refreshments: Dorothy Lee
 

MUSICAL DELIGHTS WITH LUTE AND VIOL

Saturday, October 27, 2012                                                                                     8 PM
First Parish Church

It is not every day that you can hear a musical instrument called the
theorbo played. If you attend the Musicians of the Old Post Road
concert this year as they play lively and unusual Baroque chamber
works with guest artists, Olav Chris Henrikson and Carol Lewis, you
can enjoy the sound of music co-sponsored by the Wayland Historical
Society for the 23rd consecutive year. With the cooperation of the
First Parish church, this highly acclaimed local group has performed
17th and 18th century music in this and other historic settings along the
Boston Post Road.
The admission charge for attendees is usually $30 but for WHS
members, the reduced rate is $20 per person. If you have never taken
advantage of attending these first class performances in our midst,
you have a treat in store.

Refreshments: Dick Hoyt & Lynn Poisson
 

RECOLLECTIONS OF A WAYLAND TEACHER

Sunday, November 4, 2012                                                                                     2:15 PM
Wayland Public Library

Did you ever go on one of Frank Smith’s Italian trips? Did you
attend any of his classes at Wayland High School from 1960-1999?
Did you know he was Mass. Teacher of the Year in 1985? And that’s
just a little something of what you’re going to hear when Frank
shares some of the traditions of education in Wayland at that time.
And, oh yes, you’ll see the famous black robe, too
.
Refreshments: Minnette Harrington

 

‘TIS THE SEASON

Sunday, December 9, 2012                                                                                     2-5 PM
Grout-Heard House Museum

Come welcome in the holiday season Sunday afternoon, December 9,
when the Grout-Heard House Museum swings wide its doors for the
Community Open House. Festivities will run from two to five
o’clock. Once again, Wayland Garden Club members, headed by
Jane Daley and Anette Lewis, will transform the old rooms with
holiday decorations. Again the Girl Scouts from all over town will
make ornaments for the Stone Room alcove. There will be music by
a string trio, by the Madrigals, and by the Bella Cappella. Sample
home-made Christmas cookies at the tea table and greet old friends.

 

WHEN AMERICA FIRST MET CHINA: AN EXOTIC HISTORY OF TEA,
DRUGS AND MONEY IN THE AGE OF SAIL

Tuesday, January 15, 2012                                                                                    7 PM
Wayland Library’s Raytheon Room

Award-winning author Eric Jay Dolin will join us to speak about his
latest book. Titled above, it illuminates one of the least understood
areas of American history – our relationship with China from its
beginning to the Civil War. Surprisingly, it continues to shed light
on our modern relationship with China. Explore with Mr. Dolin a
time many years ago when the desire for trade and profit first
brought America to China’s door. The presentation, co-hosted with
the Wayland Public Library, uses beautiful images to create an
exciting narrated tour of highlights from the book. Pat Tutwiler,
Wayland High School Principal, will introduce the speaker.
Refreshments: Marjorie Peterson
Presented with our partner, the Wayland Public Library.

Host: Marge Peterson

JANE SCIACCA ON LYDIA MARIA CHILD’S BONNET

Sunday, February 10, 2013                                                                                    2 PM
Grout-Heard House Museum

Lydia Maria Child’s green bonnet, the one all her friends begged her
for years to discard for a new one, has survived for nearly two
centuries. Jane Sciacca, who has spent years researching Wayland’s
famous abolitionist and author, will talk on the connection between
Child’s frugal habits and the causes she espoused so passionately.
The famous bonnet—now carefully restored this spring by Deirdre
Windsor, a well-known textile conservator—will be on exhibit at the
close of the meeting. We’ll observe Child’s 211th birthday with a
cake based on a recipe from her own “Frugal Housewife” book.

Refreshments: Jane and Tom Sciacca

STEEL WHEELS THROUGH WAYLAND

Sunday, March 24, 2013                                                                                         2 PM
Grout-Heard House Museum

We’re fortunate to have Rick Conard with us to speak about the
railroad when it ran through Wayland AND the Cochituate-to-
Wayland-Center trolley. With his extensive background in
transportation, there’s no one better to take us on this ride. With
Rick’s knowledge, illustrations and photos, as well as some items
from the WHS collection, you’ll get a good idea of the role of this
kind of transportation in Wayland’s historical development. After
the presentation, weather permitting, we’ll tour the engine house
and turntable site, returning to the GHHM for refreshments.

Refreshments: Carol Repose
 

AN ARCHITECT’S VISION FOR WAYLAND, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Wednesday April 24, 2013                                                                                     7 PM
Council on Aging Office in the Town Building
Bill Sterling, local architect, present chairman of the Wayland
Design Review Board and former chairman of the Wayland Zoning
Board will talk about commercial neighborhoods in town. He will
discuss how they once were, how they presently appear and discuss
how they may change in the future. He will use the Historical
Society’s pictorial archives to look at the past. There will be some
interesting nostalgic stories told as well as thoughts about how we
may be able to guide future commercial development in Wayland
by means of the Design Review Board.

Refreshments: Mary Mendler.

ANNUAL MEETING AND WAYLAND RESTAURANTS OVER THE YEARS

Wednesday, May 15, 2013                                                                                      7:30 PM
Grout-Heard House Museum.

Remember Lobster Haven? Luigi’s? The Wayland House? Red
Coach? Or perhaps you can recall further back to The Studio and
Humpty Dumpty’s Sandwich Spot? Curator Lois Davis has
researched ads from the Town Crier and other papers from the past
decades for places where Wayland folk ate out in the not-toodistant
past, and she hopes audience members will volunteer their
own recollections, also. A display of menus, china, etc. from
Wayland’s former eateries is planned.

Refreshments: Kate Jenney