Whale Tale: Author To Speak About Tragedy at Sea Saturday

The town-wide “one book, one community” Framingham Reads Together book for 2013 is Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex.

Framingham Public Library invited the community to participate in the 3rd Annual Framingham Reads Together event this month. The town-wide “one book, one community” program, this time around is Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex. The featured book is one of the greatest sea stories ever, a fascinating narrative of the extraordinary-but-true events on which Melville’s Moby Dick was based. And on Saturday, the acclaimed Nantucket author will speak about his book and the research/writing process in the Fuller Middle School auditorium at 10 a.m. In 1819, the Essex left Nantucket for the South Pacific with 20 crew members aboard. In the middle of the South Pacific the ship was rammed and sunk by an…

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Framingham Reads Together 2011

Solider's Letter to Wife on Christmas Eve Highlights Display

The entrance to the main Framingham Library features a display of Civil War artifacts, including a letter penned by a solider in 1863 on Christmas Eve.

A letter penned by a solider on Christmas Eve in 1863 is the highlight of the display of Civil War memorabilia at the main Framingham Library. Veterans Agent Peter Harvell said he sould see the "very same letter dated  2010 Christmas Eve coming from Iraq or Afghanistan. The only difference is that it would be an email and 150 years from now, it will have long ago been deleted." Below is the completed text of the letter: P.T.S.S.C.P.L.N.C.*                                   Dec. 24, 1863. (*Pine Tree Signal Station Cut Post Line North Carolina) Dear Susie. I feel lonely this Christmas Eve for I am absent from you: though I have not written that I should be at home for Christmas for fear of causing you a disappointment. I have all along …

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Framingham Reads Together 2011

Camp Life in the Civil War

The main Framingham Library hosted a program yesterday afternoon on what camp life was like during the Civil War.

Framingham High senior Sam Gilvarg, dressed as a Union soldier, talked about camp life during the Civil War to a group of families at the main Framingham Library yesterday afternoon. He was joined by Confederate soliders 1st Lieutenant Dave Pincins and Provost Marshal Captain Mal Grant of the 12th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment Company F (www.12thgeorgia.org). Framingham Library staff created authentic Civil War-era refreshments. Served were tea cakes; Jonnycake, made with cornmeal; gingerbread and authentic Hardtack, made in Massachusetts.  

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Framingham Reads' Battle Hymn Program to Air on FPAC-TV

FPAC-TV schedule for April 22-28. This week a new sponsored series called Commonwealth Report, featuring Lt. Gov. Tim Murray as host, premieres Monday at 5:30 p.m.

FPAC-TV  is starting to air some of the events held as part of the Framingham Reads Together event. This week, FPAC-TV will premiere "The Battle Hymn of the Republic at Plymouth Church" Friday, April 22 at 8 p.m. There is also a new sponsored series called Commonwealth Report featuring Lt Gov. Tim Murray as host, which premieres Monday, April 25 at 5:30 p.m. Framingham Public Access Corporation Schedule April 22-28 RCN Channel 3, Comcast Channel 9, Verizon Channel 43   Friday, April 22 Midnight: Igreja Batista Emanuel        1 a.m.: CPNV 2 a.m.: Physician Focus 8:30 a.m.: Words That Cook 9 a.m.: Physician Focus 9:30 a.m.:Veteran's Corner 10:30 a.m.: Library Concert Series noon: From the FPAC Archives 2;30 p.m.: Travels with Jack 3:30 p.m…

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Framingham Reads Together 2011

Abraham Lincoln Lends His Wit and Wisdom to Framingham

Steve Wood's historical portrayal of Lincoln enlightens citizens about how the Civil War and slavery affected him just prior to and during his presidency

Before he had a chance to take the oath of office and dance with his wife Mary at the inaugural ball in January 1861, Abraham Lincoln knew the daunting task before him. One month after the election, South Carolina had made its intention clear in December that it did not want to be part of the United States any longer and formally seceded. And on Jan. 18, 1861, three months before the start of the war, Massachusetts pledged men and money to president-elect Lincoln to preserve the Union -- if it came to that. Portrayed by Steve Wood of Claremont, N.H., the tall, gangly "Abraham Lincoln," complete with his signature black stove pipe hat (used mainly as a mobile filing cabinet where he stored notes for his speeches and important papers), …

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Framingham Reads Together 2011

VIDEO: Harvard Historian Reflects on the Battle Hymn

Harvard University historian and author John Stauffer tells the story of the origins and evolution of the song first sung in Framingham: The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Harvard University historian and author John Stauffer tells the story of the origins and evolution of the song first sung in Framingham: The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Stauffer spoke  at the main Framingham Library earlier this week.

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Framingham Reads Together 2011

The Story Behind The Battle Hymn of the Republic

Yesterday, Plymouth Church and Framingham Reads Together produced a program recalling Julia Ward Howe, her poem The Battle Hymn of the Republic and its first singing at what is now Plymouth Church in Framingham.

The great-great-grandson of Julie Ward Howe Charles Wiggins Putnam told the audience assembled yesterday afternoon at Plymouth Church that his famous ancestor was more than words she penned for her famous poem The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Plymouth Church and Framingham Reads Together produced a program recalling Julia Ward Howe, her poem The Battle Hymn of the Republic and its first singing at was is now Plymouth Church in Framingham. Born in New York City, Julia was a descendant of Roger Williams on her father's side. She was named for both her older sister Julia, who died at age 3, two weeks before she was born and her mother Julia, who was a published poet. Framingham resident and professional storyteller Libby Franck portrayed …

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Grab & Go

Mystery Dinner Theater Full of Heirs, Errors, & Humor

Attend Church where The Battle Hymn of The Republic was first performed.

1.FRAMINGHAM COMMUNITY THEATER PRESENTS ...."HEIRS & ERRORS" MYSTERY DINNER THEATER WHERE/WHEN: Village Hall, tomorrow, April 1 and Saturday, April 2 at 7 p.m. WHY GO: The last 2 nights to catch this fabulous performance and help solve the mystery! Buy your tickets by noon tomorrow as tickets will not be sold at the door! Come dressed in wedding attire and you may win a door prize! Casual attire is also acceptable. PRICING: $42/ includes show & three-course catered meal ($39 for students /seniors 65+); reserve a table for 10 for $390. 2. ANTIQUES APPRAISAL DAY WHERE/WHEN: Medical Arts Building (McPherson Hall) 85 Lincoln St. Saturday, April 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. WHY GO: Expert appraiser, Nancy Wyman of Cyle's Auction Gallery will appraise …

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Framingham Reads Together 2011

Walt Whitman Comes To Life

Stephen Collins brought his one-man show about poet Walt Whitman to life yesterday at the Amazing Things Arts Center as part of the Framingham Reads Together 2001 program.

Stephen Collins brought his one-man show about poet Walt Whitman to life yesterday at the Amazing Things Arts Center, as part of the Framingham Reads Together 2001 program. His show Unlaunch'd Voices: An Afternoon with Walt Whitman  opens with Whitman about to celebrate his 70th birthday. Whitman reminisces on his poems, his key moments in his life, his critics, his successes and his thoughts when he wrote Leaves of Grass to the audience. Whitman, sometimes called the father of free verse, self-published his Leaves of Grass. Collins, as Whitman, explains that collection of poems were meant to explore the human form. Critically it was maligned. But a letter praising the works from Ralph Waldo Emerson, inspired Whitman to published an …

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Get Out

Irish Step Dancing With Corned Beef and Cabbage Tomorrow Night

Consider taking in a performance of Stan Strickland, a one-man show features 8 instruments and 12 characters at the Amazing Things Art Center tomorrow and Saturday night.

It’s Thursday, and you have no idea what you’ll do for the weekend. Framingham  Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time. Check our picks for the activities to explore. 1. "GHOSTS OF LIAM'S TAVERN" ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARTY WHERE/WHEN: Eagles All American Grill, Tomorrow, March 18 4 to 9 p.m. WHY GO:  Corned Beef Dinner (provided by the Curtis family),music by the Claddagh and Irish Step Dance performance by students of the Lori Whyte Studio. Event is a benefit for the MA Amateur Sports Foundation and Framingham High School Hockey. PRICING: $20 2. STAN STRICKLAND: COMING UP FOR AIR WHERE/WHEN: Amazing Things Art Center- , tomorrow and Saturday night at 8 p.m. WHY GO:Conceived and performed by …

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