Category Archives: Video

Video: A Walking Tour of Historic Groton Homes

On Sunday, September 18th, 2016, Nicolas Langhart took us on a walking tour to examine the variety of architectural styles of Groton’s historic homes located in the town’s center. Mr. Langhart is the director of the Forbush Memorial Library in Westminster, holds an MA in historic preservation from Cornell University and has served as property manager at Historic New England, Boston. He has taught courses on the history of architecture on Long Island, NY and at Clark University, Worcester State and WPI. He instructs docents at Preservation Worcester and is currently teaching courses on New England architecture in the ALFA program at Fitchburg State University.

Video provided by John Ellenberger.

Harrie Slootbeek on local inventor Loammi Baldwin, Jr. (video)

On Saturday, May 14, 2016, Harrie Slootbeek delivered a talk at the Boutwell House about local inventor Loammi Baldwin, Jr. who engineered Groton’s first fire pump, The Torrent. Baldwin later designed the drydocks at the Charlestown Navy Yards.

Harrie is collections and exhibits manager at the USS Constitution Museum.

Ginger to Jello: an Unexpected Christmas History

On December 1, the Groton Historical Society welcomed sixty people to the beautiful Boutwell House for a program about the history of Christmas celebrations through popular foods of the 1770’s, 1850’s and 1930’s thanks to the Groton Commissioners of Trust Funds.

The presenter, Clara Silverstein, is the Community Engagement Manager for Historic Newton and a former food writer at the Boston Herald. She has published three cookbooks, including The New England Soup Factory. Clara blogs about historic recipes at heritagerecipes.com.

Participants were treated to samples of Sarah Boutwell’s Cider cake and hot cider prepared by Bobbie Spieglman, President of GHS, Bonnie Carter and Liz Strachan. The Boutwell House was decorated with festive greens, fruit, popcorn and cookies. These were provided by Penny Hommeyer, Lynne Kavanaugh and Linda Andelman. Outdoor planters were decorated by Ann White and Laura Semple. The Woman’s Club provided a decorative swag for the front door and the Nashoba Board of Trade donated poinsettias. Special recognition goes to the GHS program committee members, who did the prep work to bring this program to Groton, Nancy Barringer and Judith Adams.

3 Centuries of Holiday Celebrations in New England from John Ellenberger on Vimeo.

: Historical foods!

: Clara Silverstein speaks about "Ginger to Jello: an Unexpected Christmas History" in a December 2015 program.

: And there was much enjoyment.