Prior 2006/2007 Season Events

Lecture Series

Arlington's Second Century: 1907-2007

Richard A. Duffy, Historian and Author

May 29, 2007

The Arlington development boom began shortly after the town's one-hundredth anniversary, and the pace of change has continued unabated. Enjoy a lively illustrated look at how the role of town government has evolved to both respond to change and, indeed, how to help modern residents have a voice in shaping community transformation.

Town Hall in Character

Patsy Kraemer, Producer

Town Bicentennial Historical Program Series

Co-Sponsored by the Arlington Historical Society and the Arlington 200th Anniversary Committee.

April 24, 2007

Join a unique program in which small groups will visit five different areas in the original 1913 Robbins Memorial Town Hall and Winfield Robbins Memorial Garden. Participants will be greeted by historical characters at each stop, who will reveal fascinating stories of their lives and of the architectural landmark that is the hub of Arlington's municipal life. Refreshments will conclude this special evening.

Cast of Characters: Cyrus E. Dallin, R. Clipston Sturgis, Leonard Collins, Nathan Robbins, Amos Robbins, Adelia Robbins, Ida Robbins, Eliza Robbins, Caira Robbins.

From Without and Within: How Women Have Shaped Town Government in History

League of Women Voters

March 27, 2007

Arlington did not have its first female selectman until the 1970's, but as far back as the Victorian era, women have played a growing role in shaping the Town of Arlington we know today. Hear how women leaders first undertook official roles, and how the League of Women Voters helped to bring about our Town Manager form of government, our precinct structure, our recycling system, and other aspects of municipal life that we take for granted.

Arlington Through my Viewfinder: Chuck Kraemer Stories from WGBH

Chuck Kraemer, Storyteller and Videographer

February 27, 2007

Longtime Arlington resident Chuck Kraemer has won multiple Emmy awards for his "At Large" segments on Channel 2's "Greater Boston." He has selected the best of his video productions that have featured Arlington as theme or as scenic backdrop. Enjoy a special retrospective with Kraemer's commentary on each of the pieces. An audience discussion will conclude this entertaining evening.

A Plague in Arlington: Coping with the Influenza of 1918

Dennis J. Ahern

November 28, 2006

"I had a little'bird and its name was Enza. I opened up the window and in flew Enza," went the children's rhyme of the era. The Arlington Advocate reported witnesses seeing a German U-boat surface in Boston Harbor and disperse an aerosol mist. Nobody knew where the deadly epidemic truly had come from, but everyone in Arlington in some way was affected by it.

Arlington: 1807-1907 The First Hundred Years

Richard A. Duffy, Co-Chairman, Arlington Historical Commission

October 24, 2006

This richly illustrated, fast-paced lecture traces the progress of town government from the infancy of rural West Cambridge to the cusp of the community's ultimate destiny as a commuter suburb. It's a fascinating look at the historical role of our local government in the lives of everyday people.

Town Day Yard Sale

Saturday, September 9, 2006, Town Day

10:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Decorative home accessories, bric-a-brac, pictures and picture frames, collectibles, clocks, lamps, vases and more.

More information.