September 15, 2020 courtesy of Hingham Historical Society
All photos courtesy of Deirdre Anderson, Executive Director of the HHS
The Hingham Historical Society launches its fall programming this month and offers the community a variety of in-person and virtual opportunities to gather safely together and experience Hingham’s rich history.
Join the Society on Thursday, September 17, 2020 for the reopening of the Hingham Heritage Museum and to learn more about fall programs. The reopening coincides with Hingham Downtown Association’s Third Thursday Stroll. In addition to new exhibits in the Museum’s Kelly Gallery and special sales in the Museum Shop and Visitors Center, Society staff will be offering free 30-minute tours of historic downtown Hingham including a sneak peak of our latest tour “North Street to Hingham Harbor.” Information kiosks about Fall programs and membership will be set up on the Museum patio. The festivities run at the Heritage Museum from 3pm until 7:30pm. Masks are required. For the remainder of the year, the Heritage Museum will be open every Third Thursday and on Saturdays from 11am to 3pm.
Our 2020-2021 Lecture Series: Benjamin Lincoln’s World: Stories from Colonial Hingham to the Early Republic headlines the Society’s Fall offerings. The Series, which includes seven lectures, a self-guided tour and a special add-on performance in March 2021, begins on Sunday, September 27th at 3pm via Zoom. Planning for the series began over a year ago in anticipation of the Society’s acquisition of the Benjamin Lincoln House. Subscribers will hear from local and national experts and enjoy a 21st century take on the life, times and household of Benjamin Lincoln, Hingham’s Revolutionary War hero.
A rescheduled lecture from the Society’s 2019-2020 Waves of Changes series is slated for Saturday, September 19th at 3pm on Zoom. From Puritan Roots to a Town of Many Churches features virtual tours of Old Ship Meetinghouse led by the Reverend Ken Read-Brown and New North Church led by the Reverend Steve Aucella. Journey into the steeples of Hingham’s downtown landmarks from the comfort of your own home.
On October 14, 2020 at 6:30pm via Zoom and in partnership with Buttonwood Books & Toys, we offer a Conversation with the Author featuring David Gessner. Gessner discusses his new book Leave It As It Is: A Journey Through Theodore Roosevelt's American Wilderness with Gregg Wachtelhuasen. David Gessner is the author of eleven books that blend a love of nature, humor, memoir, and environmentalism. Gregg Wachtelhuasen, known locally as "Mr. W," is the leader of Hingham's popular 8th Grade Expedition Program run by Grand Classroom. Under Gregg's leadership, Hingham students have explored our National Parks for 15 years.
Our new exhibition, Picturing Hingham; The Artwork of Louis and Beatrice Baxter Ruyl opens at the Museum the weekend of October 16. Celebrate beloved 20th century artists Beatrice Baxter Ruyl - known for her paintings of iconic Hingham architecture- and her husband, prolific illustrator Louis Ruyl. The Ruyls lived in three historic Hingham homes during their time here – come see paintings of those homes and the varied medium of Ruyl talent. Members enjoy a special preview during Downtown Hingham's October #ThirdThursdayStroll on October 15, 2020.
Virtual tours of Old Ordinary continue weekly and are conducted via Zoom and led by an experienced and enthusiastic “in person” guide. Tours include 360 views of most rooms and presentation visuals to offer additional views and information. Learn about the architectural changes to the home and tavern over three centuries and explore artwork and artifacts in depth.
Weekly walking tours of historic downtown Hingham also continue throughout the Fall on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. A 75-minute safe and socially distanced opportunity to get outside and learn about downtown Hingham’s Lincoln National Historic District. Trained guides have voice amplifiers and carry a poster book of historic photos to enhance the experience. With stops at over a dozen historic sites and markers in Hingham Square and now Hingham Harbor, guests will learn about the interesting people, architectural details and major events that shaped our historic streetscape for centuries. Stay tuned for special Haunted Hingham tours in October in partnership with the Hingham Cemetery and The Company Theater as a fundraiser for the South Shore’s leading community theater group.
For our young historians, we are offering a video creation project called “Who Am I? Get Hip with History” and a chance to star on our social media pages. Participants are invited to research and learn about a character from history, dress up as that character, create and submit via a smartphone a 60 second video where they impersonate or share biographical details but never say the character's name. Videos will be shared online so the world can answer "Who am I?"
The Hingham Historical Society continues to collect and preserve Hingham History during the 2020 COVID19 Pandemic and the national and local events of the past five months with our Hingham on Hold initiative. Please send personal reflections, stories, photos and videos that chronicle your experience and express your response to life in 2020 and Hingham on Hold. The Historical Society will compile and preserve these submissions as a record of these historic times.
While the Society Archives are not yet open to in-person researchers, you can still submit research queries by sending them via email to archives@hinghamhistorical.org.
To learn more about all of these programs, to buy lecture tickets and join as a member, visit hinghamhistorical.org, email info@hinghamhistorical.org or call (781) 749-7721, x1.
About the Hingham Historical Society
The Hingham Historical Society, founded in 1914, is a member-supported non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and celebrating the history of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts. We offer educational programs, exhibits, and year-round activities for all those who seek to gain a deeper appreciation of our community’s and our nation’s history. If you know the history of Hingham, you know the history of America.