By 1763, Newton had two full-time school masters and four one-room, 14 ft x 16 ft schoolhouses for a population of 1,306. The teachers taught reading, writing, and arithmetic to a mix of boys aged 5 to 16. The school ran from mid-November to the first of March.[1] The schedule…
Posts published in “History”
Established as a part of the 2025 legislative budget, sponsored by State Senator John C. Velis, the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism is holding hearings throughout Massachusetts to explore expanding incidents of antisemitism and to give Jewish community leaders and residents an opportunity to share concerns and recommendations. Senator Velis…
On Thursday, April 3, the West Newton Cinema held a screening of the documentary Made in Ethiopia, followed by a panel discussion. Part of the Cinema’s “Behind the Screen” series, the event was organized by the West Newton Cinema Foundation, a nonprofit organization raising funds to restore and renovate the…
Did you miss the 157th anniversary of The Great International Walking Match? What sets this event apart in literary and local history is the participation of the iconic English novelist, Charles Dickens, while in Newton, Massachusetts! This is the little known story of the brief visit in 1868 of Charles Dickens to the…
Historic Newton will host an event, Dazzling Decades, for April vacation, where participants can travel back in time and immerse themselves in crafts and activities from different decades. These events will take place at the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds (286 Waverley Avenue, Newton Corner). Tickets are $5 for kids, free…
The Newton Art Association (NAA) will host their biggest event of the year, the James King Bonner Exhibit, named after NAA’s founder. The exhibit will occur from Monday, March 3 until Wednesday, April 30 at the Morse Institute Library (14 East Central Street, Natick). There will also be a reception…
Tight school budgets, outdated school buildings, and uncontested School Committee elections: When did these issues begin? Fig City News dug into archives and discovered a history of Newton’s schools dating back to the 17th century rife with issues that vex us to this day: funding, teacher pay, curriculum, governance, school…
West Newton Cinema will show a film — Made in Ethiopia — followed by a panel discussion on April 3, 6:30PM-9PM at the Cinema (1296 Washington Street, West Newton). Tickets are $20 for the film plus panel discussion. A documentary about the Chinese industrialization of a small farming village in…
David Bramante ran the West Newton Cinema for 46 years, turning it into one of Boston’s premier movie theaters for arthouse, international, and independent film. His achievement was celebrated at the theater on March 15 in a surprise party hosted for him by the West Newton Cinema Foundation (WNCF) and…
Seeing a British grenadier armed with a “Brown Bess” musket roaming around Newton 250 years ago would have alarmed many residents. However, Richard Tucker’s red coat and the rest of his uniform brought only curiosity – not fear, hatred, or loyalty – when he wore it outside the Durant-Kenrick House…