Moviegoers packed West Newton Cinema to watch Hamnet, a reimagining of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes as they confront the love and loss that inspired Hamlet. Shakespeare scholar Michelle Ephraim sat down with historian, writer, and Newton native Stephen Greenblatt to unpack the film and its place within modern…
Posts published in “History”
Following a 75-year-old tradition, the Nonantum Children’s Christmas Party Association hosted its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Sunday evening, December 7th. As they waited in the brisk air for the human Santa and the tree lighting, at least 300 people – and a number of dogs — joined the…
Following World War II, Newton was known as “one of the best school systems in the country.” James Conant, president of Harvard, called Newton a lighthouse that pointed the way to excellence in public education. Community organizations worked closely with NPS. Leaders of the PTA and the Newton Teachers Federation…
One woman escaped Nazi rule at the age of eight and made it to America where she built a career teaching music and climbed many mountains. Another woman protested dictatorship in Argentina as a child and became a renowned linguistic theorist and teacher. A third escaped Communist rule in Hungary…
Friends, family, and City officials filled the hall of the American Legion Nonantum Post 440 on the morning of November 11 to honor Newton’s veterans during the city’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. The ceremony began with the Post’s Honor Guard marching into the hall. Seth Bai, Newton’s director of Veteran…
On November 9, over 30 residents of Newton Lower Falls gathered by the Hamilton Community Center for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the installation of two information signs that celebrate the history of Newton’s westernmost village. The Lower Falls Improvement Association (LFIA) and Historic Newton began collaborating in 2022 to…
On Sunday, November 23 from 2PM – 3:30PM, the Newton Free Library (330 Homer St, Newton) will host Reclaiming Folk: Celebrating People of Color in Folk Music, featuring Naomi Westwater, Louie Lou Louis, and Prateek. From Reclaiming Folk: This is an event series that celebrates and honors people of color (POC) in…
After changing venues due to rain from Albemarle Field to indoors at Newton North, the city celebrated its fifth Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 13. There were approximately 1,100 attendees, along with 68 Indigenous vendors and 9 food vendors. Chief Dean Stanton, Chief of the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island,…
In the early 20th century, Newton was known throughout the state and nation for its innovative public school system, with high educational standards and cooperative officials. In 1930, Boston University’s School of Education contracted with Newton Public Schools (NPS) for their students “to see progressive principles of education at work…
Join Newton at Home on Tuesday, October 7 from 5:30-7:30PM at the Scandinavian Living Center, Nordic Hall (206 Waltham Street) for the book launch of Women of Courage and Conviction by Newton writer Dorothy Anger, along with four of the book’s women — also Newton residents — as they share…
Join Andrew Middleton of The Map Center in Pawtucket, RI for The Map Center Presents: How Maps Lie. Taking place on Friday, October 10 at 2PM at the Newton Free Library (330 Homer Street), this talk is a fun and informative exploration of how maps tell all sorts of stories. Learn…
Newton’s 5th annual Ceremonial Celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day will be held on Monday, October 13 from 11AM to 5PM — NOT at Albemarle Field but at NEWTON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL (due to expected inclement weather). Dedicated this year to the drum — the heartbeat of Indigenous Nations and Mother…