Upcoming Events
Historical Society Programs for 2023-2024
Our programs are free and open to the public.
We would love to have you join us!
Date: April 21, 2024 at 2pm
Has Anyone seen $500 Million in Art laying around Boston? Writer Bob Ainsworth on the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist.
Location: Ashland Historical Society Free and open to the public
HAS ANYONE SEEN $500 MILLION IN ART LYING AROUND BOSTON? An hour or so after the 1990 St. Patrick’s Day ended, two men dressed as Boston cops entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, stayed for about 90 minutes, and left with 13 pieces of art. None of the priceless items have been found. Numerous suspects have been named over the years but none have been arrested. Many are now dead. Bob Ainsworth, the author of DUPED, a fictional account of the robbery, will review the actual details of the theft, the suspects, and the motives behind the world’s most valued art theft. He will also tell of his own brush with the infamous crime.
About the writer:
Bob Ainsworth was raised in New Jersey, earned a BS in Accounting from Boston College,
an MBA in Finance from Northeastern University, and had his CPA. He worked in corporate
accounting as a CFO and Controller and taught accounting. He uncovered two fraud cases
during his career.
The idea for the Harry Bartlett stories sprang from his Accounting students’ positive
reactions to fraud anecdotes. He started to write his first story while commuting and then
continued after retiring. He has self-published 3 novels- DUPED, CONNED and
SCAMMED. A fourth, PONZI’d, is planned for 2024.
He loves reading mysteries and thrillers by authors such as John Grisham, Dennis Lehane,
Robert B. Parker, David Baldacci, Earl Stanley Gardner, Arthur Conan Doyle, Hank
Phillippe Ryan, and Elmore Leonard. He also likes to read non-fiction history.
He lives in retirement in Massachusetts with his family.
Date: March 24, 2024 at 2pm
Author Tom Ellis speaks on his newly published book, “Ashland’s Civil War Service.”
Location: Ashland Historical Society Free and open to the public
Author Tom Ellis speaks on his newly published book, “Ashland’s Civil War Service.” The book chronicles the history of the contributions of the Town of Ashland in the Civil War. It describes the actions taken by the town as a municipality. It enlightens the reader as to the involvements of the Women and service of men of African descent for the Town of Ashland, from 1861 to 1865. Through his research that included diaries and letters, Tom gives us stories of how the soldiers lived day to day, what their thinking was in deciding how to join the war, and what their families did while they were gone.
Date: February 18, 2024 at 2pm
WWII Family Victory Gardens and kitchens
Location: Ashland Historical Society Free and open to the public
In 1943, there were over 20 million Victory Gardens in the United States! What were those gardens? Who grew them and why? Come to The Ashland Historical Society’s free event on February 18, 2024 at 2PM to find out! The Society is proud to have Deborah and Ed Chrzanowski share their knowledge about the Victory Gardens of WW2 fame. With their WW2 Family Victory Garden & Kitchen display, the Chrzanowskis participate in many WW2 living history events each year. Their extensive knowledge, not only comes from years of research, but from their own family memories and stories. You will not want to miss this fascinating presentation on Victory Gardens and kitchens of WW2.
Sheryl Faye Presenting Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Date: Jan 21, 2024 at 2pm Location: Ashland Historical Society.
The Ashland Historical Society is happy to welcome back performer Sheryl Faye. She will be bringing American Justice Icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg to life. RBG was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in September 2020. This show is an inspiring story of how RBG changed her life—and ours!
HISTORIC CEMETERY RESTORATION: A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS Date: November 19th, 2023 Time: 2:00 pm
Location: The Cemetery (Village Burial Grounds) behind the Federated Church, 118 Main Street, Ashland MA
Rain or Shine. Rain or inclement weather planned location change: Ocean House 2 Myrtle Street. Ashland MA A Historic Cemetery Restoration Speaking Event at The Ashland Village Burial Grounds behind the Federated Church
Presented by: TNT Gravestone Solutions LLC, Todd Baptista, Troy Rebello and Dawn Young
The Ashland Historic Society and the Ashland Historic Commission have partnered to bring this speaking event to you. If you are concerned about the conditions that currently exist in this historic cemetery in Ashland this is your opportunity to hear what the possibilities for restoration are.
This will be a walk and talk presentation we will speak to general issues, concerns, etc. right there in front of us. We will use actual gravestones in the talk and our explanations and can answer questions folks may have based on what we see and find. They will bring along some D/2 biological solution so that you can see exactly how the cleaning process works, too. Parking: Behind Town Hall located at 101 Main Street and Across from the Ashland Public Library located at: 66 Front Street
Light refreshments provided
We would suggest people who may not want to stand the entire time bring a portable chair.
All Events are subject to date changes and/or cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen events. Changes and cancellations will be posted on this site and emailed to Society members. Unless otherwise noted, our programs start promptly at 2pm and generally run about 1 hour. If the program is a remote Zoom program, a Zoom link will be provided. For in-person programs at the Society follow CDC COVID guidelines