CELEBRATING THE HIDDEN TREASURES OF FREEDOM’S WAY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

DISCOVER l EXPLORE l LEARN l CONNECT l FIND

MAY 1 through MAY 31, 2017 www.DiscoverHiddenTreasures.org Complete program information, updates and event registration information.

Presenting Sponsor Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area works in partnership with the National Park Service

Leominster Worcester Fitchburg Gardner Shirley Barre Millbury Paxton Princeton Hidden Treasures 2017

v ABOUT Hidden Treasures is a month-long Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area celebration of the natural, cultural and Designated by Congress for its unique nationally significant qualities historic resources located with the and resources, the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area is a place Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. where a combination of natural, cultural, historic and recreational It provides an opportunity to explore resources have shaped a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape. “treasures” hidden in plain site through Its story is intimately tied to the character of the land as well as those family friendly, community organized and who shaped and were shaped by it. presented programs and activities Home to Minute Man National Historical Park and , offered free of charge. the heritage area is steeped in concepts of individual freedom and responsibility, community cooperation, direct democracy, idealism, DISCOVER exciting and unexpected stories and places within the heritage and social betterment, perspectives that have inspired national and international movements in governance, education, abolitionism, area’s 45 communities. social justice, conservation and the arts. the region’s landscape, public EXLORE The Freedom’s Way Heritage Association is the local coordinating monuments, historic buildings, agricultural entity for the 45 communities within the heritage area. As a partner properties, cultural and natural features, of the National Park Service, the non-profit organization objects and documents. implements the mission and vision articulated in its management LEARN about the visionaries and plan through education, interpretation, communication, experimenters who, since before the collaboration and the stewardship of the heritage area’s historic, founding of the nation, lived within the natural and cultural resources. National Heritage Area formulating new ideas about relations of nature and society. MISSION CONNECT with the shared stories and We connect the people, places and communities of the Heritage Area places that are part of your own and through preservation, conservation and educational initiatives to neighboring communities. protect and promote our shared resources and encourage residents and visitors to explore our landscape, history and culture. FIND your place in the heritage area! VISION v The Heritage Area is a place where people are inspired by the historical and intellectual traditions that underpin the concepts of freedom, democracy, conservation and social justice. Building upon this legacy, we collaborate to create strong communities and support Presenting Sponsor— Fidelity Bank a regional identity. Community Sponsor— The LexVest Group Phoenix Park, Pepperell Place, Mill Pond Square and 141 Parker

Cover: Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, USF&W–Concord; Registration information online at Growing Places–Clinton; Rauscher Farm & Bigelow Free Public www.DiscoverHiddenTreasures.org Library–Clinton; Groton Public Library–Groton; Dunstable Durable Land Trust–Dunstable.

2 I Visit www.DiscoverHiddenTreasures.org for full program details and updates. ACTON ARLINGTON 3 hours; shorter tours are possible. The Historical Piano Concerts series take place each Sunday in Backyard and Beyond: Great Hill Arlington’s Arts & Crafts Architecture: May. Concerts’ admission fee is for adults only; Exploration A Walking Tour students and kids attend free. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St. Reservations Required. Historical Piano Concerts, Inc. Sat. May 20 | 11:00–11:30 AM Sun. May 21 | 2:00–3:30 PM Come explore some of the trails that wind Fine examples of the “Craftsman Bungalow”, AYER through the 184 wooded acres with a Museum most frequently associated with Arts and Crafts educator. Not handicap or stroller accessible; architecture, can be seen on this tour. Downtown Ayer Treasures of wear appropriate footwear and clothing. Space is limited. Architectural History Walking Tour Weather dependent. Arlington Historical Society Ayer Town Hall, 1 Main St. Sat. May 13 | Noon–2:30 PM The Discovery Museums Food Waste: Film and Discussion Guided walk of Downtown Ayer with Still Standing: The Barns of Acton Robbins Library, 700 Mass Avenue, Alan S. Manoian, Director of Community & The Hosmer House Museum & Barn, Community Room, Basement Level Economic Development, reveals authentic 300 Main St. Tues. May 9 | 6:00–8:00 PM historic architectural treasures. Sat. May 6 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM View screening of “Expired: Food Waste in Ayer Historical Commission Sun. May 7 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM America” by the Harvard Food Law and Policy Sat. May 13, 20, 27 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM Clinic followed by a discussion about food waste. BEDFORD Sun. May 14, 21, 28 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM Food Link Visit the Bedford Flag A celebration of Acton’s 19th Century Barns Making History/Making Place: Bedford Free Public Library, 7 Mudge Way through a tour May 6th and 7th of our historic Small Museums in Sat. May 13 | 1:00–4:00 PM barn and our Museum. Barn and House will The Old Schwamb Mill, 17 Mill Lane Sharon McDonald, author of “The Bedford Flag be open to the public on these days and at May 20 | 2:00–4:00 PM Unfurled,” will open the vault and tell you the these times. Enjoy a talk by William Hosely of Terra story of the oldest flag in the United States. Acton Historical Society Firma Inc., former curator at the Wadsworth The Bedford Flag can be seen as a self-guided Athenaeum in Hartford, CT. Reception tour any time library is open. AMHERST, NH immediately follows talk with an opportunity Bedford Free Public Library Amherst Village Walking Tour to tour the Old Schwamb Mill. and Visit to Museums Old Schwamb Mill Tour of the First Parish Church Reservations Required. First Parish in Bedford, UU, Amherst Town Library, 14 Main St. ASHBURNHAM On the Common, 75 The Great Road Sat. May 13 | 1:00–2:00 PM The Ashburnham Light Infantry May 14 | 1:00–4:00 PM A guided, one-hour walking tour of Fairbanks Memorial Town Hall, 32 Main St First Parish is celebrating 200 years in its present Amherst Village with Katrina Hollman, May 29 | 8:45–11:30 AM meetinghouse. Join docents for a tour of this expert local historian, will start at the Amherst The Light Infantry Company musters out in historic old building. Town Library, concluding at the historical Colonial garb firing a reproduction muzzleload- The First Parish in Bedford, society museums. ing 1791 bronze cannon and the Light Artillery in Unitarian Universalist Amherst Heritage Commission, Amherst Town 1902 Army Uniforms firing a 1902 3” Field Gun. Library, Historical Society of Amherst Events move inside Town Hall for a rain event. Tour the Job Lane House Hiking and Lunch at Lindabury Orchard Cannons will be fired in the rain. Job Lane House, 295 North Rd Reservations Required. Ashburnham Light Infantry Sat. May 14 | 2:00–4:00 PM Take a 40-minute tour of the 300-year-old Lindabury Orchard The Frederick Historical Piano Collection 70-72 Christian Hill Road Job Lane House and reproduction barn with 30 Main St. guides in colonial dress. Play colonial games Sat. May 20 | 10:00–11:15 AM Thur. May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 | Springtime hike at one of Amherst’s best known and enjoy refreshments. 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Friends of the Job Lane House, First Parish in hiking trails and learn the history of the orchard. Sat. May 6, 13, 20, 27 | 1:00–4:00 PM Bring Your Own Lunch to enjoy at the end of Bedford, Unitarian Universalist, Bedford Free Visit the internationally recognized collection Public Library the hike. and hear the original pianos by 19th century Amherst Heritage Commission, Amherst European makers. Free tours take place when Conservation Commission, Friends of the Orchard people arrive. A complete tour can take

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BOLTON Smart Barn Tour The Women of The Wayside Great Brook Farm State Park, 165 North Rd. The Wayside: Home of Authors Silas Holman’s 1831 Map for the Sat. May 6 | 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM 455 Lexington Rd. Town of Bolton Sun. May 7 | 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM Sat. May 13 | 10:00 AM Bolton Public Library, 738 Main St. Discover the latest in Dairy Farm Technology. Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend at The Wayside Tues. May 2 | 10:00 AM–8:00 PM See our Robotic Voluntary Milking Machine and see artifacts from the many noteworthy Wed. May 31 | 10:00 AM–8:00 PM View the recently restored 1831 map of the and meet the cows of Great Brook Farm. Enjoy women who called The Wayside home. Town of Bolton by Bolton surveyor Silas Holman, ice cream. Barn Tours occur each Saturday and Tour of house follows. Space is limited; including information on the restoration process Sunday in May at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. first come-first serve. and features within the map. Five additional maps Pouring rain/lightning cancels tours. Minute Man National Historical Park dating from 1794 to 1898 are also included in After 30 minutes, parking fees apply. What Were They Fighting For? exhibit. Workshops on deed searches using Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation The Robbins House and the North Bridge MassLandRecords take place May 6 (11:00 AM to The Robbins House, 320 Monument St. 1:00 PM) and again on May 9 (7:00 to 9:00 PM). CLINTON Sat. May 6 | 1:00–3:00 PM Self-guided experience offered during regular How Trees Talk Sun. May 13 | 1:00–3:00 PM library hours. Reservations Required. Meet Peter Robbins; hear a story that infuriated Bolton Historical Society Bigelow Free Public Library/ Rauscher Farm, Thoreau; make startling new discoveries about 54 Walnut St. and 29 Clamshell Rd. how Concord’s African American experiences BOXBOROUGH Sat. May 20 | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM connect to the nation’s history. Steele Farm: Walks, Talks and Tune in to the language of trees, starting The Robbins House Open Buildings with a presentation at Bigelow Free Public Gaining Ground Family-Friendly Visit Steele Farm, 484 Middle Road Library, followed by a walk in the woods on Reservations Required. Sat. May 6 | 1:00–4:30 PM Rauscher Farm. Gaining Ground, 341 Virginia Rd. Sat. May 20 | 1:00–4:30 PM Rauscher Farm, Bigelow Free Public Library Sun. May 21 | 1:00–3:00 PM Birding and wildlife walks at the 34-acre Steele Join a family-friendly visit with a farm tour and Learn & Grow Workshop: Garden Art Farm with agricultural history talks and light refreshments. We grow organic produce demonstrations guided and presented by & Structures with the help of volunteers and donate all knowledgeable volunteers. Rain postpones Reservations Required by May 15. 60,000 lbs. for hunger relief. Space is limited. event to following Sunday. Bigelow Free Public Library, 54 Walnut St. Thunderstorms cancel. Boxborough Historical Society, Inc., Wed. May 17 | 6:00–7:30 PM Gaining Ground Boxborough Conservation Trust Personalize and complement the natural beauty of your home garden by creating whimsical Walking, Working, Waking: What Was Thoreau Seeking? BROOKLINE, NH garden art from new or upcycled materials. Take-home art project materials included! First Parish Church of Concord 20 Lexington Rd. Brookline’s Best Kept Secret Discovered Space is limited. Sat. May 6 | 4:00–5:00 PM Andres Institute of Art, 106 Rt 13 Growing Places Sat. May 6 | 1:00 PM–3:00 PM Celebrate Henry David Thoreau’s life in the church he sometimes attended with a lecture A presenter will introduce Andres Institute CONCORD of Art with a presentation of New England’s by local historian Jayne Gordon. largest sculpture park at Big Bear Lodge located Turtles, Thoreau and Transcendentalism: Sat. May 6 | 5:00–6:00 PM just beyond entrance to park. Guided tours on How American Environmentalism Was Registration required for trivia and dinner. May 6 as well as self-guided tours until dusk. Hatched in Massachusetts Following the lecture, Thoreau interpreter The park is open daily dawn to dusk. Reservations Required by May 7th. Richard Smith will lead a trivia night competition Andres Institute of Art Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge for all ages. Buffet dinner begins at 6:00pm. Concord Unit, Monsen Rd. First Parish Church of Concord, MA CARLISLE Sat. May 13 | 5:00–6:30 PM Henry and the Huckleberries: A Visit with Farm Open House Take a walk with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Mr. Thoreau at Walden Pond Clark Organic Farm, 185 Concord St. Service as we investigate the intersection Registration Required. Sun. May 7 | 1:00–4:00 PM between modern conservation and classical Sat. May 13 | 3:00–5:00 PM Learn from our staff about the techniques poetry. Space is limited. Author Sally Sanford will read her latest children’s used on a certified organic vegetable farm U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service book at Thoreau Farm, introducing children to that is integrated with livestock. Thoreau. Clark Farm Thoreau Farm

4 I Visit www.DiscoverHiddenTreasures.org for full program details and updates. Spring Walk on the Ralph Waldo Emerson- DUNSTABLE they display their nature, wildlife, and Henry David Thoreau Amble landscape photography. Mountain Views to Railways Reservations Recommended. Gardner Conservation Commission Reservations Required. Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike Flat Rock Hill Conservation Area, Letterpress and Bookbinding in Chair City Sat. May 6 | 11:00 AM–Noon 67 Mill St. Chair City Community Workshop Follow the footsteps of writers Ralph Waldo Fri. May 12 | 10:00 AM–Noon Sun. May 7, 21, 28 | 2:00–5:00 PM Emerson and Henry David Thoreau with a guid- Walk from the top of Blanchard Hill, through We’ll train you on the spot to print and bind ed walk from Emerson’s house to Fairyland Pond woodlands and a quarry to Salmon Brook and books the old-fashioned way! Volunteer a total of in the Walden Woods. Limited space. Check 1783 Reed Homestead, guided by local historian 3 hours in May and get a book in the Chair City museum website for weather cancellation info. Alan Chaney. Space is limited. Severe weather Oral History Series for free. Check our website Concord Museum, Mass Department of cancels event. for details on additional weekday volunteer times. Conservation and Recreation: Walden Pond Dunstable Rural Land Trust Chair City Community Workshop State Reservation Visit Henry’s Birthplace During FITCHBURG GROTON the Thoreau 200th Rollstone Hill “Rock Walk” What Glaciers Left Behind Thoreau Farm: Birthplace of Boulder Art Gallery, 960 Main St. Reservations Required. Henry David Thoreau, 342 Virginia Rd. Sat. May 20 | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM Groton Town Hall (start location), 173 Main St. Sat. May 6, 13, 20, 27 | 11:00 AM–4:00 PM Rain Date May 21 | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM Sat. May 20 | 9:00–11:30 AM Sun. May 7, 14, 21, 28 | 11:00 AM–4:00 PM Guided and narrated historic tour features a Sun. May 21 | 1:00–3:30 PM Learn about Henry and his life in Concord. scenic, easy two-mile walk from the Boulder in An interactive Geology Bus Tour of Groton’s Free admission. Guided tours take place Fitchburg’s Upper Common to the summit of glacial features for geology enthusiasts of all ages. at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Rollstone Hill. Wear walking shoes, bring water Space is limited. Registrants will receive weather The Museum closes at 4:00 PM. Self-guided and a camera! Call the Boulder Art Gallery at or cancellation notices. opportunities as well. 978-345-7000 for weather updates or check our Groton Commisioners of Trust Fund Thoreau Farm: Birthplace of Facebook page. Henry David Thoreau A Challenge to a President in a Divided Nation Fitchburg Greenway Committee, Fitchburg Boutwell House, 172 Main St. DEVENS Historical Society, Boulder Art Gallery Sat. May 20 | 1:00–3:00 PM “If These Walls Could Talk” History of the Historian Brian Bixby will talk about the actions Herbert G. Pratt’s Boat House Program Fitchburg Fire Department Exhibition and that brought about the impeachment of President and Tour Open House Andrew Johnson and the role of Groton’s George Bill Ashe Visitors Center at Oxbow Fitchburg Historical Society, 781 Main St., Boutwell in those proceedings. Self-guided tour. Hospital Road Phoenix Building Groton History Center Sun. May 21 | 1:00–3:00 PM Sat. May 13 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM See the remains of the boathouse Gifts of the Glaciers: How Glaciers Guided Special weekend hours for exhibition on the built by Herbert G. Pratt, the Superintendent Our Natural and Human History history of firefighting in Fitchburg, with Fire at Sampson Cordage after James P. Tolson, and Nashua River Watershed River Resource Center, Department’s Open House, featuring located on the East side of the Nashua River in 592 Main St. historic photos and artifacts from 100 years. Harvard opposite the Lowell Road buildings in Tues. May 23 | 7:00–9:00 PM Fire Prevention Week activities at station. Shirley. Learn about its history. Formerly James Learn how Groton’s geographic location and the Historical Society open normal hours: Monday, Tolson Boat House Program and Tour Ice Age glacier created a rich biological environ- Tuesday and Wednesdays. ment, unique in Massachusetts, as told by local Armed Forces Day Open House Fitchburg Historical Society, City of Fitchburg experts Robert Pine, Geologist, and Michael Fort Devens Museum, 94 Jackson Rd., #305 Fire Department Roberts, Archaeologist/Historian. Sat. May 20 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Nashua River Watershed Association Celebrate and honor the United States Armed GARDNER Groton Conservation Trust Forces with a day of history and memories. Perley Brook Reservoir Hike and Outdoor New exhibits, refreshments, raffle prizes, and Photography Exhibit guest speakers. Self-guided. Perley Brook Reservoir–Loop Trail, 110 Clark St. Fort Devens Museum (At the Entrance to the West End Beagle Club) Sat. May 20 | 1:00–4:30 PM Registration information online at Explore the natural beauty of one of Gardner’s www.DiscoverHiddenTreasures.org Hidden Treasures and along the way stop to admire the work of several local photographers as www.freedomsway.org I 5 Registration information online at www.DiscoverHiddenTreasures.org

6 I Visit www.DiscoverHiddenTreasures.org for full program details and updates. FREEDOM’S WAY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA BY THE NUMBERS 994 Square miles; 636,160 acres Percent (158,531 acres) permanently protected conservation lands 24.72 (easements, public ownership, and conservation trust ownership) 23 Local land trusts National Wildlife Refuges encompassing 7,700 acres Assabet, 3 Great Meadows , Oxbow State parks, state forests, and other state level 21 public recreation areas 1 National Historical Park (Minute Man National Historical Park) 13 Regional trails, about 121 miles 17 National Historic Landmarks 337 Listings in the National Register of Historic Places 61 Historic districts 39 Local governments with historical or heritage commissions 21 Locally designated historic districts 6 Certified local governments 16,225 Surveyed historic sites and areas (15,584 in MA; 371 in NH) 155 Farms serving the general public, plus 28 farmer’s markets

MASSACHUSETTS Acton, Arlington, Ashburnham, Ashby, Ayer, Bedford, Bolton, Boxborough, Carlisle, Clinton, Concord, Devens, Dunstable, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lunenburg, Malden, Maynard, Medford, Pepperell, Princeton, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Townsend, Westford, Westminster, Winchendon, Woburn

NEW HAMPSHIRE Amherst, Brookline, Greenville, Hollis, Mason, Milford, Nashua, New Ipswich

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Birds and Nature Walk Remembering the Price of Freedom Falls with a informational presentation. Check Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center Harvard Town Common, 1 Still River Rd. www.Facebook.com/HudsonRecreation on May Parking Lot Sun. May 21 | 1:30–3:00 PM 1st for final location. Facebook for Sun. May 14 | 8:30–10:30 AM Discover Harvard center and honor those who weather updates. Join birding enthusiasts Russ and Wanfang fought for our freedom on this guided walking Hudson Recreation, Hudson Planning & Murray for a spring bird and nature walk through tour of Harvard’s town common featuring Community Development the Nashua River Rail Trail. Harvard’s soldiers memorials. Groton Trails Committee Harvard Historical Society LANCASTER Footprints of the Glaciers Alpaca Farm Tours Thayer Memorial Library’s Museum Williams Barn, 160 Chicopee Row Harvard Alpaca Ranch, 58 Old Mill Rd. 717 Main St., 2nd floor May 14 | 8:00–11:00 AM Sat. May 6, 13, 20, 27 | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM Mon. May 1 | 6:00–7:30 PM Moderate 5-mile hike includes climbing Groton’s Sun. May 7, 14, 21, 28 | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM Sat. May 13 | Noon–1:30 PM highest drumlin (and viewing several others in Tour the farm on May weekends and learn Tues. May 16 | 6:00-7:30 PM the swarm), traversing eskers, and passing by about what alpacas are, from where they Sat. May 20 | Noon-1:30 PM bedrock outcrops and vernal pools. originate, their light footprint on the land, Wed. May 24 | 6:00-7:30 PM Groton Trails Committee and why their fiber is so highly prized. Sat. May 27 | Noon-1:30 PM The Essential Honeybee Weekday visits by appointment only. The program is self-guided but museum docents Reservations Required. Harvard Alpaca Ranch will be on hand. Historically significant artifacts from Lancaster and surrounding communities Groton Public Library, 99 Main St. HOLLIS, NH Tues. May 2 | 7:00–8:30 PM are housed in Thayer Memorial Library’s Learn about the vital role of the honeybee in Family/Kids Birding Hike Museum, including Colonial & Revolutionary our environment with expert Kenneth Warchol, Reservations Required. America’s objects. Worcester County Bee Inspector. With honey Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Rte 130 Thayer Memorial Library tasting! Space is limited. Sun. May 7 | 10:30 AM–12:30 PM LEOMINSTER Groton Public Library This kid-friendly birding hike with Clayton Hobart, Audubon Certified Birder, is aimed to Sholan Farms—Story Walk HARVARD introduce bird watching to kids. Rain cancels. Sholan Farms, 1125 Pleasant St. Home Sweet Home at the Appalachian Mountain Club- Sat. May 20 | 11:00 AM–4:00 PM Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd. Family Outings Free Admission as we host the 16th Annual Sat. May 20 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Hike and Learn: Natural History Apple Blossom Festival. Owned by the City of This year Fruitlands Museum joins the Trustees’ and Forestry Trail Leominster and operated by the Friends of Sholan statewide annual event, “Home Sweet Home”, Brown Lane Barn - Beaver Brook, Farms, Sholan Farm’s Story Walk is an easy with free museum access, gallery talks, and 52 Brown Lane Barn self-guided loop through the working orchard. activities all day long. Self-guided. Daily, Dawn to Dusk Open daily, May 1–30; self-guided. Trustees Self-guided tour allows hikers to learn about the Sholan Farms Old Frog Pond Farm Tour history and ecology of the area. Signs along the Urban Tree Identification Walk Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Rd. forested trail correspond to a free booklet Reservations Required. Sun. May 21 | 2:00–3:30 PM available at the trail head. Starting at Leominster City Hall, 25 West St. Join sculptor and orchardist, Linda Hoffman, Beaver Brook Association Sat. May 6 | 10:00–11:00 AM Join us as we get to know Leominster’s for a spring tour of the farm including the apple HUDSON orchard, espaliered apple trees, grafted trees, the urban treescape through an hour-long tree hoop house, mediation hut, and sculpture by Guided Walking Tour of Town of Hudson identification walk starting downtown at Hoffman and other artists installed around the Conservation Land City Hall. Space is limited. Weather cancellation pond. Severe weather cancels event. Reservations Required. posted on Facebook page. Old Frog Pond Farm Gerwick Property or Danforth Falls, Growing Places 10 Old North Rd. or approx. 164 Lincoln St. Sun. May 7 | 10:00 AM–Noon Tour of either Gerwick Property or Danforth

8 I Visit www.DiscoverHiddenTreasures.org for full program details and updates. LEXINGTON farm terrain through pastures. Space is limited. Volunteers 14 years and older with a parent or Extreme weather cancels event. guardian. Dress for weather. Grower monitors The Art of Flowers, Then & Now Codman Community Farms weather conditions for safety. Munroe Tavern, 1332 Mass Ave. The Food Project Sat. May 13 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Wake Up the Nature Linc Garden Colonial flower garden tours, artists painting en Reservations Required. LITTLETON plein air, flower scavenger hunt throughout the Farrington Nature Linc, 291 Cambridge Turnpike Tavern, and flower crafts for children and adults Sat. May 6 | 10:00 AM–Noon Family Hike to Williams Land—Newtown Hill alike. Self-guided. Help us Wake Up Farrington’s Garden by Reservations Required. Munroe Center for the Arts, Lexington Historical weeding, turning the soil over and planting Williams Land - Newtown Hill Society, Lexington Field & Garden Club annuals. Hike to our vernal pools to look for 31 Boxborough Rd. frogs and salamanders. Space is limited. Sat. May 6 | 9:45 AM–1:00 PM Lexington Conservation Stewards Farrington Nature Linc Easy hike on Williams Land and Newtown Hill is Stewardship Saturday Series 3 miles and will last 3 hours. Dress for the weath- Reservations Required. Tours of Codman Estate er, wear sturdy shoes/boots, and bring personal Shade Street Conservation Area, Codman Estate, 34 Codman Rd. water, snacks, hat, perhaps bug spray, and a spirit 500 Shire Way Sat. May 6 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM of adventure. Space is limited. Heavy rain cancels. Sat. May 13 | 9:00 AM–Noon Overlooking a prospect of farm and pleasure Applalachin Mountain Club–Boston­­­­ Family Spend a morning of camaraderie, nature enjoy- grounds, this gentleman’s country seat was a Outings, Littleton Conservation Trust ment, and work as we build a new trail. Space is powerful force in the lives of five generations of limited. Meet at the entrance to the fire road. the Codman family. Each tour limited to ten. Family Hike to Oak Hill Reservation— Lexington Conservation Stewards Historic New England Tophet Chasm Reservations Required. Wild Edibles of Lexington’s Waysides Tours of Gropius House Oak Hill Reservation, at Tophet Chasm, Lincoln Park, 110 Worthen Rd. (approxmate Gropius House, 68 Baker Bridge Rd. opposite 10 Oak Hill Rd. address; no building) Sat. May 6 | 11:00 AM–4:00 PM Sun. May 21 | 12:45–4:00 PM Thurs. May 25 | 6:00–8:00 PM Walter Gropius, Bauhaus founder designed his Easy to moderate hike at Oak Hill is 4 miles and Join wild edibles enthusiast Russ Cohen, family home. The house was revolutionary in will last 3 hours. Prepare for the weather, wear author of Wild Plants I have Known...and Eaten, impact. It combined elements of New England sturdy shoes/boots, and bring personal water, to learn about the comestible virtues of at least houses with industrial materials. Tours take snacks, hat, perhaps bug spray, and a spirit of 18 wild plant species. Severe weather cancels. place on the hour 11 am to 4 pm. Each tour adventure. Space is limited. Heavy rain cancels. Meet at the Fitness Trail entrance at the crosswalk limited to ten. Applalachin Mountain Club–Boston­­­­ Family on Worthen Road, across from the Lexington Historic New England Outings. Littleton Conservation Trust High playing fields. Animal Encounter and Nature Walk Citizens for Lexington Conservation Reservations Required. Prouty Woods: A Family Legacy Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary Reservations required for some events. LINCOLN 208 South Great Rd. Prouty Woods, 32 Foster St. Sat. May 20 | 10:00 AM–3:00 PM Farrington Memorial from 1650 to Now! Sat. May 20 | 10:00–11:30 AM Drop in to explore Prouty Woods with guided Reservations Required. Take a naturalist-led walk around Drumlin walks, trail hikes, Native American story and kid’s Farrington Nature Linc, 291 Cambridge Turnpike Farm’s trails and learn about our sustainable crafts. Tour its forest management activities and Sat. May 6 | 1:00–2:30 PM farming methods. Meet one of our resident visit the Prouty house. Register for Medicinal Come hear about Farrington Memorial’s long wildlife! Space is limited. Rain or shine; severe Herb Walk or Kid’s Herb Class. history on one of Lincoln’s oldest farmsteads weather cancels outdoor walk. Littleton Historical Society, Littleton Conservation starting with the first structure in 1650 through Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary Trust, Littleton Community Farm, New England the 1911 Donaldson built dormitory. Serve & Grow Farm Volunteer Program Forestry Foundation Farrington Nature Linc Reservations Required. Treasure Hunt for Gold! The Food Project’s Baker Bridge Farm Reservations Required. 94 Concord Rd. Codman Community Farms, 58 Codman Rd. Sat. May 6 | 9:30 AM–12:30 PM Registration information online at Sat. May 20 | 2:00 PM–3:30 PM Help with planting, weeding, and preparing the www.DiscoverHiddenTreasures.org Join a group treasure hunt to explore this working farm for a season of growing food for those who farm’s gardens, historic buildings and fields of need it most and learn about sustainable farming. birds/animals. Be prepared to walk on rough Space is limited. Volunteers must be 18 or older;

www.freedomsway.org I 9 Hidden Treasures 2017

LUNENBURG MILFORD, NH Back in Time on the Farm Mass Audubon’s Wachusett Meadow Wildlife A Walk with the Blossoms! Frank History: History You Can’t Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Rd. Lanni Orchards Inc, 294 Chase Rd., RT. 13 Get from School Sat. May 20 | 1:00–3:00 PM Sat. May 13 | 10:00 AM–6:00 PM Registration required. Self-guided tours of historic farm buildings; Sun. May 14 | 10:00 AM–6:00 PM Union Coffee Company, South St. National Register Recognition at 1pm; and a Stop by for our annual Blossom Festival here Thur. May 18 | 7:00–9:00 PM guided walk along the former Barre-Boston at Lanni Orchards—it’s a beautiful time to History comes alive during this social evening. Turnpike at 2pm. Severe weather cancels event. take pictures out in the apple orchard and to Learn about the little known stories you never Mass Audubon’s Wachusett Meadow Wildlife visit the farm stand. Self-guided. hear in school. Space is limited. Sanctuary Lanni Orchards, Inc. Milford Historical Society, Union Coffee Company MALDEN NASHUA, NH SHIRLEY Tour of Shirley Meeting House Art and Architecture of the Converse Nu Muse Festival Shirley Meeting House, 41 Brown Rd. Memorial Building Historic Downtown Nashua, 178 Main St. On the Common Malden Public Library, 36 Salem Street Sat. May 6 | Noon–10:00 PM Sat. May 6 | 10:00 AM–3:00 PM Sat. May 20 | 11:00 AM–Noon, 2:00–3:00 PM A day-long music and arts festival, featuring an Built in 1773, it is the oldest public building in Discover the beauty of Malden’s H.H. eclectic mix of genre bending musical acts of Shirley with many original architectural features Richardson-designed Converse Memorial regional and national significance, right on as well as a 19th century lending library and Building on a guided tour which will highlight Main Street. 1847 Stevens organ. its art and architecture. Space limited in each Great American Downtown Shirley Meeting House tour. First-come-first-serve. Malden Historical Society PEPPERELL Waste Not — Want Not Shirley Historical Society Museum Breakfast with the Birds MEDFORD 182 Center Rd. Heald Street Orchard, 88 Heald Street—East Gate May 13 | 7:00–9:00 PM Wright’s Tower Tour Sat. May 20 | 6:30–10:30 AM Discover the history of the movement to reduce Middlesex Fells Reservation, South Border Rd. Local bird expert Michael Veit will identify our expenses and conserve our resources while Sat. May 20 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM the various bird species, including migrating helping families and our world at this museum Wright’s Tower will be open and staffed by a warblers, on a guided Orchard walk. exhibit and opening program discussion. DCR Park Interpreter and Friends of the Fells Pepperell Conservation Commission, Nashoba Shirley Historical Society leaders. Learn about the park founders, its Conservation Trust history, our program calendars, and more. STERLING Lightening cancels. PRINCETON Tour of Stillwater Farm Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation, DCR Wachusett Lake and Park Stillwater Farm, 228 Redemption Rock Trail Never Caught: The Washington’s Relentless The Princeton Center, 18 Boylston Ave. Sat. May 13 | 10:30 AM–12:30 PM Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge May 21 | 2:00–3:00 PM Tour the house of Zebedee Reading, a Royall House and Slave Quarters, 15 George St. A slide show and informative talk about the Revolutionary War officer, who built a farm Mon. May 1 | 7:30–9:00 PM park which existed 100 years ago at the base of along the Stillwater River about 1790. Erica Armstrong Dunbar, Univ. of Delaware Mt. Wachusett. Space is limited. Explore the farm on a short hike. professor of Black American Studies and Princeton Historical Society Mass DCR— History, will discuss and sign her new book in Princeton Historical Society Open House the only remaining freestanding slave quarters Woodward Room, 2 Town Hall Dr. in New England, located next to the 18th-century Sat. May 20 | 10:00 AM–Noon mansion of the Massachusetts colony’s largest Explore the Woodward Room, our local history slaveholding family. archives in the Goodnow Memorial Library. Royall House and Slave Quarters Princeton Historical Society

10 I Visit www.DiscoverHiddenTreasures.org for full program details and updates. STOW Visit to the Heron Rookery WINCHENDON Reservations Required. Stow’s Carver Hill: Touring a Scenic, Self-guided Tour of Our Dairy Farm Landham Brook Marsh and Lyons-Cutler Historic Working Farm and Orchard and Cheese Shop Reservation, Landham Rd. Carver Hill Orchard, 101 Boxmill Rd. Smith’s Country Cheese, 20 Otter River Rd. Sat. May 20 | 10:00–11:30 AM Sun. May 7 | 2:00–3:30 PM May 7 | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM View the expansive great blue heron rookery. Tour the 80-acre Carver Hill Orchard, a Self-guided tour of our dairy farm that produces Space is limited. Steady rain cancels program. 100-year-old working farm and cider mill, and farmstead Gouda, cheddar and havarti cheeses Registrants will be notified by email. immerse yourself in local history, conservation using our own fresh cows milk. Free cheese Sudbury Valley Trustees and geology. Wear walking or hiking shoes. samples in the store. Cheese and wine vendors Stow Historical Society, Stow Conservation WESTMINSTER will have grilled cheese and drinks for sale. Commission, Stow Historical Commission, Smith’s Country Cheese Stow Conservation Trust Planter’s Party Academy Hill, Mountain Peak SUDBURY Fri. May 19 | 3:30–5:30 PM Kick off farmers’ market season with a hands-on Registration information online at Historic Bunker Tour at event featuring planting marigolds and tomatoes, www.DiscoverHiddenTreasures.org National Wildlife Refuge mixing compost teas and free compost. Farmer’s Reservations Required by April 23rd. Market runs entire month of May. Assabet River NWR Visitor Center, 680 Hudson Rd. Westminster Farmers’ Market Sun. May 7 | 11:00 AM–1:30 PM Join local historian Jan Wright for an informative slideshow, talk and tour of one of the ammuni- tions storage bunkers at Assabet River NWR. Space is limited. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Friends of the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

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Shirley Barre Millbury Paxton Princeton Paxton Millbury Barre Shirley

Gardner Fitchburg Worcester Leominster

WWW.DISCOVERHIDDENTREASURES .ORG AT ADVENTURE YOUR PLAN

Visit: http://freedomsway.org/partnership-projects/ Visit:

Farmhouse, Sudbury History Center, Shirley Meeting House, Landmark Inventory Survey and more. more. and Survey Inventory Landmark House, Meeting Shirley Center, History Sudbury Farmhouse,

Battle Road Scenic Byway, UMass-Amherst/Minute Man NHP Studio Project, Preservation Alliance Assessment of , Steele Steele Hampshire, New of Assessment Alliance Preservation Project, Studio NHP Man UMass-Amherst/Minute Byway, Scenic Road Battle

Supports historic preservation and assessment projects and education and interpretation programs within the heritage area including the the including area heritage the within programs interpretation and education and projects assessment and preservation historic Supports

Partnership Projects Partnership

during and in the wake of the American Revolution are uncovered. are Revolution American the of wake the in and during

the lost stories of how individuals impacted historical events before, before, events historical impacted individuals how of stories lost the

A multi-year, research project led by citizen-historians through which which through citizen-historians by led project research multi-year, A

Patriots’ Paths Patriots’

Visit: http://freedomsway.org/programs/ Visit:

partnership with the Nashua River Watershed Association. Watershed River Nashua the with partnership

emphasis on multi-generation farms and landowners. Offered in in Offered landowners. and farms multi-generation on emphasis and Massachusetts Walking Tour. Tour. Walking Massachusetts and

the heritage area involved in conservation and agriculture with an an with agriculture and conservation in involved area heritage the June with a multi-day guided walk accompanied by local experts experts local by accompanied walk guided multi-day a with June

An oral history project preserving the stories of individuals within within individuals of stories the preserving project history oral An planning stages with the National Park Service that kicks off in late late in off kicks that Service Park National the with stages planning

An approximately 60-mile, recreational, walking trail in the the in trail walking recreational, 60-mile, approximately An Farms, Fields & Forests: Stories from the Land the from Stories Forests: & Fields Farms,

Trail Thoreau

Declaration of Independence. Independence. of Declaration

celebrate Thoreau’s 200th birthday by reading one of his works. his of one reading by birthday 200th Thoreau’s celebrate

individuals within their communities debated and responded to the the to responded and debated communities their within individuals

A Massachusetts statewide program inviting every community to to community every inviting program statewide Massachusetts A

seven historic sites in which a narrator and interpreters reenact how how reenact interpreters and narrator a which in sites historic seven

Read Big The

American Antiquarian Society offered in late June/early July in in July June/early late in offered Society Antiquarian American

A public performance piece developed in partnership with the the with partnership in developed piece performance public A that commemorate Thoreau’s vision. vision. Thoreau’s commemorate that

both local and around the world, offering programs and events events and programs offering world, the around and local both Declaring Independence: Then & Now & Then Independence: Declaring

A celebration of Thoreau’s 200th Birthday with organizations, organizations, with Birthday 200th Thoreau’s of celebration A

and historic places. places. historic and 2017: Thoreau Bicentennial Bicentennial Thoreau 2017:

landscapes scenic spaces, open forests, parks, Area’s Heritage the

39 of our 45 communities. communities. 45 our of 39 explores that organizations, and communities local with partnership

One of the heritage area’s visionaries, Thoreau set foot in in foot set Thoreau visionaries, area’s heritage the of One in offered events, trail-based monthly free of series year-long A

Thoreau Trails Our Along Communities: Connecting

FREEDOM’S WAY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA PROGRAMS AREA HERITAGE NATIONAL WAY FREEDOM’S