Historic Somerville



Historic Somerville 2012 Local History Lecture Series presents:

 Somerville: Haven for Ingenious Minds

a talk by historian and author, Dee Morris

Somerville has always made room for creative thinkers. From 1837-58 the McLean Asylum for the Insane, situated on bucolic Cobble Hill, was guided by Dr. Luther V. Bell who insisted on humane treatment of the mentally ill. This unique institution also opened its doors to overwrought inventors such as Charles T. Jackson, a challenger to Morton's discovery of ether. The eccentric Enoch Robinson, famous for his Round House, filed patents for exquisite decorative hardware. During the 1880s craftsmen at the Union Glass Company created exquisite art glass while over at Tufts College Professor Dolbear struggled to gain credit for his version of the telephone and telegraph. Found in every tool kit, the Stillson wrench was the bright idea of a Civil War veteran from Tennyson Street. By the 1890s Harriet J. Wescott was shunning convention by becoming a pioneer in dress reform. Somerville and original thought – a community legacy!

Come hear acclaimed author Dee Morris speak about these and other ingenious Somervillians.

Sunday, October 7th from 2:00 to 3:30PM

The Somerville Museum

One Westwood Road in Somerville

General Admission: $8, HS members free

Light reception to follow

Signed copies of the book, Somerville: A Brief History by Dee Morris and Dora St. Martin, will be for sale by check or cash.  

Tickets will be sold at the door.  Individual membership to Historic Somerville is $25 and guarantees free entrance to all 6 historic lectures of the series.

RSVP to: admin@historicsomerville.org to reserve your seating. 

The HS lecture series is supported in part by a grant from the Somerville Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency



About the Author:

For over twenty-five years Dee Morris has been presenting programs and walking tours in the greater Boston area. The rich history of Forest Hills Cemetery and Mount Auburn Cemetery plus the diverse stories found in communities such as Somerville, Medford, Arlington and Stoneham have provided her with endless material. She became involved in local history when she attempted to save a neighborhood garden from being paved. In researching the land, she discovered that it had been the site of a famous nursery owned by a nationally-known Victorian horticulturist. Presenting his achievements to a contemporary audience was the beginning of her passion for shedding fresh light on New England's complex past. She is also the co-author of Somerville: A Brief History (2008).