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The Poet and the Blacksmith
 | Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
© National Park Service |
Join us in Story Chapel on Thursday, November 6th at noon when literary historian Rob Velella will talk about celebrated 19th century poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his famous poem "The Village Blacksmith."
Discover details about the writing of the poem and the inspiration behind it - including real-life blacksmith Dexter Pratt, as well as the poem's curious 20th century afterlife.
Both Longfellow and Pratt are interred at Mount Auburn Cemetery.
Register online today!
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Horticultural Highlight: Hickory
The word Hickory comes from the Algonquian pohickery or pawhiccorri.
Historically of high preference for ax handles, hickory wood was also prized for wagon parts, such as wheel hubs. Many covered wagons rolled westward, and trotting sulkies won races with hickory hubs.
Hickory is still found in modern ax and hammer handles, ladder rungs, golf club shafts, cross-country skis, drum sticks, and deep-sea fishing rods. All hickories are at the top of the list, along with white oak and black locust, of desirable firewood, when... read more
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Bird Brains: How the Woodpecker Is Protected While Pecking
Why don't woodpeckers sustain brain injuries from pecking? In this talk by MIT Professor Lorna Gibson we will look at why Woodpeckers peck and see some actual bird skulls. Learn how the woodpecker brain tolerates the force of pecking on Wednesday, November 12th at 6PM. Register today!
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 Eternally Green: Mount Auburn's Horticulture - Try this at Home!
In May 2013, I bought my first house and along with it, my first piece of landscape that was all mine to maintain. Although my landscape by comparison is just a tiny fraction of Mount Auburn's 175 acres, I was inspired by the horticultural achievements and practices at the Cemetery to undertake two major projects, one in the front yard for the sake of pollinators and one in the backyard to provide more bird habitat, as well as stabilize an eroding hillside.
Further inspired by one of my favorite places at Mount Auburn, Consecration Dell, I wanted to use as many native New England plants as possible to restore this land, adjacent to a small pond, to something like it might have once been...learn more
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Wildlife Highlight: The Northern Mockingbird
Outside of its breeding season, the familiar Mockingbird is most often found by itself, defending its territory from other mockingbirds, or any other fruit eating bird - such as American Robins, Cedar Waxwings and European Starlings (as well as cats and squirrels).
The Mockingbird guards its food supply and easily intimidates any other bird...read more
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Person of the Month: Johann Gaspar Spurzheim (1776 - 1832)
In 1832 Johann Spurzheim traveled to the United States for a projected two-year lecture series. His discussions on the anatomy of the brain for Boston medical professionals were given without any reference to the doctrines of phrenology and gained Spurzheim great respect as an anatomist of the brain. Near the close of the lecture series in Boston he was confined to his bed where he died on November 10, 1832...learn more
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History Highlight: Rural Cemetery Movement Grows
 As Mount Auburn Cemetery, the first rural cemetery in the United States, gained national and international attention, other cities began to plan their own rural cemeteries. The concept of permanent family lots in a setting of natural beauty was immensely popular.
Two of the first "Rural" Cemeteries to be established were Mount Hope in Bangor, Maine and Laurel Hill in Philadelphia, PA. Read more... |
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Beyond Our Gates: Events of Interest to the Community
Wednesday, Nov. 5th from 6 - 8PM. Cambridge Public Library
Museum of American Bird Art 963 Washington Street, Canton, MA 02021 Now through January 11, 2015, Tuesday- Sunday from 1-5pm.
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Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery
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