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Recent News

Hot off the press! Read the latest issue of our Quarterly, Dogwood Lane

Thursday, 20 June 2019 12:21

Our spring issue of Dogwood Lane is hot off the press! We hope you will take some time to read this latest edition of our quarterly journal aimed at giving readers a greater appreciation of the ten generations of one inter-related family that fashioned this land from wooded hillsides 300 years ago to the historic estate and grounds that it is today. In 2018, the estate was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places as the Davenport Estate Historic District. In addition, this journal provides a deeper understanding of the larger social and political context in which these families lived their daily lives. This historical and biographical overview is based on the scholarly research by students and professionals who combed through the archives of the estate, tax documents and census records to learn of those who called the estate home. To read Vol. 1, Issue Three, click here.

Click here to read Dogwood Lane Vol. 1, Issue One - Wakefield Estate's educational programs.

Click here to read Dogwood Lane Vol. 1, Issue Two - Horticultural Research at the Wakefield Estate.

Registration now open for 2019 Summer Archaeology Institute

Tuesday, 19 March 2019 13:04

Registration open for 2019 Summer Archaeology Institute

The Wakefield Estate's Summer Archaeology Institute is a hands-on archaeological excavation at the historic Wakefield Estate in Milton, MA. It is one of only a few programs of its type in the country. The institute is specifically designed for high school and college students interested in learning about local history and archaeology. Participants will work side by side with graduate archaeology students from UMass Boston. Each two-week session offers students a hands-on introduction to the field of archaeology through participation in an actual excavation on site at the estate. To read about some of the past discoveries, check the news archive on here on our website.

2019 Dates & Schedule

Session I: July 8 – July 19; Monday-Friday 9 am-3:00 pm

Session II: July 22 – August 2; Monday-Friday, 9 am-3:00 pm

Program Description

In each two-week session, participants will work closely with archaeologists to conduct survey work and learn how to set up an archaeological dig. Students will gain excavation experience and the methods and techniques involved in conducting archaeology. Possible field trips and special events include visiting the Boston City Archaeology Lab and meeting specialists from nearby archaeological museums. Participants will also gain experience in identifying artifacts and the behind-the-scenes activities that occur after the fieldwork has been conducted.

Requirements:

Willingness to work outdoors in all kinds of weather.

Enthusiasm for hard work and getting dirty -- this is an archaeological dig!

Commitment to teamwork and respect for others.

Ability to work independently as well as with others.

Cost:

$300 per session; $450 for both sessions
Scholarships available based on need. Please call 617-333-0924 for more information.

Application Process and Deadline

To obtain a copy of our application, call 617-333-0924 or click here for a downloadable pdf.

Send completed application to address below.
Space is limited; applicants will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.

Send or fax(call 617-333-0924 before faxing) completed application to:

Erica Max, Program Director

Wakefield Charitable Trust

1465 Brush Hill Road

Milton, MA 02186

3/27: March Stone Soup: Sharing Anecdotes from Family History

Monday, 18 March 2019 11:50

March Stone Soup and Speaker event: Sharing Anecdotes from Family History

March 27, 6:00 - 7:30 pm in the Isaac Davenport mansion house.

Continuing with this year's Stone Soup and Speakers Series, A Look Deeper, and our new quarterly journal's deeper exploration into the different aspects and angles of our work here at the WakefieldEstate, our March talk will feature Mark Smith on the eleven generations of one interrelated family that lived on the property for nearly 300 years. Smith will share some amazing anecdotes and records unearthed among the families' records now housed at Massachusetts Historical Society. This will be the topic of the third issue of our quarterly Dogwood Lane to be published in May.

Donations welcome; please rsvp by calling 617-333-0924 x22 as space is limited. The program starts at 6:00 pm when guests can enjoy a bowl of homemade soup before settling in to enjoy the speaker's remarks.

3/30: Backyard Homesteading: Grow Your Own Mushrooms!

Monday, 25 February 2019 15:33

Take home your own gourmet mushroom log for years of mushroom harvesting!
Don't miss the Wakefield Estate's annual mushroom growing workshop on Saturday, March 30th from 9:00-11:30 am! After an introduction of different mushroom growing methods, we will teach you how to inoculate logs with mushroom spawn and send you home with your own "seeded" log which can provide mushrooms for up to 5 years. This is a great family-friendly event. Please bring your own drill and half-inch drill bit if you have one. All materials provided. Space is limited, pre-registration is required. Cost: $20/members; $30/non-members; $50/Family. Call 617-333-0924 to register today.