History

Archaeological Survey at Loring Greenough House Searches for History of Enslaved by Property Owners

By |

The city's Archaeological Program is conducting a dig this week at the Loring Greenough House and already found a few things of interest on the first day. The dig is taking place Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm, and is open to the public to come and see how a historical excavation takes place. One of the big reasons of why the Loring Greenough House was selected for an archaeological survey is to try to uncover the history of inhabitants who were enslaved by the property owners, said the city's Archaeological Program Facebook page. The Lorings built the house in 1760 and enslaved at least three individuals. The Lorings fled the house in 1774 after animosity was directed at them due to being British loyalists.

961 Views
Business

Eat, Drink, and Celebrate 20 Years of JP Centre/South Main Streets on Nov. 3

By |

Celebrate 20 years of JP Centre/South Main Streets' supporting businesses and the community at a party on Nov. 3. JP Centre/South Main Streets began when Thomas Menino was mayor, and has gone on to work businesses and residents to build a strong retail district along Centre Street. The JP Centre/South Main Streets 20th Anniversary Celebration will be a laid-back and festive event, with a focus on friendly mingling. There will be beer, wine, refreshments, and a live auction, as they celebrate 20 years of building relationships with our Jamaica Plain community.

922 Views
Animals

It’ll Be a Grrrreat Time: Jamaica Plain’s Annual Canine Costume Parade on Saturday

By |

Ruth Barker Ginsberg, dogs dressed as bumblebees, Harry Potter, and so many more awesome dog costumes have strutted the red carpet at the annual JP Canine Costume Parade through the years. Who knows what the dogs will be wearing this Saturday! Dogs and their owners are invited to wear costumes starting at the First Baptist Church and down Centre Street parade route to the Loring-Greenough House. Then the dogs (and their people) will walk the red carpet as judges decide the top three participants who receive prizes. The event is helmed and emceed by Blue Frog Bakery owner Brad Brown.

1,218 Views
Neighborhood Life

Nazis Tried to Protest a Drag Queen Story Hour at the Loring Greenough House

By |

A group of masked neo-Nazis tried to protest a drag queen story hour for children at the Loring Greenough House, but they were late and missed the actual event on Saturday. The event featured Patty Bouree reading to children, and was initially scheduled for two weeks ago, but was postponed after a tip was provided there'd be a protest. Event organizers rescheduled for Saturday, and only advertised to current ticket holders, and arranged for a police presence. But the Nazis still showed up, seemingly only males, worried about a story hour, and screamed about pedophiles, and as UniversalHub.com pointed out -- there own group has had members charged with pedophilia. At least one neo-Nazi was arrested, as were counter protestors, reported UniversalHub.com.

2,177 Views
Neighborhood Life

Gardens of Jamaica Plain Walking Tour on July 9

By |

On Saturday there will be a self-guided Gardens of Jamaica Plain Walking Tour. The tour starts at the beautiful gardens of the Loring Greenough House at 11 am. At the Loring Greenough House you can check out the flowerbeds and then grab a map to continue on your way around the neighborhood. The tour is on July 9, from 11 am to 1 pm and costs $10. This event is part of the Gardening Together series sponsored by Cervone Deegan + Associates.

1,026 Views
From the Community

‘Recovering Black History in Historic Houses’ Event with Loring Greenough House on June 10

By |

Who gets to create and define our national histories? What role do house museums and historic sites play in our public conversations about race? The Shirley-Eustis House Association and the Loring Greenough House will host a discussion via Zoom with author Corinne Fowler on the ways Britain’s National Trust is reinterpreting its historic estates in light of the newly revealed colonialist profits of their builders. The event will be held on Friday, June 10, from 5-7 p.m.

Fowler is director of Colonial Countryside: National Trust Houses Reinterpreted and professor of English at Leicester University. She was editor of a report prepared by Britain’s National Trust in 2020 that researched people who were enslaved at the National Trust’s historic houses.

1,508 Views
Neighborhood Life

Video: Guy Ice Skating on Loring-Greenough House Lawn

By |

Kelly Rink is the only official public ice skating rink in Jamaica Plain. But hold on, because someone was spotted ice skating -- and speedily -- on the Loring-Greenough House lawn. On Feb. 6 Mark Smith spotted the skater. "It reminded my of my own childhood when the town would flood the city park using a fire engine to create an instant ice rink.

2,045 Views
History

The Greenough Family and the Boston Tea Party

By |

The Boston Tea Party happened on December 16, 1773, and brothers David and John Greenough were embroiled in the controversy, and boycott of tea imported by the East India Company that led to the Boston Tea Party. Learn more about how the Boston Tea Party affected the Greenough family from a lecture by historian Peter Drummey. Drummey is a Jamaica Plain resident and Librarian of the Massachusetts Historical Society where the Greenough family papers are housed. The lecture was originally held at the Loring-Greenough House, 12 South Street, and was sponsored by the Jamaica Plain Tuesday Club and the Jamaica Plain Historical Society. The following article is the text of the lecture, was originally published on Jamaica Plain Historical Society's website.

2,404 Views
Gardening

Wake Up Your Garden at the Loring Greenough House

By |

An informative, outdoor, in-person (with safety regulations) event on the Loring Greenough lawn to celebrate the arrival of spring! Join us from 10:00 – 1:00 pm for a plant sale, pick up some compost, and a garden book grab (if you have any you would like to donate, we’d be happy to add them to the grab table). There will also be gardening experts to answer all your garden questions, and the opportunity to win a gorgeous handmade hypertufa pot planted with lovely plants. Even some bubble fun and music for children! We hope you stop by as we welcome this glorious season… let’s Wake Up Our Gardens Together!