Cisco Homestead Restoration is Underway!

By – D. Rae Gould, Ph.D, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Nipmuc Nation This fall the restoration of the Cisco Homestead on the Hassanamisco Reservation in Grafton began. This work has been made possible through a generous Community Preservation grant through the Town of Grafton CPC (Community Preservation Commission) and state Community Preservation Act funds. The current work is a first-phase stabilization of the building that … Continue reading Cisco Homestead Restoration is Underway!

Cheryll Toney HolleyNovember 8, 2010January 2, 20222 Comments

Community

Sacred Paddle, October 30, 2010 (Part 1)

The Sacred Paddle was part of this year’s annual Deer Island Memorial. Organized by the Natick Nipmuc Council, each year there are activities to commemorate the forced removal of Native people from their homes to an internment camp on Deer Island. This happened on October 30, 1675 to the residents of the Natick Praying Plantation. Natives living in other English-style towns soon followed. All told, … Continue reading Sacred Paddle, October 30, 2010 (Part 1)

Cheryll Toney HolleyNovember 7, 2010January 2, 2022Leave a comment

Black Indigenous History & Genealogy

Tombstone Tuesday – Indian Burying Ground, Grafton, MA

This graveyard contains the remains of the “Praying Indians” of the Hassanamesit Praying Plantation established by English missionary John Eliot in 1664. In an attempt to civilize the Native population, plantations or towns were created in Nipmuc territory where Nipmucs could live in frame houses, attend church, and otherwise emulate the English surrounding them. In the mid-1800s, the road pictured above was created bisecting the … Continue reading Tombstone Tuesday – Indian Burying Ground, Grafton, MA

Cheryll Toney HolleySeptember 28, 2010January 2, 2022Leave a comment

Community

Autumnal Equinox

My last post on Facebook wished my friends a “Happy, happy Equinox”. One friend’s comment asked “What does that mean?” It’s now a few days past the equinox but here goes…. Very simply put, an equinox occurs when the center of the sun appears directly above the Earth’s equator. This happens twice yearly, in March and September. Some say that during an equinox the length … Continue reading Autumnal Equinox

Cheryll Toney HolleySeptember 26, 2010January 2, 2022Leave a comment

Community

2010 Deer Island Memorial

Information courtesy of Pam Ellis, Natick Nipmuc Tribal Council 2010 Deer Island Memorial Friday, October 29, 2010 & Saturday, October 30, 2010 October 30, 1675 marked the forced removal of American Indians from what is now South Natick to Deer Island in Boston Harbor, roughly two months after the outbreak of what the English called “King Philip’s War. “ Without adequate food, clothing, shelter or … Continue reading 2010 Deer Island Memorial

Cheryll Toney HolleySeptember 22, 2010January 2, 20221 Comment

Community

57th Annual Hassanamesit Indian Fair

The Fair (or Powwow as some call it) was held on the last Sunday of July on the reservation. Our Fair tends to be small and casual, no paid Head Dancers, no prize money for best dancers – just family, friends, and some tourists. Here are some pictures taken at the Fair by Nia Holley: View Full Album Aquene, Cheryll Continue reading 57th Annual Hassanamesit Indian Fair

Cheryll Toney HolleyAugust 4, 2010January 2, 20222 Comments

Black Indigenous History & Genealogy

The Storms of Vermont, part 1

My favorite ancestors these days seem to be the Storms. Originally from Panton and Vergennes, Vermont, several members of the family moved to Worcester and Boston, Massachusetts in the 1870s. Once in Worcester, the Storms and other transplanted Vermonters of color formed the Vermont Club at John St Baptist Church, one of the few Black churches in Worcester. Hattie Storms, my great-great grandmother, was born … Continue reading The Storms of Vermont, part 1

Cheryll Toney HolleyJune 20, 2010January 2, 20221 Comment