Digging Up The Past in Winchester: Native Americans Along The Mystic

Fall Programs for Winchester Reads

The Winchester Reads Committee announced the choice of this year’s book, ‘Caleb’s Crossing’ by Geraldine Brooks.  This will be the first of two programs about this book.

Thursday, October 4th at 7:30 p.m. at the Jenks Center.  109 Skillings Road.    Digging Up Winchester’s Past:  Native Americans Along the Mystic.

For this program, in collaboration with the Winchester Historical Society, Peter Wild and Ellen Knight will speak and display Native American artifacts found in Winchester and dating back to 2500 B.C.  Winchester was the center of population of many Native Americans due to the many lakes, rivers and ponds in this area.

 ‘Caleb’s Crossing’ is based on the fact that in 1665, a young man from Martha’s Vineyard became the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College.  Bethia Mayfield is a restless and curious young woman also growing up in Martha’s Vineyard in the 1660’s.  At the age of 12, she meets Caleb, the young son of a chieftain, and the two forge a secret bond.  Bethia’s father is a Calvinist minister who seeks to convert the native Wampanoag, and Caleb becomes a prize in the contest between old ways and new.

 Inspired by a true story and narrated by Bethia, ‘Caleb’s Crossing’ brilliantly captures the triumphs and turmoil of two brave spirits who risk everything in a search for knowledge at a time of superstition and ignorance.