Upcoming Events
Mind Your Business: The Story of Dorchester's Industry & Commerce from the Revolution to
World War II.
Dorchester Historical Society exhibit in the Grossman Gallery, Healey Library 5th floor at UMass Boston, February, 2010
For the first one hundred fifty years of Dorchester's existence, from 1630 to 1780, its economy was based on agriculture, husbandry, milling, tanning and fishing. These activities were carried on by families who did not distinguish between the family enterprise and a separate business identity. From the earliest years, nearly every craftsman also maintained a farm for the production of daily needs. If there was a surplus, it entered the chain of commerce through barter or sale. This was considered just part of normal life.
The late eighteenth century saw the growth of business identities and a quickening of interest in
new technologies and products. When James Baker took over the Hannon chocolate mill in 1780, he founded a company that later took its name from his grandson and became known throughout this country and the world: Walter Baker & Co., chocolate manufacturers. Other companies soon followed. Some were manufacturers including Gleason pewter (whose products were displayed here a year ago), the Putnam Nail Company, Lawley Boat Yard, Mason Regulator Company and many more. Companies that served local needs included drygoods stores, butchers, apothecaries, dairies, etc.
This exhibit celebrates a number of these companies as representatives of Dorchester's economic development, first as a separate town, and after 1869 as a neighborhood of the City of Boston.
Sun., Feb. 21, 2 pm
Great Chocolate Cook-Off Extravaganza 2010
Chocolate! That creamy, rich, delicious confection we adore is something that few can resist, refuse, or deny themselves. Yet this sweet and decadent delicacy is far different than what was enjoyed just a few centuries ago when it was a delicious and flavorful drink referred to as the "Food of the Gods." Anthony M. Sammarco's new bestselling book The Baker Chocolate Company: A Sweet History chronicles the history and development of this venerable and delicious industry. In his illustrated lecture Sammarco outlines chocolate from its evolution from chocolatle to cocoa.
Mr. Sammarco is a past president of the Dorchester Historical Society, and this is his fifty-seventh book.Copies of his new bestselling book will be available at $21.99
Help DHS make Sweet History:
Great Chocolate Cook-off Extravaganza 2010!
In addition amateur cooks and professionals alike are invited to submit their best creations to the
Great Chocolate Cook-Off 2010. To participate, contact Earl Taylor of the Dorchester Historical
Society to let him know of your intent to participate. Then deliver your creation to the Dorchester Historical Society by 11:00 am on Feb. 21st. A panel of judges will perform a blind tasting to determine the winners, whose names will be announced during the program. Then everyone gets to enjoy the goodies as long as they last. For non-cooks who attend the event, there will be $5 admission fee.
Contact: Earl Taylor at ERMMWWT@aol.com and look on the website www.DorchesterHistoricalSociety.org for more details.
Sun., Mar. 21, 2 pm Dorchester Heights
Sun., Apr. 18, 2 pm Antique Appraisal Day
Sun., May 16, 2 pm Annual meeting; slide show: Diverse Dorchester by Robert Severy
June Dorchester Day Weekend - Thursday, Friday, Saturday - Old Home Week
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