May is Historic Preservation Month in Somerville

Somerville Massachusetts celebrates Historic Preservation Month in May. Here are some upcoming events:

Walking Tour of Ball Square Somerville

Ed Gordon, President of the New England Chapter of the Victorian Society of America, will lead a tour of the Ball Square and Powderhouse area of Somerville this Sunday. On the From Powder House Pickles to Ball Square Brick Yards walking tour of historic homes and sites you'll learn about the history of the neighborhood and of Tufts University, see some of the most handsome multi-families built in the area, get to see the inside of a home or two, and finish with light refreshments at the Field House at Nathan Tufts Park.

• Sunday, May, 17, 2009, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.
• Cost is $10 ($8 for members of the VSA).
• Meet at the Field House at Nathan Tufts Park at the corner of Broadway and College Avenue.

Here's a vintage postcard of the powderhouse:

History of the Davis Square Branch Library

Architectural conservator, Sara Chase, will give a talk on Sunday afternoon titled A Jewel In the Crown: The West Branch Library. The West Branch Library on College Avenue in Davis Square is a Carnegie Library and 100 years old this year. I love this little library and look forward to learning more about it.

The lecture, tour of the library and light refreshments are free and open to all.

• Sunday, May 17, 2009, 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
• 50 College Avenue, Davis Square, Somerville MA.

A vintage postcard of the library in Davis Square from 1909, the year it was built, is below. The library looks just about the same today.

Hattie wrote on the back to her friend Gertrude: "Our new library about ten minutes walk from the house. Our cards have been transferred and we now take books from here. It is much smaller than the Somerville library and the collection of books of course is not as good but then the (walking part) is very much better."

Milk Row Cemetery Tour at Dusk

This is a rare opportunity to visit Somerville's oldest cemetery which is usually closed to the public. Barbara Mangum, president of Historic Somerville, will talk about recent grant-funded improvements including the restoration of the Civil War monument and you'll get a chance to learn more about this cemetery which dates to 1804. Light refreshments will be served.

• Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 6:30 to 7:30 pm
• Admission: Donations appreciated
• Meet at the cemetery on Somerville Avenue next to Market Basket

Preservation Awards Ceremony at the Somerville Museum

The Somerville Historic Preservation Commission will honor twelve homeowners for their work on their older homes.

• Thursday, May 28, 2009, 6:30 to 9 pm
• Free and open to the public
• At the Somerville Museum at One Westwood Road at the corner of Central Street

Historic Bike Tour of Somerville

This easy nine-mile ride will start at City Hall and will focus on Somerville's historic churches and synagogues.

• Sunday, May 31, 2009, 2 to 5 pm
• Raindate, Saturday, June 6, 2009
• Cost: $3 for adults, children free
• Refreshments at the end of the ride at the Somerville Musuem

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Elizabeth Bolton is a real estate agent and old house enthusiast. For more about local real estate, Somerville, and more visit Centers and Squares.