Mill Talk: Inside a Waltham Pocket Watch: How It Works and Why

A Talk and Demonstration with Chris Carey, Watertown Watch and Clock
FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Step inside the intricate world of fine watchmaking with Waltham’s own Chris Carey, watchmaker and owner of Watertown Watch and Clock. In this live demonstration, Chris will carefully disassemble a Waltham Model 1908 pocket watch, revealing the artistry, engineering, and precision that made Waltham a world leader in timekeeping.

As he takes the watch apart piece by piece, Chris will explain how each component functions, what makes it essential, and how Waltham’s innovations compared with those of earlier and later American, Swiss, and English timepieces. Through detailed visuals and hands-on examples, attendees will gain a rare, close-up look at the mechanical heart of a Waltham watch—and a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship and ingenuity that powered the city’s historic watch industry.

Chris Carey was taught watch repair as a boy by his grandfather, Pat Caruso, a watchmaker at Waltham Watch Company. In 1993 he opened his own clock and watch repair shop, Watertown Watch and Clock, and now operates the shop with his wife, Christine, in Waltham, Massachusetts. Chris has served as the Secretary of The American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI), he is the Chairman of the Board of the Massachusetts Watchmakers-Clockmakers Association, and is Past President of NAWCC New England Chapter 8.

Beware: Chris' family is sick of hearing him talk about watches and clocks, so he is happy to have found a new audience with whom he can share is passion.

Industry and Innovation Tour: Time Along the Charles NEW!!

FREE! Space is limited to 12
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Space is limited and registration is required, so secure your spot today for FREE before it’s sold out! The meeting location to be sent to those who register.

Your Tour Guide:
Nicholas Adams is a lifelong resident of Waltham. After earning his Eagle Scout rank, Nicholas began working at the Charles River Museum in the summer of 2024 as an Education and Multimedia Production intern and has been there since. Nicholas studies Electrical and Computer Engineering at MassBay Community College and loves to share Waltham’s history with others.

Mill Talk: What is Industrial Archeology: Its Past and Future

presented by Sara E. Wermiel

The field of industrial archeology (IA) is now about 70 years old and has passed through stages of life, from an exuberant youth filled with discovery – the period when the Charles River Museum of Industry was founded – to its sedate present. Interest in the field seems to be waning, judging from declining membership in IA groups, and even the name of the field confuses people. Those of us who would like to see the field survive and flourish wonder how it can be re-energized, in what direction should it go?

This presentation will explain what industrial archeology is. It will trace the history of the field, from its beginnings in England in the 1950s and the founding of the U.S. Society for Industrial Archeology in 1971, to the present, and describe some of its contributions, like the early surveys of historic textile mills. It will cover its connections to allied history and practice fields, like history of technology and historic preservation. Sara Wermiel will conclude by presenting her ideas for what the field might focus on, to have a purpose that can sustain it.

Speaker Bio:

Wermiel received a B.A. from Oberlin College; a professional degree in urban planning from Hunter College, City University of New York; and a PhD in urban history and history of technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is the treasurer of the Southern New England Chapter of the Society for Industrial Archeology.

Links:

Lighthouses Lighthouses | Sara E Wermiel | W. W. Norton & Company

“Fire Escapes,” Fire Escapes - Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia

We Are Waltham

About this event:

6 new tellers from Waltham will share experiences from their lives to help expand our boundaries through empathy, shared laughter, tears etc. All tellers are coached by show creator and there is usually a raffle during half time for fun.​

​​​Tickets have already started selling at a fast clip so get yours now!

RAFFLE: The fun raffle for the Fall show is probably going to be a relief map of Waltham from back in the day that shows an area of the city that features prominently in one of the stories. Plus some tote bags with the show logo.

• Announcement:

  Next year, these big shows may go on a hiatus as smaller shows and, possibly, workshops expand outreach into the community.

Mill Talk:The Great Boston Fire of 1872: How a massive conflagration nearly incinerated the city

presented by Stephanie Schorow

FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Arrive early at 6PM to view our collection of firefighting equipment, including our 1871 Amoskeag steam pumper that fought in the Great Boston Fire!

For two days in November 1872, a massive fire swept through Boston, leaving the downtown in ruins and the population traumatized. Coming barely a year after the infamous Chicago fire, Boston’s inferno turned out to be one of the most expensive fires per acre in U.S. history. Yet today few are aware of how close Boston came to destruction. With photos, vivid descriptions and artifacts, Boston author Stephanie Schorow masterfully recounts the fire’s history from the foolish decisions that precipitated it to the heroics of firefighters who fought it.

Speaker Bio:

Stephanie Schorow is a journalist and communications instructor at Boston University, and the author of nine books on Boston history and a novel set in the 1980s. She has worked as an editor and reporter for the Boston Herald, the Associated Press, and newspapers in Connecticut, Idaho and Utah. She has appeared in numerous documentaries on Boston history and is in demand as a presenter, teacher and podcast guest.

Links:

www.stephanieschorow.com

https://bookshop.org/shop/StephanieSchorow

Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

Reverse Engineering the American Power Loom

Uncovering the Roots of American Mechanical Weaving
presented by Mac (Lowell McKay) Whatley

FREE to the public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Research into the origin of textile machinery in the United States has been handicapped by the destruction of early records and artifacts, leading to generations of theories, suppositions and assumptions as to the actual appearance and operation of even the most seminal inventions such as the 1815 Waltham power loom of F.C. Lowell, as well as its unpatented competitor, the 1817 Rhode Island loom of William Gilmour. What does it mean that Lowell’s was called a “Wiper Loom,” and Gilmour’s a “Crank Loom”? This presentation deconstructs power looms down to their constituent parts, first to deduce how these evolved from the inventor’s original model, and then to reconstruct the probable appearance of each branch of power loom design before 1820.

Links:

https://randolphheritage.org/

https://www.youtube.com/@nctextilemuseum2329

Industry and Innovation Tour: Time Along the Charles NEW!!

FREE! Space is limited to 20
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Space is limited and registration is required, so secure your spot today for FREE before it’s sold out! The meeting location to be sent to those who register.

Your Tour Guide:
Nicholas Adams is a lifelong resident of Waltham. After earning his Eagle Scout rank, Nicholas began working at the Charles River Museum in the summer of 2024 as an Education and Multimedia Production intern and has been there since. Nicholas studies Electrical and Computer Engineering at MassBay Community College and loves to share Waltham’s history with others.

Mill Talk: The Stories of Women War Workers at Raytheon 1941-1945, From Suffragette to War Worker – and Military Ranks open to Women

presented by Chet Michalak, Raytheon historian and archivist

FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

The Suffragette movement ends the 100-year struggle for Women’s Rights in 1920 and is followed by a home front effort that dramatically increases the ranks of female war workers. The call goes out for women workers by recruitment posters, newspaper and radio ads.

Links:

Raytheon Historian Archivist - YouTube

Halfway point intermission musical tribute to women workers.

Remembering Women War Workers Music Tribute

Guided History Walk along the Mass Central Rail Trail

THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT

Learn about the history of the railway on which the Mass Central Rail Trail now sits from Rick Kfoury, President of the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society. Members of the Waltham Historic Society will also share their knowledge. Highlighted stops will include two former station locations, Waltham North and Waltham Highlands (which still stands).

The walk will be roughly 2-miles long and will take place on a paved, level surface. Space is limited, therefore, registration is required. Meeting location to be sent to those who register.

This event is co-sponsored by Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation, Waltham Land Trust, Waltham Historical Society, and the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society

Mill Talk: Why are Workers’ Stories Missing at Historic Sites?
Show Me the Workers

The labor movement in the United States is a bulwark of democracy and a driving force for social and economic equality. Yet its stories remain largely unknown to Americans. Robert Forrant and Mary Anne Trasciatti edited a collection of essays focused on nationwide efforts to propel the history of labor and working people into mainstream narratives of US history. The book, Where Are the Workers?, shows how working-class perspectives can expand our historical memory and inform and inspire contemporary activism. The talk will explore lessons learned from nationwide efforts to promote our understanding of labor and working-class history.

Speaker Bio: Robert Forrant is Distinguished University Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Principal historian on numerous projects funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Lowell National Historical Park, and the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, his newest book, co-edited with Mary Anne Trasciatti, Where are the Workers: Interpreting Labor and Working-Class History at Museums and Historic Sites, was published by the University of Illinois Press in 2022. In early 2024 he published “‘No Avenging Gibet’: The 1860 Pemberton Mill Collapse” in The New England Quarterly.

Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

Panel Discussion: The Role of Strikes in Labor History and Today

This program is free and open to the public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

As part of our new exhibit When Waltham Strikes, the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation will host a special panel discussion exploring the history and present-day role of strikes in the labor movement. Moderated by Maya Colman, the panel will feature Christy Nickerson (President, Woburn Teachers Association and MTA Board of Directors), Ryan Normandin (Newton Teachers Association), and other representatives from organized labor.

Together, they will reflect on the power of strikes as a tool of last resort, the experiences of workers on the front lines, and the continuing importance of labor rights in shaping our communities.

Mill Talk: Mother Brook: The Evolution of Industry Along the Country’s Oldest Power Canal

presented by Judy Neiswander

Excavated between 1639 and 1641, the Mother Brook canal in Dedham is arguably the oldest power canal in North America. The waterway connects the Charles and the Neponset Rivers by way of an inland spring-fed brook. This created a fall of water that was strong enough to power the town’s first grist mill. Join us at the Charles River Museum for a night with Judy Neiswander who will be discussing industrial uses of the canal and East Dedham’s evolution into a powerhouse of textile production.

Mill Talk: Living the Harpsichord Life; Building and Breathing the Instrument

presented by Hendrik Broekman

FREE TO THE PUBLIC
Registration Required

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM ITS ORIGINAL MAY DATE

 Join us for a night at the Charles River Museum with Henrik Broekman where the small talk question of “What do you do for work?” will be expanded into a curiosity-driven discussion of what it is like to pursue your bliss and fully immerse yourself in the world of harpsichords. Throughout his decades of experience in this industry, Hendrik has found himself constantly asked about the craftsmanship behind these exquisite instruments, how they are manufactured, and more. He will be answering these questions while sharing what it is like to build and create a career centered around harpsichords.

Henrik Broekman has been a pioneering craftsman, musician, and harpsichord builder for over 50 years. He worked with both Frank Hubbard and Eric Hertz, though most of his career was spent as Technical Director in the Hubbard Shop. He took over operations after the retirement of Diane Hubbard in 2000 and still plays, repairs, and builds harpsichords.

Mill Talk: The Final Days of the Central Mass Branch

presented by Rick Kfoury

This is an IN PERSON event, Free to the public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Once a famous through-route between Boston and Northampton, by the 1970s the Boston & Maine Railroad's Central Mass Branch had seen better days. Yet there was still activity to be seen and photographed, and important history to document. This presentation will provide a visual look into the final years of railroad operations on the Central Mass Branch west of Waltham; included are photographs, documents, and some film footage.

Rick Kfoury is a railroad historian and author with an express interest in New England railroading in the second half of the twentieth century. He has authored four books on the subject, The New England Southern Railroad Volumes I and II, Queen City Rails: Manchester's Railroads 1965-1990, and Steam Trains of Yesteryear: The Monadnock, Steamtown & Northern Story.

A 2018 graduate of the Keene State College history program, Rick currently serves as President and Newsletter Editor for the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society and is employed in college admissions for Southern New Hampshire University.

The Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization composed of people who want to share their knowledge, and learn more about, the history and operations of the Boston and Maine Railroad, its predecessors, and successors. The Society was founded in 1971 and consists of over 1,000 active members from the New England region and beyond.

Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute, and are free and open to the public.

Mill Talk: A Revolutionary Problem: Making Saltpeter During the War of Independence

presented by David Hsiung

FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

250 years ago, the revolution that would lead to our country’s independence was in its early stages. The Continental Army was facing a major problem, gunpowder shortages. Join the Charles River Musuem for an exploration of how the production of saltpeter, the principal ingredient of this explosive material, changed the course of history.

This talk will explore the different ways saltpeter was manufactured by Americans, the wide variety of instructions that guided their efforts, and the motivations-both lofty and materialist-that drove them forward.

A native of the Chicago area, David C. Hsuing earned his B.A. from Yale, his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and ever since has taught history at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, He has won multiple awards for his teaching and scholarship, including an award from the Forest History Society for his article, “Food, Fuel, and the New England Environment in the War for Independence, 1775-1776" in The New England Quarterly. He is currently writing a book on the environmental history of the War of Independence.

Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute, and are free and open to the public.

Mill Talk-Reinventing Cotton: Entrepreneurship and the Future of Production

presented by Luciano Bueno

Free to the Public, REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Join us at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation for a talk with Luciano Bueno who will explore how bold entrepreneurship is redefining the cotton industry through the lens of future-forward production. From lab-grown breakthroughs to cutting-edge technologies, he will share how next-generation ventures are transforming the way we make things—faster, cleaner, and smarter. This isn’t just about cotton; it’s a glimpse into the industrial revolutions of tomorrow. Luciano will dive into the challenges, the untapped opportunities, and how entrepreneurial vision can lead to massive impacts.

Luciano Bueno is an American Brazilian entrepreneur who started his journey at 16, selling t-shirts door-to-door to support his family. Doing so he learned grit, hustle, and the art of turning no into yes. Today, he is the founder and CEO of GALY, a frontier tech company pioneering a new age of production through cellular agriculture. Starting with cotton, GALY’s process is 10x faster, 500x more productive, and 80% more resource efficient than production methods—creating new possibilities beyond the constraints of land, weather, or infrastructure.

Before founding GALY, Luciano built a career in consulting, auditing, startups, and venture capital, working across sectors like global payments, retail, textiles, and agriculture. He also helped launch two innovative schools in Brazil. He holds a business degree, completed postgraduate studies in biotechnology at MIT, and earned an OPM from Harvard Business School, with executive education at Stanford and other learning institutions.

Luciano moved to the U.S. as an EB-1 Green Card recipient, known as the “Einstein visa,” and continues to mentor young entrepreneurs, volunteer with the Red Cross, and pursue passions like travel, chess, and extreme sports, His mission is clear: build world-changing companies and empower the next generation of builders.

Luciano’s philosophy: Hard work outpaces smart work every time, and those who believe they can or can’t are usually right.

Upcycling at the Mill: Hand Sewing Workshop

(ages 12+ and adults) 
$18 Materials and Instruction fee
Space is limited

Give new life to old textiles in this hands-on workshop at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation!

With 11.5 million tons of fabric wasted annually, upcycling offers a creative way to reduce waste while learning hand sewing, embroidery, and darning techniques. Held in the historic mill where America’s textile industry began, this class connects past and present by transforming worn clothing into something new.

Bring your own fabric items and reimagine them with sustainability and creativity in mind! 

Panel Discussion: Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History

featuring Hendrik Broekman, Allan Winkler, and Mark Kroll.
Moderated by Laura Carlo

This is an IN PERSON Event, FREE to the public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Join us for a panel discussion moderated by WGBH Classical’s Laura Carlo at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation as part of our special exhibition Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History.

Harpsichordists and builders Henrik Broekman and Allan Winkler, and harpsichordist and BU Professor emeritus Mark Kroll will be discussing the legacy of Hubbard Harpsichords of Waltham. Speakers will also touch upon the manufacturing of these intricate instruments, and their role in reviving and popularizing early music.

There will be an opportunity for audience questions as well.

Mill Talk: The New Lunar Society: An Enlightenment Guide to the Industrial Revolution

Presented by David Mindell
Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Dibner Professor of the History of Engineering and Manufacturing at MIT

Climate change, global disruption, and labor scarcity are forcing us to rethink the underlying principles of industrial society. How can a new generation reanimate the best ideas of our industrial forebearers and begin to build a realistic and human-centered future? Join us at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation for a conversation with David Mindell who envisions a new form of industrialism that draws upon the first principles of the Industrial Revolution that date back to the 18th Century in his recent book The New Lunar Society.

While discussing new industrialism, he will tell the story of the Lunar Society, a group of engineers, scientists, and industrialists who came together to apply the principles of the Enlightenment to industrial processes. The Lunar Society included pioneers like James Watt, Benjamin Franklin, and Josiah Wedgwood whose conversations both ignited the Industrial Revolution and shaped the founding of the United States.

David Mindell is Professor Aerospace Engineering and Dibner Professor of the History of Engineering and Manufacturing at MIT. He has led or participated in more than 25 oceanographic expeditions, written seven books, and holds 34 patents in RF navigation, autonomous systems, and AI-assisted piloting. He is also Founder and Executive Chair of Humatics, a navigation technology company based in Waltham, and Cofounder of Unless, an investment firm that is catalyzing the next technological revolution.

Upcycling at the Mill: Hand Sewing Workshop

(ages 12+ and adults) 
$18 Materials and Instruction fee
Space is limited

Give new life to old textiles in this hands-on workshop at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation!

With 11.5 million tons of fabric wasted annually, upcycling offers a creative way to reduce waste while learning hand sewing, embroidery, and darning techniques. Held in the historic mill where America’s textile industry began, this class connects past and present by transforming worn clothing into something new.

Bring your own fabric items and reimagine them with sustainability and creativity in mind! 

Mill Talk: Baby Food and the Industrialization of Taste in the United States

presented by Professor Amy Bentley, New York University

Free to the public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

When Francis Cabot Lowell revolutionized industrial manufacturing, he could never have imagined that industrialization at scale would change everything about the way we work, live, and even eat. Join us for an eye-opening talk from NYU Professor Amy Bentley as she traces the development of the modern American diet as it became another sector of the mass manufacturing commercial economy. Food could be processed, packaged, and sold faster, more efficiently, and in huge quantities – but there were serious unintended consequences. Her case study – baby food.

By the 1950s, commercial baby food had become emblematic of all things modern in postwar

America. Little jars of baby food were thought to resolve a multitude of problems in the domestic sphere, but these baby food products laden with sugar, salt, and starch also became a gateway to the industrialized diet that blossomed during this period.

Today, baby food continues to be shaped by medical, commercial, and parenting trends. Baby food producers now contend with health and nutrition problems as well as the rise of alternative food movements. All of this matters because it’s during infancy that palates become acclimated to tastes and textures, including those of highly processed, minimally nutritious, and calorie-dense industrial food products.

Current research projects include a history of food in US hospitals, the cultural and historical contexts of meat and dairy substitutes, the cultural contexts of food waste, the role of flavor in human and planetary health, and an assessment of how historians write about food. She has been featured as an expert on the science of the American diet, most recently in the New York Times Magazine article “Ozempic Could Crush the Junk Food Industry. But It Is Fighting Back” (Nov. 19, 2024).

https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/people/amy-bentley

Mill Talk: A Revolutionary Problem: Making Saltpeter During the War of Independence

presented by David Hsiung

250 years ago, the revolution that would lead to our country’s independence was in its early stages. The Continental Army was facing a major problem, gunpowder shortages. Join the Charles River Musuem for an exploration of how the production of saltpeter, the principal ingredient of this explosive material, changed the course of history.

This talk will explore the different ways saltpeter was manufactured by Americans, the wide variety of instructions that guided their efforts, and the motivations-both lofty and materialist-that drove them forward.

A native of the Chicago area, David C. Hsuing earned his B.A. from Yale, his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and ever since has taught history at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, He has won multiple awards for his teaching and scholarship, including an award from the Forest History Society for his article, “Food, Fuel, and the New England Environment in the War for Independence, 1775-1776" in The New England Quarterly. He is currently writing a book on the environmental history of the War of Independence.

Upcycling at the Mill: Hand Sewing Workshop

(ages 12+ and adults) 
$18 Materials and Instruction fee
Space is limited

Give new life to old textiles in this hands-on workshop at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation!

With 11.5 million tons of fabric wasted annually, upcycling offers a creative way to reduce waste while learning hand sewing, embroidery, and darning techniques. Held in the historic mill where America’s textile industry began, this class connects past and present by transforming worn clothing into something new.

Bring your own fabric items and reimagine them with sustainability and creativity in mind! 

Mill Talk: Levi’s®: The Youngest Oldest Brand in the World

presented by Tracey Panek, Historian & Director of Archives, Levi Strauss & Co.

FREE to the public, REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Join the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation for a captivating Mill Talk on the history of Levi Strauss & Co., the invention of the modern blue jean, or riveted denim pant, and how a historic American brand continues to stay relevant today. Tracey Panek, Historian and Director of Archives at Levi Strauss & Co., will explore how this American brand, founded by an immigrant during the California Gold Rush, revolutionized fashion and became a global icon.

This talk is especially fitting at the Charles River Museum, the site of Francis Cabot Lowell’s first cotton textile mill, where America’s industrial revolution transformed fabric production and laid the foundation for the mass manufacturing of textiles—including the denim used to create the first Levi’s® blue jeans. Discover how industrial ingenuity, and a patented innovation, shaped what we wear today and helped define American culture.

Speaker Bio: Tracey Panek is the Historian for Levi Strauss & Co. and Director of Archives at the company’s world headquarters in San Francisco. She manages the day-to-day workings of the Levi Strauss & Co. Archives as a key corporate asset, answering historical questions, assisting designers, brand managers, executives and other employees whose work requires historical materials in the Archives. She regularly hunts for unique vintage Levi’s® garments and unusual Levi’s® items to add to the Archives.

Tracey is a contributor to Unzipped, the company’s blog, writing about company history, vintage Levi’s® garments, and behind-the-scenes work in the Archives. She narrates the video series From the Levi’s® Archives on YouTube and From the Levi’s® Archives on TikTok. Tracey is the media spokesperson for Levi Strauss & Co. heritage.

Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

Mill Talk: The Greater Boston School of Harpsichord Building

Mill Talk: “The Greater Boston School of Harpsichord Building”

Opening: “Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History” Special Exhibition

(6:00 PM Exhibit Opening, 7:00 PM Discussion)

presented by Mark Kroll, Professor Emeritus, Boston University

FREE to the Public, Registration Required

Join us for the kickoff of our very special exhibition, Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History, which will examine the story of Frank and Diane Hubbard, founders and operators of Hubbard Harpsichords manufacturers of instruments and kits for almost 50 years. Through their work, Greater Boston became a center of the revivial of the harpsichord as an instrument and Early Music as a genre. Mark Kroll has written the definitive book on chronicling this important period of music history and collected dozens of firsthand accounts of the principal players, workers, and artisans associated with the ‘Big Three’ harpsichord shops in Greater Boston – Hubbard in Waltham, William Dowd and Eric Herz, both in Cambridge.

Kroll will give a talk that sets the context in which the Hubbards’ shop at the Lyman Estate carriage house expanded to the old Cotton Picker Building of the Boston Manufacturing Factory site on Moody Street. Hubbard Harpsichords pioneered the use of DIY kits that became popular in the 1960s and 70s, many of which were built in this mill complex.

This Mill Talk marks the grand opening of Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History, a special exhibition on the artisanship, industry, and art of designing and building harpsichords, exemplified by those of the Hubbard shop. This three-month exhibition will include a full harpsichord, wood-bending frames, tools and materials of the trade, and imagery from the Hubbard shop that centers the workers who created instruments and kits for decades on site. Over the course of its installation, the program will include music, informational talks, panel discussions, and other special events to bring this almost-forgotten part of Waltham’s and Greater Boston’s music history back to the forefront.

March 22, 2025: Mark Kroll performs chamber music concert at the Charles River Museum (free, registration required) (supported in part by the Waltham Cultural Council)

Speaker Bio: Professor emeritus Mark Kroll, Boston University:
Mark Kroll’s distinguished career as a performer, scholar and educator spans a period of more than fifty years. He has appeared in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia as a recitalist and chamber musician, winning critical praise for his expressive playing and virtuosity. He has also performed as concerto soloist with the world’s major orchestras and served as harpsichordist for the Boston Symphony from 1979-2008. Kroll’s extensive list of recordings includes the music of Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Biber, Duphly, Balbastre, Royer, Schubert, and Hummel; a 10-disc set of the complete pièces de clavecin of François Couperin; critically acclaimed CDs of contemporary harpsichord music; and Dutilleux’s Les Citations with the Boston Symphony Chamber Players.

Equally active as a scholar, Kroll has published eight books— Bach, Handel and Scarlatti: Reception in Britain 1750-1850; The Cambridge Companion to the Harpsichord; Ignaz Moscheles and the Changing World of Musical Europe; Playing the Harpsichord Expressively; The Beethoven Violin Sonatas; Johann Nepomuk Hummel: A Musician and His World (a second edition and a Slovakian translation were published this year in Bratislava); The Boston School of Harpsichord Building; and an annotated facsimile of part III of J. N. Hummel’s piano treatise—plus numerous chapters and articles, and scholarly editions for Bärenreiter, Ut Orpheus and A-R Editions. His book, Contemporary Harpsichord Music Since 1900, is in preparation.

A dedicated educator, Kroll is Professor emeritus at Boston University, where he served for twenty-five years as Professor of Harpsichord and Chair of the Department of Historical Performance. He teaches and lectures worldwide and has been visiting professor and guest lecturer at Northeastern University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale and Princeton Universities, and others throughout the United States.

Links:
Mark Kroll: Personal Website
The Boston School of Harpsichord Building (2019) Edwin Mellen Press

March 22, 2025: Mark Kroll performs chamber music concert at the Charles River Museum (free, registration required) (supported in part by the Waltham Cultural Council)

Mill Talk: “Waltham on the Charles: Canoeing Capital of the World in the Early 1900s”

presented by Benson Gray

FREE to the public, Registration required

With a presentation display of three canoes in our collection – two HB Arnolds and one Robertson Racing Canoe

At the turn of the last century, Waltham was a hub of canoeing and canoe manufacturing at the intersection of athletics, recreation, and craftmanship. A new industrial working class developed in Waltham and surrounding areas as companies like Boston Manufacturing and Waltham Watch employed thousands of line workers. Along with industrialization, leisure activities gained popularity as these same workers looked to the river to relax, socialize, and have fun on the weekends. The weekend itself is a consequence of industrialization and the factory work week.

In Waltham, builders like HB Arnold, Waltham Canoe, and others were at work crafting, renting, and selling their canoes. Large boathouses, dancehalls, and canoe launches popped up all along the stretch of the Charles from Moody Street back up to Newton Upper Falls. Come, hear about the innovative canoe builders on the Charles and the new leisure working class they served.

On view as part of Benson’s talk will be three wonderful examples of period canoes – two that were crafted by the HB Arnold Company of Waltham, and a Robertson racing canoe built in Auburndale. Two of our canoes were recently and expertly restored by members of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association, Norumbega Branch.

Speaker Bio: Benson Gray grew up in Old Town, Maine, and has always loved canoes, so it was exciting to discover that many others shared an appreciation for these wonderful boats. His work with computers, combined with an interest in the history of canoes, has led to some fascinating collaborations. In the 1990s, he initiated a project to scan the Old Town Canoe Company catalogs, which later evolved into a much larger effort encompassing a variety of canoe manufacturers, with significant help from Dan Miller and others. His largest wooden canoe history project involved scanning most of the Old Town, Carleton, and Kennebec build records. These projects have made the history of canoes more accessible to everyone, but the true essence of an organization like the Charles River Museum lies in connecting people who share an interest in wooden canoes. 

Links:  Wooden Canoe Heritage Association

Maine Boats: "An Heirloom Canoe An Old Town family boat finds its way home" 

Upcycling at the Mill: Hand Sewing Workshop

(ages 12+ and adults) 
$18 Materials and Instruction fee
Space is limited

Give new life to old textiles in this hands-on workshop at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation!

With 11.5 million tons of fabric wasted annually, upcycling offers a creative way to reduce waste while learning hand sewing, embroidery, and darning techniques. Held in the historic mill where America’s textile industry began, this class connects past and present by transforming worn clothing into something new.

Bring your own fabric items and reimagine them with sustainability and creativity in mind! 

Mill Talk: “Kittie Knox, Cyclist”

and unveiling: “Kittie Knox in the Charles River Museum”

6:00 PM Unveiling, 7:00 PM Mill Talk

presented by Lorenz Finison

FREE TO THE PUBLIC Registration Required

Kittie Knox was a young biracial cyclist in the 1890s who fought against race-based limitations in America’s post-Reconstruction reaction against Black advancement. During her cycling career (1893 – 1899), she became a well-known century (100-mile) rider, protested the League of American Wheelmen’s color bar in 1895, and refused to conform to conventions about fast riding and wearing a long skirt while cycling. For decades after her untimely death, Knox’s groundbreaking story was virtually unknown outside of the world of cycling. Scholar and writer Larry Finison has worked to bring her remarkable life back to a wider audience and will speak about Kittie Knox in the context of the late 19th century cycling craze.

The Charles River Museum has long had a display of turn of the century bicycles to represent the Waltham Manufacturing Company of Charles Metz. Metz innovated and built bicycles, motorcycles, and cars, all under the Orient brand name. Alongside Major Taylor, Kittie Knox will have a prominent representation in our gallery as a pioneering figure in the early days of cycling history and having appeared here in Waltham at the Waltham Cycling Track in its heyday.

Speaker Bio: Lorenz “Larry” Finison

Larry Finison is a social psychologist by training and public health practitioner by profession and then turned to the social history of bicycling. He is the author of Boston's Cycling Craze, 1880-1900, Boston's 20th Century Bicycling Renaissance, and Bicycling Inclusion and Equity (2023). His most recent work is Kittie Knox: Exclusion and Inclusion in Boston’s Black Athletes: Identity, Performance, and Activism. He is also a friend to the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Bicycling History Collections Archives and a member of the New England Cycling Coalition for Diversity. Larry has done significant research in bringing the story of Kittie Knox’s life to a modern audience.

Mill Talk: “Denim Culture: Past Present & Future”
and Screening: “Riveted: The History of Jeans” from PBS’s American Experience

(6:00 PM Screening, 7:00 PM Discussion)

presented by: Professor Emma McClendon, St. John’s University

Join us for a fascinating discussion on the past, present, and future of a ubiquitous fabric – denim. The Charles River Museum is at the site of Francis Cabot Lowell’s first cotton textile mill, and it was cotton manufacturing that powered the Industrial Revolution. Now, jeans are the iconic American fashion staple that almost all of us own. Fashion history professor, curator, and author Emma McClendon will join us as we screen the acclaimed PBS documentary, “Riveted: The History of Jeans.” The production features McClendon and other experts tracing the history and culture of jeans, and their place in American’s self-image.

Then, Emma McClendon will engage in an interactive discussion about where she sees the future of jeans as a fashion item, utilitarian garment, and manufactured product. She has a special interest in the sustainability of denim production, and the ways in which jeans have become not just clothing, but a way of expressing individuality and identity. This is sure to be a thought-provoking conversation around an article of clothing that, at any given moment, literally half of the planet’s population is wearing.

Speaker Bio: Emma McClendon, St. John’s University

Emma McClendon is Assistant Professor of Fashion Studies at St. John’s University in New York and author of Denim: Fashion’s Frontier (2016). While Associate Curator at The Museum at FIT from 2011-2020, she curated numerous critically acclaimed fashion history exhibitions including “Power Mode: The Force of Fashion” (2019), “The Body: Fashion and Physique” (2017) and “Denim: Fashion’s Frontier” (2015). She holds an MA Hons. in Art History from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and an MA in the History of Dress from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.

She is currently completing her PhD at the Bard Graduate Center for decorative arts, design history, and material culture in New York City. Her research focuses on the power dynamics inherent in clothing with a particular interest in body politics, labor, technology, and standardized sizing. Recent publications include Power Mode: The Force of Fashion (Skira, 2019) and the forthcoming (Re)Dressing American Fashion: Wear as Witness (Yale, March 2025).

Links:

Denim: Fashion's Frontier (2016) Yale University Press
(Re)Dressing American Fashion: Wear as Witness | Yale University Press
Online Exhibition: Denim: Fashion's Frontier
Emma McClendon, St. John’s University – Jeans: Universal and Unsustainable
The Washington Post: Denim is getting weird again

Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.