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  Our featured program, Thursday, October 29, 7 pm, at Weston Public Library, will be the Weston Historical Society annual meeting and showing of the documentary film “THE CHARLES RIVER: Headwaters of Invention.” The Charles River spawned the Industrial Revolution and helped create an American culture of innovation. Joe Hunter, filmmaker and VP of External Relations at Olin College, examines the industrial history of the Charles, focusing on innovative businesses and individuals during the water and steam eras, such as the Cabot Mill in Waltham, “Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution,” the Stanley Steamer Works in Watertown, and the mills of Newton Lower Falls and Needham. Hunter gave the popular Norumbega Park lecture at the library last year.  The October 29 meeting is free and open to all. Refreshments!

Featured program:  The Waltham Watch Company was one of the innovative companies that developed along the Charles River beginning in the 1820s. Weston residents worked at the watch factory and others included in Joe Hunter’s documentary film “THE CHARLES RIVER: Headwaters of Invention,” to be shown at the Society’s annual meeting Thursday, October 29, 7 pm, at Weston Public Library. Joe will present the film and answer questions.
 

   

  The featured object from the WHS collection is a newly-acquired root beer bottle advertising B. L Ogilvie & Sons Inc. The family-owned hardware store was founded by Nova Scotia immigrant Beriah Ogilvie 90 years ago, in 1919.
 

Featured object: We have chosen the Ogilvies root beer bottle as a featured object to point out that the historical society collects items from the present as well as the past. After all, someday this bottle will be 100 years old. Ogilvies sells the root beer as part of its marketing program.
 

   
    The featured exhibit, located in the historical society’s display case at the Weston Public Library, celebrates Ogilvies 90th Anniversary. The case is packed with photographs and advertising memorabilia, including Ogilvies pens, pencils, rulers, matchbooks, thermometers, calendars, and other give-aways. Our thanks to the historically-minded Ogilvies management for preserving and loaning these objects.
 

Featured exhibit: Check out our new exhibit “B.L. Ogilvie & Sons, Celebrating 90 years” in the display case at the Weston Public Library through October 15, and from October 16- November 30 at Weston Town Hall. This 1939 office pictures shows Raymond Ogilvie standing behind the register, with John Loring (center) and Harold Ogilvie (right). (Photo courtesy of B. L. Ogilvie & Sons)

 

   
 

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Updated February 28, 2010