Upcoming Events
Holiday Schedule
We will be open the weekend of Labor Day, September 1-3, normal hours. However, we will be closed on Labor Day, September 4.
Upcoming Presentations
We have several presentations coming up in September and October. Click on the images below to learn more about each event and to register.
Stalking the Doctors of the Full Moon: Medical historian Sande Bishop and Worcester District Medical Association president Dale Magee will discuss medical practices in the Blackstone Valley during the early Industrial Revolution, before the dawn of modern medicine. This event will be held Sunday, September 10, at 2 p.m.
Fabrication: Artist Richard Moninski, a Webster native who now lives in Wisconsin, never lost his interest in the early history of New England, a century of the cultural mixing of its native peoples with the English colonizers. His paintings portray a fascinating juxtaposition of indigenous names and places with European decorative traditions.
A selection of Mr. Moninski’s paintings will be exhibited at Samuel Slater Experience from September 23 through October 9. You can view the works on those days during our regular open hours. In addition, he will be giving two presentations about his work on Saturday, September 23 at 11 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. Anyone interested in meeting with Mr. Moninski at another time, please get in touch museum staff.
Discover the Nipmuc Lithic Trail: Native Americans in the Nipmuc Territory surrounding Webster and northeast Connecticut left tangible artifacts called lithic structures, and some can still be found in our fields and woods. Join Experience Guide and Thompson Historical Society President Joe Iamartino on Saturday, October 21, at 11 a.m. to learn more.
Trolley Talk: On Thursday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m., Webster-Dudley Historical Society members Curtis Cleaves and John Mrazik will tell the story of the rapid expansion and rapid decline of Webster’s trolley system in the early 20th century.
Weaving Course for Beginners
We have an introductory weaving course coming up with instructor Sharon Geyer. Sharon Geyer is a fiber artist who specializes in weaving; she also enjoys spinning, knitting, sewing and dyeing. She began her weaving career in 1995 as a tapestry weaver (French tapestry technique) under a master artist in Philadelphia. Sharon’s most recent work has been as a rigid heddle weaving instructor at Woolworks in Putnam, Connecticut.
This course will be held on three Saturdays, October 28, November 4, and November 18 from noon to 3:30 p.m. Fee for the three days is $150 which includes the yarn for the first weaving project. Looms will be available to rent.
Click the image below for more details about the course. The maximum capacity for the class is six people. Email admin@samuelslaterexperience.org to register.
Events Recap
SSE In the News
Check out this article by Rod Lee of the Blackstone Xpress and Yankee Xpress about Linda Hixon’s presentation in June.
Weaving Courses
Check out some pictures from our weaving classes this summer. On June 24, we held a Pick-Up technique class for intermediate weavers. In July, we held an introductory course for beginners. If you are interested in joining one of our weaving courses we have an introductory course starting on October 28. Details are above.
Slater Descendants Event
On Sunday, August 13, we were honored to host more than 50 descendants of Samuel Slater for a reception, tours, and a family reunion. Speakers at the event included museum founder Chris Robert, Slater family historian Sally McInnis, oldest living Slater descendant Jamie Collier, Webster Town Administrator Richard LaFond, Webster Historical Commission member and local historian Elaine Davies, and Slatersville: America’s First Mill Village filmmaker Christian de Rezendes. We enjoyed hearing the many stories from the family about their ancestors and memories in Webster and we look forward to furthering and fostering this relationship with them.
The Webster Times also covered this event. You can read more here.
August Adventures
On August 19, we welcomed more than 140 people to the museum as a part of Highland Street Foundation’s August Adventures! It was great to share the museum with people from near and far. Thank you, Highland Street Foundation for including us in your event!
From the Director’s Desk
A word about Reanna Kuzdzal:
For most Samuel Slater Experience visitors, the first face they see and voice they hear is that of Reanna Kuzdzal, whether they come to tour the museum or call to arrange a group visit.
Reanna joined us two years ago as our program coordinator, a position that has encompassed a broad range of responsibilities, which she has embraced with positivity.
She is on the front lines for scheduling school field trips, group tours, managing the gift shop, and coordinating with our volunteers.
Behind the scenes she updates the museum website, writes the newsletters, posts the social media messages, maintains the mailing lists, ticketing system, and manages the library passes program.
Best of all, Reanna is a people person, and I can’t think of anything that’s more important than that to engage all of our visitors and to expand regional community involvement and support.
A Webster native, Reanna graduated Connecticut College, New London, Conn., with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a double minor in Chinese and Linguistics. She also participated in a museum studies certificate program.
I’m now pleased to announce that Reanna has been promoted to the position of Program Manager, to widen her responsibilities and “wear some new hats” at Samuel Slater Experience.
Here’s to the next chapter, Reanna!
Barbara Van Reed
Director
