Meet Frederick Douglass

Meet Frederick Douglass

Children and families are invited to a special living history performance to hear Nathan Richardson as Frederick Douglass speak on how he taught himself how to read and write. Mr. Douglass will dialogue with the youth and place special emphasis on the importance of education, civic responsibility and understanding the United States Constitution.

This event includes admission to the Cleveland History Center.

About the Speakers

Nathan M. Richardson is a published author, performance poet and Frederick Douglass Historian.  His poetry collections include “Likeness of Being”, “Twenty-one Imaginary T-shirts” and “The 7 Last Poems of an Unarmed Citizen.”  His work has been widely re-published in anthologies, magazines and newspapers such as the Channel Marker, The Cupola, Coastal Virginia Magazine and the Washington Post. Nathan is now in the 8th year of The Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour – a living history performance in which he captures completely the physical and spiritual essence of the former slave, writer, orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. This living history series has produced film credits with the National Park Service, Alabama Public Television and RTE – Irish Public Service Television. You can find more about Nathan Richardson and his work at www.scpublishing.com.

Cuyahoga Community College assistant professor of history, Rania Assily, has taught college-level history since 2006 including American history, World Civilizations, African American history, the history of the Middle East, and the history of India. She has interviewed John Cooper as Abe Lincoln in the Fall 2020 during the pandemic and has brought numerous speakers to Tri-C’s Westlake campus.

Frederick Douglass Speaks on Democracy

Frederick Douglass Speaks on Democracy

Join Frederick Douglass (Nathan M. Richardson, Living History Interpreter) and Rania Assily, Professor of History at Cuyahoga Community College for a conversation about the meaning of American Democracy in the words of former slave turned writer, orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Hear how Douglass escaped slavery. Learn how his relationships with William Lloyd Garrison, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman and Presidents Lincoln, Garfield and Grant significantly influenced the suffrage movement, the Antebellum, the Civil War and early Reconstruction. Hear Mr. Douglass explain his evolving views on the US Constitution and American Democracy. Bring your own questions.

This event includes admission to the Cleveland History Center.

Looking for something for the whole family? Don’t miss our bonus performance for children and families on Saturday, February 19!

About the Speakers

Nathan M. Richardson is a published author, performance poet and Frederick Douglass Historian.  His poetry collections include “Likeness of Being”, “Twenty-one Imaginary T-shirts” and “The 7 Last Poems of an Unarmed Citizen.”  His work has been widely re-published in anthologies, magazines and newspapers such as the Channel Marker, The Cupola, Coastal Virginia Magazine and the Washington Post. Nathan is now in the 8th year of The Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour – a living history performance in which he captures completely the physical and spiritual essence of the former slave, writer, orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. This living history series has produced film credits with the National Park Service, Alabama Public Television and RTE – Irish Public Service Television. You can find more about Nathan Richardson and his work at www.scpublishing.com.

Cuyahoga Community College assistant professor of history, Rania Assily, has taught college-level history since 2006 including American history, World Civilizations, African American history, the history of the Middle East, and the history of India. She has interviewed John Cooper as Abe Lincoln in the Fall 2020 during the pandemic and has brought numerous speakers to Tri-C’s Westlake campus.

“Saving the Past”: Volunteering and the Repurposing Projects at Hale Farm & Village

“Saving the Past”: Volunteering and the Repurposing Projects at Hale Farm & VillageWhile DIY, or “do it yourself”, projects have become a trendy way of life in recent years, recycling and repurposing has always been a part of farm living – especially at Hale Farm & Village. Preserving the story of the Western Reserve is the backbone to the InHale initiative, and we could not do it without the help of community members who volunteer their versatile skills and talents.

When making new developments and improvements, we encourage repurposing materials recovered on our 90+ acres of land. But, what exactly is repurposing? Repurposing can be done by modifying material to fit a new use, or by using the material in a new way. Ultimately, instead of throwing away used or worn material, that material can be reworked to create something that appears brand new.

 

“Saving the Past”: Volunteering and the Repurposing Projects at Hale Farm & VillageSo how does this work at a living history museum? “Back in 2015, all twenty-two sets of shutters on the three-story brick Hale House were restored and repainted,” offers Joe Tokarsky, Preservation Lead at Hale Farm. “Also, our sheep were given new feeders and our crafters were given new looms from repurposed wood.” All of these projects directly support the mission of the museum and our ability to provide quality programs for our visitors and the community.

The latest repurposing project at Hale Farm is a multipurpose, saltbox shaped wood shed, built entirely out of repurposed wood from old fencing in the Hale Farm south pasture. The man behind the scenes of these various projects is Bill Dunick. Dunick has been volunteering at Hale Farm & Village for two and a half years, offering us his expertise in carpentry and repurposing. Dunick resides in Kent, Ohio and is a Kent State graduate in Industrial Arts. He worked in engineering and manufacturing management for forty years and has built three homes in his lifetime. A friend of Dunick’s was a volunteer at Hale Farm and suggested he join the team as well. Although Dunick’s superb and efficient work has been in high demand on the farm, he is free to work at his leisure. Dunick volunteers at Hale Farm not only for his enjoyment of carpentry, but because of the importance of repurposing. “As a society, we need to repurpose. Today we throw things away; I see a pile of what you would think is trash as a new creation that can be repurposed.”

As a volunteer, Dunick chooses his hours and is provided with tools, space, and materials to work with. There are plenty of projects to go around at Hale Farm & Village, so if you are interested in creating and preserving, please click here for more information about volunteer opportunities.