April Programs at the Leach Library

Leach Library to Host “The Old Country Fiddler: Charles Ross Taggart, Traveling Entertainer”

On Thursday, April 13 at 7:00 p.m., the Leach Library will host Mr. Adam Boyce for an evening presentation of “The Old Country Fiddler: Charles Ross Taggart, Traveling Entertainer”.

Mr. Boyce is a 10th generation Vermonter and lifelong student of history.  He has been involved with nearly every aspect of traditional New England dancing and music history since 1991, when he began to learn how to dance, fiddle, play the piano and call for dances.  In 2013, Mr. Boyce wrote a biography on Charles Ross Taggart entitled The Man from Vermont: Charles Ross Taggart, The Old Country Fiddler.

In this living history performance, learn about the life of musical humorist Charles Ross Taggart.  Mr. Taggart performed across the country for over 40 years as a fiddler, piano player, comedian, singer, and ventriloquist.  Adam Boyce will portray Mr. Taggart near the end of Taggart’s career, c. 1936, sharing recollections on his life, with some live fiddling and humorous sketches interspersed.

This program is free and open to the public with seating limited to the first 90 individuals.  It will be held in the library’s lower-level meeting room.  Light refreshments will be served.

Leach Library to Host “The Starry Messenger” at Leach Library

On Thursday, April 27 at 7:00 p.m., the Leach Library will present Mike Francis’ living history performance, “The Starry Messenger”.

Mike Francis brings astronomy to life with his Stars Science Theater programs. A physical science and physics teacher and formerly a lecturer for ten years at the Charles Hayden Planetarium at Boston's Museum of Science, Mike combines the science of astronomy with the dramatic skills of an actor. He has performed at schools, libraries, museums and special events across the country.

Mr. Francis will enact a dramatic fun-filled adaptation of Galileo’s short treatise "Siderius Nuncius." As Galileo dressed in 17th-century costume, Mr. Francis will give a public lecture on Galileo’s most recent discoveries made using his newly devised spyglass. Audience members are invited to participate in Galileo’s many experiments and demonstrations.

This program is free and open to the public with seating limited to the first 90 individuals. It will be held in the library’s lower-level meeting room. Light refreshments will be served.