The Warwick Free Public Library hosted its first recorded oral history panel presentation in 2022 on the Brotherhood of the Spirit Commune that lived in town in the early 1970s. In 2023, with generous financial support from the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL), a series of seven oral history presentations on a a wide variety of Warwick-related topics was organized and professionally recorded, with broad participation from members and friends of the Warwick community. Thanks to everyone who helped to make all of these programs a big success–they were all highly informative and entertaining!
An extra special thanks is due the members of the Oral History program committee: George Day, Frederica (Freddie) Fellows, Clare Green, Al Morgan, Steve Striebel and Ivan Ussach; and to Shane Peters of Kustom Ice Productions.
All of the Library’s video presentations can be viewed by clicking on the listed items found below; the Introductory video to the 2023 Oral History Series immediately below also contains links to the seven video programs. In future, additional programs may find their way to this page.
NOTE: Viewers are encouraged to use the “Comment” feature on all the videos to contribute additional information and enhance the value of these one-of-a-kind historical resources for the future benefit of the community.
2023 Oral History Program Series
You can now add your comments to any of the 2023 program videos! When you select a video you will the “Comment” button–just click on it and add your comment. You can help make this amazingly informative and entertaining town resource even more so!
WWII – The Home Front and Around Warwick, MA
This discussion is the first in a series of oral history panel presentations focusing on life in Warwick, MA, organized by the Warwick Free Public Library through a generous grant from the Association for Rural & Small Libraries. The presentation was held at the Warwick Library on February 11, 2023. Panelists, from left to right: Dave Shepardson, Mark Maynard, Calvin Fellows, Arline Lincoln, Clyde Perkins Sr., and Steve Striebel (moderator); the uniformed wax figure on the far right is of Richard Lincoln, Arline’s husband, who served in the military during the war.
Comments
If you have something you’d like to add about WWII impact on Warwick, please let us know!
Kick Up Yer’ Heels – Entertainment!
This discussion is the second in a series of oral history panel presentations focusing on life in Warwick, MA, organized by the Warwick Free Public Library through a generous grant from the Association for Rural & Small Libraries. The presentation was held at the Warwick Library on March 11, 2023. Panelists, from left to right: Steve Striebel (moderator), Jim McRae, Klon Koehler, Michael Humphries, Frederica (Freddie) Fellows, and Clyde Perkins, Jr.
Comments
If you have something you’d like to add about entertainment over the years in Warwick, please let us know!
MCI Warwick (Prison Camp)
This discussion is the third in a series of oral history panel presentations focusing on life in Warwick, MA, organized by the Warwick Free Public Library through a generous grant from the Association for Rural & Small Libraries. The presentation was held at the Warwick Library on April 15, 2023. Panelists, from left to right: Steve Striebel (moderator), Carol Foote, Derek Estler, Liesel Nygard and Steve Kurkoski.
Comments
If you have something you’d like to add about the prison camp in Warwick, please let us know!
Bygone Businesses of Warwick
This discussion is the fourth in a series of oral history panel presentations focusing on life in Warwick, MA, organized by the Warwick Free Public Library through a generous grant from the Association for Rural & Small Libraries. The presentation was held at the Warwick Library on May 20th, 2023. Panelists, from left to right: Steve Striebel (moderator), George Day, Rice Flanders, Claire Farley-Michaels, Tony Miner and David Young.
Comments
If you have something you’d like to add about past businesses of Warwick, please let us know!
The first parish Unitarian Church and Meeting house of Warwick, MA
This discussion is the fifth in a series of oral history panel presentations focusing on life in Warwick, MA, organized by the Warwick Free Public Library through a generous grant from the Association for Rural & Small Libraries. The presentation was held at the Warwick Town Hall on August 26th, 2023 as part of the Town’s “Old Home Days” celebration. Panelists, from left to right: Steve Striebel (moderator), Arline Lincoln and George Day.
Comments
If you have something you’d like to add about the Unitarian Church in Warwick, please let us know!
Warwick’s Schools
This discussion is the sixth in a series of oral history panel presentations focusing on life in Warwick, MA. Organized by the Warwick Free Public Library through a generous grant from the Association for Rural & Small Libraries. Participants, from left to right: Steve Striebel (moderator), Clare Green, Barbara Walker, Richard (Dick) Shepardson, Frederica (Freddie) Fellows, John Wilson, David Shepardson.
Comments
If you have something you’d like to add about the schools of Warwick, please let us know!
A Conversation with Warwick Elders
This discussion is the seventh and last in a 2023 series of oral history panel presentations focusing on life in Warwick, MA. Organized by the Warwick Free Public Library through a generous grant from the Association for Rural & Small Libraries. Participants, from left to right: Steve Striebel (facilitator), George Day, Virginia (Ginny) Fellows, Arline Lincoln, Calvin (Cal) Fellows, Frederica (Freddie) Fellows.
Comments
If you have something you’d like to add, please let us know!
Thank you & Acknowledgements
Brief acknowledgements for the 2023 Oral History series at the Warwick Free Public Library by Ivan Ussach, library director. Special thanks to the project organizing team: George Day, Clare Green, Al Morgan, Freddie Fellows, Steve Striebel (and Ivan Ussach); and to the Association for Rural & Small Libraries for the generous funding that made the project possible.
PHOTOS
Other Oral History programs
The Brotherhood of the Spirit Commune in Warwick, MA (2022)
This panel discussion focuses on the Spirit in the Flesh commune (later to become the Renaissance Community) during its time in Warwick, MA during the early 1970s. The event was recorded live at the Warwick Free Public Library, with then-commune members Debbie Edson and Doug Edson; several town residents, including George Day and Steve Striebel; and then-journalist Harry Greenwald. Several other town residents present in the audience also contributed.
Comments
If you have something you’d like to add about the Commune’s time in Warwick, please let us know!