Oral History Draft

Throughout 2023, Warwick Free Public Library was host to many wonderful oral history events, available here for your viewing pleasure! Special thanks to the Association for Rural & Small Libraries for its generous funding of this project.

The Brotherhood of the Spirit Commune in Warwick, MA

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

Did we miss anything in this discussion? If you have something you’d like to add about the commune’s time in Warwick, let us know!

    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, Arlene Lincoln, Clyde Perkins Sr., and Steve Striebel (moderator); the uniformed wax figure on the far right is of Richard Lincoln, Arlene’s husband, who served in the military during the war.

    Comments

    Did we miss anything in this discussion? If you have something you’d like to add about WWII in Warwick, 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

      Did we miss anything in this discussion? If you have something you’d like to add about entertainment over the years in Warwick, 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

        Did we miss anything in this discussion? If you have something you’d like to add about the prison camp in Warwick, 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

          Did we miss anything in this discussion? If you have something you’d like to add about businesses of past Warwick, 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

            Did we miss anything in this discussion? If you have something you’d like to add about the Unitarian Church in Warwick, 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

              Did we miss anything in this discussion? If you have something you’d like to add about schools in Warwick, 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

                Did we miss anything in this discussion? If you have something you’d like to add, 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.