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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Freedom's Way National Heritage Area
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261001T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261001T190000
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SUMMARY:Athlete Harry “Bucky” Lew: The first Black professional in Basketball
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday\, October 1\, 2026\, at 6 p.m.\, the Fitchburg Historical Society will host a talk by Lowell author Chris Boucher\, discussing his latest book\, Harry “Bucky” Lew\, A Biography of Basketball’s First Black Professional. Boucher examines Lew’s story and impact in the world of sports\, in his book and during his appearance at the Fitchburg Historical Society. The talk is free and open to the public. \nThough he grew up in Lowell\, Harry “Bucky” Lew’s family had Fitchburg ties: his wife Florence Genevieve Smith Lew grew up in Fitchburg and was the daughter of Emma Loisa Treadwell Smith and Isaac Smith. Her father\, Isaac\, had escaped from enslavement in Louisiana in 1862\, then served in the Army and eventually settled on Summer Street in Fitchburg. Bucky Lew may have met his wife at the Fitchburg Armory\, a building that still stands\, and serves as the Fitchburg Senior Center. It’s not known whether they met when he was in town to play basketball or when he was playing the violin\, another of his skills. Maybe\, since in those days\, promoters often combined basketball games and dances\, it was both! \nIn 1902\, Harry “Bucky” Lew became basketball’s first Black professional when he signed with the New England League\, the start of a 25-year\, history-making career. Lew achieved milestone after milestone and Fitchburg was there to support them all. The city hosted Lew when he brought his independent teams here as early as 1906; Fitchburg had a team in the Massachusetts League when Lew made more history as a franchise owner\, and Fitchburg State was Lew’s first opponent when he coached for what is now UMass Lowell. \nAuthor Chris Boucher is based in Lowell\, Massachusetts\, and was named a Distinguished Scholar in 2021 by Southern New Hampshire University\, where he received his M.A. in Creative Writing. He is also a graduate of University of Massachusetts\, Lowell. Boucher will be selling and signing copies of his book at the event. His website is:  https://chrisboucher.net. \nThe Fitchburg Historical Society is located at 781 Main Street\, Fitchburg\, in the Phoenix Building. For more information\, visit www.fitchburghistoricalsociety.com\, call 978-345-1157 or email director@fitchburghistoricalsociety.org. The event is free and there is plenty of free\, on street parking.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/athlete-harry-bucky-lew-the-first-black-professional-in-basketball/
LOCATION:Fitchburg Historical Society\, 781 Main Street\, Fitchburg\, MA\, 01420\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bucky-Lew.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Fitchburg Historical Society":MAILTO:welcome@fitchburghistoricalsociety.com
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261014T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261014T200000
DTSTAMP:20260925T153958Z
CREATED:20260925T153958Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T153958Z
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SUMMARY:“Police History during the Great Depression” at Fitchburg Historical Society
DESCRIPTION:Crime doesn’t pay\, but it will definitely amuse attendees who come to “Police History during the Great Depression” at Fitchburg Historical Society\, 781 Main St. on Wednesday\, October 14\, at 6 p.m. Researchers Sally Cragin and Dr. Joe Cronin focused on researching crimes large and small which were registered between 1930 and 1935 in the newly arrived archives of Fitchburg Police Department ledgers. During this period\, petty crime skyrocketed\, and youth mischief escalated\, while serious crime of theft $50 and over reduced. This educational event is free to attend. \nSince January\, the pair has slowly made their way through thousands of typed pages of crimes great and small. “Some of these incidents will make you chuckle\, such as the boy who misbehaved at the Cumings Theatre by sitting in the balcony and blowing pepper onto patrons seated below – pepper he admitted bringing from home. Other crimes are more serious and show the desperate straits people were in as well as the correlation between drunkenness and crime.” \nFitchburg Historical Society received the ledgers earlier this year\, and Fitchburg Police Chief Steven Giannini stated\, “The Fitchburg Police Department is thrilled to be able to donate these records to the Fitchburg Historical Society\, where we know they will be categorized and preserved in the manner that they deserve. This collection truly belongs to the community and I hope that they enjoy reading these passages and traveling back to a different period of time as much as I have.” \nSally Cragin is a Fitchburg resident with deep roots in the community. She is a prize-winning journalist who wrote for the Boston Globe before running for Fitchburg School Committee in 2007. Currently\, she serves as a Fitchburg City Councilor-at-Large and is at work on her third book. \nDr. Joseph Cronin is a retired dentist who leads the “Poetry Readaloud” monthly event at his residence\, The Gables. He began doing research at the Fitchburg Historical Society in 2021 and was honored for his work with a Local Star Award from the Massachusetts History Alliance. He authored his memoir “The Last Narrowback\,” about growing up with his Irish family in Boston. \nThe performance venue is fully handicapped accessible and there is ample street parking.  For more information\, visit fitchburghistoricalsociety.com\, email welcome (at) fitchburghistoricalsociety.com\, or call 978-345-1157.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/police-history-during-the-great-depression-at-fitchburg-historical-society/
LOCATION:Fitchburg Historical Society\, 781 Main Street\, Fitchburg\, MA\, 01420\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/FPD-Revolver-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Fitchburg Historical Society":MAILTO:welcome@fitchburghistoricalsociety.com
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