Magic
and History Unite Sept. 21
at
Cambridge Historical Society’s Curious George Celebration
By Susie
Davidson
CORRESPONDENT
Kids young
and old will share in the magic of Curious George and receive a valuable
history lesson at the Hooper-Lee-Nichols House museum this Saturday.
"Curious
George Goes to the Museum," a special event presented by the Cambridge
Historical Society in collaboration with Curious George Goes to WordsWorth,
will run from 2-4 p.m. at the historic 159 Brattle St. house.
Along with refreshments and fun, children will meet Curious George and his friend The Man with the Yellow Hat, who will read the story, "Curious George Gets a Medal" in which George visits a natural history museum. As is typical of the monkey’s adventures, George’s pursuit becomes far more complex than originally anticipated.
The CHS
will also distribute an informal "looking guide" which will enable
families to tour the rooms on their own, as CHS volunteers help them to
contrast their own modern lifestyles to those portrayed at the museum.
“We
want to encourage children and their families,” said CHS Director Sally
Purrington Hild, “to visit the Hooper-Lee-Nichols House so they might
have an opportunity to see the oldest house in Cambridge (c. 1685) and leave
with the understanding that museums are historical resources for people of all
ages (and for monkeys), that it is good to be curious about the past, and that
history can be a tremendous amount of fun.
“By
having Curious George as a visitor, perhaps children might learn about colonial
architecture and artifacts through the character's eyes.”
The
mischievous monkey Curious George, the creation of the late Cambridge authors
and Hilliard Street residents Margret and Hans Augusto Rey, is a local
character beloved by children around the world.
“Curious
George Goes to WordsWorth,” said store owner Donna Friedman, “is
proud to join with the Cambridge Historical Society in honoring the work of the
Reys. Our love for Curious George led to the birth of our store, and without
Margret Rey's kind cooperation we wouldn't be here. We're happy for a chance to
celebrate the Reys, who are now a Cambridge institution.”
On Nov. 10,
2001, which was the 60th anniversary year of Curious George, the CHS welcomed
over 100 guests who played party games and enjoyed a specially-made birthday
cake. Several former neighbors of the Reys spoke at this event, along with
WordsWorth owner Hillel Stavis. (The talks were audio-taped for the CHS
archives, and are available to the public upon request).
The CHS is
a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of
Cambridge, Massachusetts and the ca. 1685 Hooper-Lee-Nichols House.
At
Saturday’s event, Curious George Goes to Wordsworth will have a table
stocked with their books and merchandise. Admission is $2 per child. Visitor
numbers are limited; guests must RSVP by calling the CHS office at
617-547-4252. Directions and more information about the CHS can be found on the
CHS web site, www.cambridgehistory.org.