History Talk Replay: A Little Rebellion Now and Then

If you missed the Bidwell House Museum’s 2019 History talk series then join us one Sunday each month over the winter to watch a screening of three of those talks. In February hear a talk by former Director of the Storrowtown Village Museum, Dennis Picard, who presented A Little Rebellion Now and Then: A History of Shays’ Rebellion on July 13. This event is free but pre-registration is appreciated due to the small size of the venue.

Shays Rebellion is viewed as an agrarian revolt pitting impoverished farmers in western Massachusetts against the wealthy merchant class of the coastal eastern part of the State. On July 13 hear an account of the participants and events of this post-revolutionary uprising that both confirm and negate this long-held perception. Dennis Picard will share the stories about people who became knows as the “Regulators,” their activities in our area, a few personages of local interest and the effect on our nation’s early history.

Dennis D. Picard has been a museum professional in the living history field for forty years. He began his career at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge Massachusetts, in 1978, where he eventually spent twelve years filling various positions including lead interpreter, researching and designing many public programs which are still offered by that institution today. He also served on the staff of Hancock Shaker Village as a historic trade craftsman and site interpreter. He has held the position of Assistant Director and Director at several sites including Fort Number Four in Charlestown New Hampshire, the Sheffield Historical Society in the Massachusetts Berkshires and has recently retired after 27 years at Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield Massachusetts.