"How to Rediscover the 17th Century"

Bristol Historical & Preservation Society's Program Meeting will host guest lecturer, Dr. David Weed, Coordinator of the Sowams Heritage Area Project. Illustrated presentation on how today's generation has a difficult time seeing the remnants of the 17th century in Bristol and other towns in the area even though they are still around us. Dr. Weed will describe the creation of a Heritage Area and how it aims to uncover the history of the transition of an indigenous culture to a Colonial culture that took place here nearly 400 years ago. He will show us the locations of where the four natural areas with walking paths are open to the public that reveal the land called Sowams or "south country" in the Native American language. Not only does the project reveal locations used by indigenous people for thousands of years, it also shows Colonial remnants including houses built in the 17th century which are still standing today.