The Whittier Birthplace in Haverhill and Whittier Home Museum in Amesbury host events this weekend.
In Haverhill, fiddler Marie Rawlings of North Andover will lead a program on Saturday, Aug. 7, of songs for children, based on the books of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the "Little House on the Prairie" series. The songs, from the 1800s, celebrate westward expansion. Whittier's life encompassed much of the 19th century. He was born in 1807 and died in 1892.
The performance begins at 10 a.m. at the poet's birthplace off Route 110 in Haverhill.
The Whittier Home Museum is celebrating John Greenleaf Whittier's love of gathering with friends to share poems, enjoy music, food and good friendship in his garden at the Whittier Home Museum, 86 Friend St., Amesbury, on Sunday, Aug. 8, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Whittier was an influential American Quaker poet and ardent advocate of the abolitionist movement. Trustees of the Whittier museum will honor his lifetime pursuits of social justice and artistic expression at Sunday's garden party.
Tapestry of Voices, an affiliation of professional poets, will be on hand to read Whittier's poetry, as well as original thematic connected works. Local readers include the award-winning poet Rhina P. Espaillat of Newburyport, Whittier Home Association President Cynthia Costello of Amesbury, Sally Lavery and Lainie Senechal. Other featured readers include Harris Gardner, founder of the poetry organization, Walter Howard, Joanna Nealon and Isabella Nebel.
I thank you for sweet summer days
For pleasant memories lingering long
For joyful meetings, fond delays
And ties of friendship woven strong.
From the Laurels, by John Greenleaf Whittier
The Garden party will include a buffet, a silent auction, guided tours of the museum and artists open air painting in the garden.
Amesbury's first mayor, Nick Costello, dressed as John Greenleaf Whittier, will meet and greet guests.
Tickets cost $25 per person. As stewards for the preservation of the collections, structures and grounds, the Whittier Home Association will use proceeds from the event to make repairs caused by recent flooding. Donations and/or sponsors are welcome.
