Community Calendar

Creep through the darkened hallways and rooms of the spooky Wistariahurst Mansion. Explore the home by candlelight and feel the energy of those who lived here and those who worked here. Learn about the Skinner family, how the house came to Holyoke, and how silk, wisteria, and antique musical instruments transformed the building. Listen to stories of happenings in this house sure to make you shudder. This is a rare opportunity for a guided tour at night.  This tour takes place on the first and second floor of the historic mansion. The second floor is accessible only via stairs. Advance reservation […]

This lecture will explore the settlement of Puerto Ricans in public housing in New York City between 1945-1970.  Drawing on demographic data, city documents, and housing statistics from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the lecture will highlight the history of Puerto Ricans in public housing in the mid-twentieth century in relation to Operation Bootstrap and colonialism on the island.  Drawing from Latina feminist methodologies, Rosa’s investigation challenges culture of poverty narratives and instead focusses on the gendered and racialized dynamics of public housing. Rosa's work gives broader context to Holyoke's local Puerto Rican diaspora. This is a hybrid […]