Dennis Picard of Storrowton Village to speak at Rotary

Date: 1/12/2009

SPRINGFIELD The Springfield Rotary Club announced that Dennis D. Picard, Director of Storrowton Village Museum, will address the Springfield Rotary Club's luncheon meeting on Jan. 16. The subject of his talk will be "A Lamplighter's Life: Early Street Lighting in Springfield and Beyond."

Picard will share stories of these times, changing technology and the men who "hit the pavement" to get the job done. In today's world, where night is turned into day with the flick of a switch, to forget that less then 150 years ago, the lighting of streets was one of the principle responsibilities of town governments. Insuring how it was done, and who would do it, occupied town governments in our area for the last half of the 19th and into the early 20th century.

Picard has been a museum professional in the "Living History" field for almost 30 years. He began his career at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Mass., where he spent 12 years filling various positions including lead interpreter, where he researched and designed many public programs which are still offered today.

The Springfield Rotary Club meets every Friday at 12:15 p.m. in the Mass Mutual Room at the Basketball Hall of Fame, West Columbus Avenue, Springfield, and is a proud member of Rotary International. The Rotary luncheon, with guest speaker Dennis D. Picard, is $17 per person and is open to the public.

For more information on the Springfield Rotary or becoming a member, please contact Springfield Club Membership Chair Bob Dambrov at 537-9294 or visit www.springfieldmarotary.org.