Category: On Pettaquamscutt

On Pettaquamscutt 2019

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Annually, the Friends of Canonchet Farm, Narrow River Preservation Association, and the South County Museum, with generous support from Trio Restaurant, sponsor the winter speaker series On Pettaquamscutt: Presentations on the Environment and the History of the Narrow River Watershed.

Winter 2019 presentations:

Sunday, March 31, 2019 1-3pm Narrow River Preservation Association will present: “Waves of Blue, Waves of Green” by Jane Hennedy, Site Manager of Historic New England’s Casey Farm

Casey Farm stretches from Narragansett Bay to the Narrow River. The talk traces centuries of changes to the land and compares it to its sister, Watson Farm. Their shared mission of historic preservation, landscape conservation, producing local food, and innovative educational programs comes through when following the seasonal rhythms of the farms in pictures and stories.

The presentations take place on selected Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library, 35 Kingstown Road, Narragansett.

After each event, participants are encouraged to continue the conversation at Trio Restaurant, 15 Kingstown Road, Narragansett.

More information available at onpettaquamscutt.org, by calling (401) 783-5344 or by emailing info@onpettaquamscutt.org.

On Pettaquamscutt 2021

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Many thanks to all who participated in the 2021 Winter Speaker Series “On Pettaquamscutt: Presentations on the Environment and the History of the Narrow River Watershed”

The Friends of Canonchet Farm, Narrow River Preservation Association, South County Museum and the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library along with generous support from Trio Restaurant, collaborated for the tenth year to sponsor the Winter Speaker Series.

Thank you to all who made the tenth season of On Pettaquamscutt a huge success!

Thanks especially to Rosemary and David Smith, founders and organizers of the speaker series.

Ospreys of Narrow River

Originally presented March 28, 2021 at the On Pettaquamscutt Winter Speaker Series, Craig Wood, Ecologist and Board Member of Narrow River Preservation Association and Narrow River Land Trust, explores the natural history, adaptations, migration and identification of osprey. He also shares the history of NRPA’s osprey education program and shows the behind-the scenes of the osprey webcam. 

Importantly, Craig also notes the near-disappearance of osprey in Rhode Island in the 1970s, largely due to the pesticide DDT, and the remarkable recovery of the species since DDT was banned. 

Osprey family in the nest August 6, 2020.
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Gun mount near the Point Judith Fisherman’s Memorial. (photo by Rosemary Smith)

On January 31, David Smith presented: Narragansett Coastal Defenses. Sponsored by Friends of Canonchet Farm

From the earth works of a Revolutionary fort to the concrete bunkers of World War II, military installations have been an important part of Narragansett history. CLICK HERE to see a recording of this presentation.

Sunday, February 28, Heather Kisilywicz presented: Stories of the South County Fisherman. Sponsored by South County Museum

Heather Pouliot Kisilywicz, new Executive Director of the South County Museum, discussed her research into the genealogy of South County’s first fishing families in Stories of the South County Fishermen.

Click here to see a recording of that presentation.

Galilee Fishing Fleet (www.dem.ri.gov/programs/coastal/)

These events are free and open to the public. Participants must register at OnPettaquamscutt.org or at the calendar page of the library website (http://www.narlib.org/) to receive a Zoom invite.  For more information, call 401-783-5344.

Additional information about On Pettaquamscutt is available at www.onpettaquamscutt.org

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On Pettaquamscutt 2020

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Annually, the Friends of Canonchet Farm, Narrow River Preservation Association, and the South County Museum, with generous support from Trio Restaurant, sponsor the winter speaker series On Pettaquamscutt: Presentations on the Environment and the History of the Narrow River Watershed.

The presentations take place on selected Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library, 35 Kingstown Road, Narragansett. All are free and open to the public.

After each event, participants are encouraged to continue the conversation at Trio Restaurant, 15 Kingstown Road, Narragansett.

More information available at onpettaquamscutt.org, by calling (401) 783-5344 or by emailing info@onpettaquamscutt.org.

CLICK HERE to see a PDF version of the January 26, 2020 Narrow River Preservation Association presentation:
“50 Years of Protecting and Preserving the Narrow River and its Watershed.” Leaders of NRPA share the organization’s most significant challenges and accomplishments over the past 50 years with a look toward the next 50 years of caring for the watershed loved by so many. 

CLICK HERE to see a PDF version of the February 23, 2020 Friends of Canonchet Farm presentation: ‘The Rhode Island Bear Story‘ by Mary Gannon, RIDEM

March 29 Event Cancellation

We regret to inform you that we must cancel the March 29 On Pettaquamscutt Winter Speaker Series presentation at the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library in Narragansett out of concern for public health and to blunt the spread of the COVID 19 virus.

The Center for Disease Control, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States (March 15, 2020 interim guidance).

Our plan is to postpone the topic, Camp Varnum and Rhode Island Coastal Defenses, to our 2021 season.  In the meantime, stay healthy and thank you for your support of our Winter Speaker Series.

David and Rosemary Smith

Learn about On Pettaquamscutt presentations from previous years here:

On Pettaquamscutt 2019

On Pettaquamscutt 2018

On Pettaquamscutt 2017

On Pettaquamscutt 2016

On Pettaquamscutt 2015

On Pettaquamscutt 2014

On Pettaquamscutt 2013

On Pettaquamscutt 2012

On Pettaquamscutt 2018

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2018 Winter Speaker Series “On Pettaquamscutt: Presentations on the Environment and the History of the Narrow River Watershed”

The Friends of Canonchet Farm, Narrow River Preservation Association, South County Museum and the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library along with generous support from Trio Restaurant, are collaborating for the seventh year to sponsor the Winter Speaker Series On Pettaquamscutt: Presentations on the Environment and the History of the Narrow River Watershed.

The presentations will take place on selected Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library, 35 Kingstown Road, Narragansett. After each event, participants are encouraged to continue the conversation at Trio Restaurant, 15 Kingstown Road, Narragansett.

January: South County Museum Associate Director Blaire O. Gagnon started things off with “The Sampler – A Young Lady’s Education in the 18th & 19th Centuries.” Blaire explained how young girls learned to cross-stitch and demonstrate their proficiency with letters, numbers and even poetry with traditional “samplers.” Blaire brought several 200 year-old examples of the art work, as did Peggy O’Connor from the holdings at the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum.

Visit the Sampler Archive for more information on samplers, including examples from the Rhode Island Historical Society collection. See also the Sampler Consortium.

Read Phil Cozzolino’s review in the January 31 Narragansett Times.

February: Gary Casabona, the R.I. State Biologist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services, presented “Habitat Management for Pollinators.” Gary talked about the importance of planting a wide variety of species that support wildlife to ensure that there are pollen and nectar resources available for all seasons. Download a pamphlet describing the work of NRCS with the Xerces Society to protect native pollinators.

March: URI Watershed Watch Program Director Linda Green explained the work of some 250 volunteer monitors who test water in the lakes, rivers and estuaries throughout Rhode Island, and then focused on conditions and trends in Narrow River based on 25 years of testing by the NRPA River Watch program.
View Linda’s slide presentation.

Read Phil Cozzolino’s review in the March 28 Narragansett Times.

These events are free and open to the public. Participants must register at OnPettaquamscutt.org or at the calendar page of the library website (http://www.narlib.org/) to reserve a seat as the capacity of the room is 90 guests. For more information, call 401-783-5344 or email info@onpettaquamscutt.org.