ORANGE — From the North Quabbin to the Pacific, and from the late 18th century through today — some “local legends” will be sharing their experiences, writings and research of journeys across land and through time over the next three months.
A new Friends of the Orange Public Libraries program, Live, Local Legends, will be offering talks from local authors and other interesting locals in March, April and May at the Moore-Leland Library, 172 Athol Rd.
The series features author Carla Barringer Rabinowitz of Royalston, author Allen Young of Royalston, and traveler Celia Hastings of Orange and her two daughters, Mari and Cece.
Rabinowitz will be talking about her book, “Borderers: Becoming Americans on the Southern Frontier,” on Thursday, March 7 at 7 p.m.
According to a statement from the author, the book “is a story of race, religion and community at the dawn of America, tracing the 150-year journeys of two families of ordinary southern backwoodsmen from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast.”
Borderers, in Rabinowitz’s definition, are the settlers who enter a land “newly opened to Europeans” and make it, for the first time, a permanent home. “Borderers,” the book, is the culmination of Rabinowitz’s research into the origin of the “dark curly hair and dark eyes in my German-English family.” She traced the Drew and Bettis families and their journeys across America — from the border of North Carolina and Virginia to California “and halfway back” in the 1700s and 1800s, interacting with a diversity of groups that shaped America.
Having led a variety of careers — family mediator, court investigator and nonprofit director — Rabinowitz said her natural curiousity led her to write the book.
“It is my hope that their stories can give readers a picture of a few of the events and institutions that have contributed to making all of us who we are,” Rabinowitz said.
Young will be speaking on Thursday, April 4 at 7 p.m. about his book “Left, Gay and Green: A Writer’s Life.”
The autobiography follows Young from his early days in upstate New York, through his schooling, to South America and, eventually, to the North Quabbin area, where he has worked as a journalist, political activist and writer.
Former state Sen. Stan Rosenberg commented on Young’s book in a statement, noting Young “guides his readers through the exotic landscapes, the tumultuous politics, the intimacies, the triumphs and inner turmoil that continue to shape his character.”
On Thursday, May 2 at 7 p.m., Hastings and her daughters will talk about their rare experiences had while driving across the U.S., including playing with wolf cubs, feeding a panda and taking a private flight over the Grand Canyon.
“They have covered over 14,000 miles from Massachusetts to the breathtaking Oregon coast, to sunny Arizona, historic New Orleans and numerous places in between,” according to a library statement.
All of the talks are free and refreshments will be provided. Those wishing to attend should register by calling 978-544-2495.
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.