Royalston Historical Society Benefit Dinner and Talk: The Importance of the Straw and Palm-leaf Hat Industry in New England
April 1st 2017
6 pm dinner, 7 pm talk in the town hall
Did you know that the manufacture of palm leaf and straw hats employed more people, primarily women and girls, than the textile industry in Massachusetts in the 19th C? Come learn about the importance of palm leaf and straw hat manufacturing in New England and Royalston with Kathy Morris. Beyond hats, Kathy will talk about the craft of weaving of straw, including straw threads (Rapunzel), marquetry, embroidery, and inlaid furniture and fashions. There will be examples of different plaits (braids), straw tools, wheat varieties, and the various techniques. 
Kathy is a board member of the National Association of Wheat Weavers and a member of the Guild of Straw Craftsmen in the United Kingdom and has been weaving straw for over 15 years. She is also the Library Director of the Phinehas Newton Library in Royalston, a building originally funded by a local hat braid entrepreneur. The talk is funded by a grant from the Royalston Cultural Council.
Eat: Before the talk, come enjoy a dinner of homemade, cozy, comfort foods and desserts. Beer and wine on sale. Tickets ($12/ adult) may be purchased on-line through the Historical Society web-site, from members, at the post office, and town library. You do not need to attend the dinner to attend the talk.
Win: There will be a chance to win one of several straw weavings in a raffle to benefit the Historical Society’s effort to replace the roof on Old School House #1.
Save the date: April 30: Jazz in the Ballroom: more delicious food and drink and all that Jazz- Plan for brunch at the Maples.
