Letterbox Series Clues

The Dennis Reads Together Letterbox Series clues are now officially posted on letterboxing.org. If you are already a letterboxer, go out and find them! If you want to learn how to letterbox, come to tomorrow's Letterboxing with Jessica program at the Dennis Public Library, 3-5pm.

"What did you do in the war, Ma?"

Women did much more during the Civil War era than knit socks for the troops: they were nurses, surgeons, stockbrokers, reporters, traders, foragers, farmers, entertainers, couriers, quartermasters. steamboat captains, saloonkeepers, soldiers, smugglers, and spies. Come hear all about it at

"What did you do in the war, Ma?"
Women's roles in the Civil War
with Anne Speyer

April 16, 2-3pm at the South Dennis Library
April 22, 7-8pm at the Dennis Memorial Library

Where Were Your Ancestors During the Civil War?

"Where Were Your Ancestors During the Civil War?" is a lively introduction to family history for middle school (6, 7 & 8th graders) students. Dave Martin of the Cape Cod Genealogy Society will demonstrate how to start climbing the family tree, with a particular emphasis on census, vital records and war records. It will occur on the first Tuesday of school vacation week, April 21, from 2-4PM at the Dennis Public Library. Students will then be able to use the Ancestry.com, HISTGEN, and World Vital Records programs during the rest of the week as they pursue their ancestors with the help of library volunteers in the Genealogy Room at the DPL. All students should be accompanied by a responsible adult to help them accumulate family facts.

Words and Sounds of the Civil War

Dennis Reads Together presents a program "Words and Sounds of the Civil War" on April 11th, Saturday, from 2-4PM at the Jacob Sears Memorial Library on Center Street in East Dennis.

Bebe Brock and Bob Ward, both members of the Cape Cod Genealogical Society, will read the words of their ancestors as found in diaries and letters home to family, and Carl Copp, also a CCGS member, will discuss and demonstrate bugling as practiced during the Civil War.

Letterboxing with Jessica

Letterboxing with Jessica
Wednesday, April 1st
3pm
Dennis Public Library

Letterboxing is a fun, family activity that combines treasure-hunting with rubberstamping. It takes you to interesting - and often historic - locations, and the Dennis Reads Letterboxing Series will explore some the of the Dennis places related to the Civil War.

The program will go over the history of letterboxing and the technical ins and outs of the hobby. You will receive your set of Dennis Reads Letterbox Clues and leave the program with your own rubberstamp and hand-decorated (by you!) letterbox journal.

Letterboxing is a family activity, so this program is open to everyone. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is recommended - call (508-760-6219) or visit the Dennis Public Library to sign-up!

Kids Club - Quilting with Kids

Kids Club at Dennis Memorial Library will meet Tuesdays, April 7, 14, and 28 at 3:30 pm.

As part of our month long "Dennis Reads" program, the children will be listening to stories about the Civil War and making quilt squares reminiscent of the slaves' Freedom Quilts. This program is designed for children ages 6-12.

Joyce Halpert will be working with the children on this project.

Sewing the Story - Civil War-era Quilts with Maryanne Boberg

Dennis Memorial Library will be having a quilt presentation on Sunday, April 5 in the Lyceum (upstairs in the library) 2-4 pm.

Maryanne Boberg is a member of several Quilting Guilds: Bayberry Quilting Guild, Cape Cod Quilters, Blackstone Valley Heritage Quilters, 100th Town Quilters, and the New England Quilt Museum. She will entertain us with stories of how quilts were made, how they were used, and a bit of history of the specific designs used.

Quilts were more than just a bed covering for warmth. Come learn about quilting in the 1800s and see some lovely quilts as well.

March by Geraldine Brooks - A Review

Geraldine Brooks cleverly develops a shadowy character from Little Women, the father of the famous Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy, away in the Civil War while his wife struggles to keep things together at home. In a readable and all too timely look at how war impacts both soldiers and their families, Mr. March, an idealistic chaplain, not only discovers it's hard to be sure who the real enemy is but also must find a way to rejoin everyday life.

-Anne Speyer, South Dennis Free Public Library