Between 1840 and 1930, approximately one million French-Canadians immigrated to the United States, the vast majority settling in New England. In Southbridge, Massachusetts a century ago, when state representative Félix Gatineau published his important chronicle of the town's Franco-American community, French-speaking immigrants and their American-born children represented 60% of the town's population!

Gatineau's  History of Franco-Americans of Southbridge, Massachusetts, originally written in French in 1919, has just been translated into English for the first time by Dr. Elizabeth Blood of Salem State University and has been published by Via Appia Press.

In this talk, Dr. Blood will offer a glimpse of what life was like for French-Canadians in Southbridge one hundred years ago, highlighting the role that the French-Canadian community played in establishing many of the town's political, cultural, business, and religious institutions and offering insight into the fascinating character of Félix Gatineau, himself.  Books will be available for purchase at the event.

All welcome! Light refreshments provided by the Friends of Jacob Edwards Library

This program is presented in conjunction with  The Last Green Valley Walktober series that encompasses activities in 35 towns in the southern Worcester County area of Massachusetts and into Connecticut following the path of the Quinebaug and Shetucket rivers.