Friends of the Athenaeum Meeting, Thursday, April 24, 9:30 AM

You are invited to join The Friends of the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum monthly meetings!  We generally meet on the last Thursday of each month at 9:30 am. 

We are a volunteer group involved in promoting the resources and services of the Athenaeum, providing hospitality at programs and events, and fundraising for the benefit of the Athenaeum. Friends strive to improve, advocate for and make resources and services of the Athenaeum more widely known in the community.

Friends may volunteer at the Secondhand Prose Bookstore, organize pie sales, or assist with various Friends-sponsored programs and events.

If you have questions about the Friends of the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, contact Adele West-Fisher at awestfisher@stjathenaeum.org or 802-745-1391.

The meetings are free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.

Vermont Reads Book Discussion at The Hub, Thursday, April 17, 6 PM

Come join Dr. Alan Berolzheimer, Vermont Humanities scholar, as he leads us in a community book discussion of the Vermont Reads book Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow. Cadow tells a story about a boy and his dog and finding value in what and who might be easily overlooked.  This event is at The St. Johnsbury Community Hub, 438 Railroad St, Suite 2. St. Johnsbury. Pizza at 6:00 pm, discussion at 6:30 pm.

Copies of the book are available at the HUB and the Athenaeum circulation desks to read before the discussion. Finishing the book is not required.

Contact Adele West-Fisher at awestfiser@stjathenaeum.org or
802-745-1392 for more information.

This event is free and open to the public.

Athenaeum Film Fan Club, Wednesday, April 16, 6:30 PM: Woman of the Year

Join the Athenaeum Film Fan Club for our monthly movie with free popcorn and soft drinks.

“Woman of the Year” is a 1942 American romantic comedy drama film directed by George Stevens and starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. The film is about the relationship between journalist Tess Harding and her husband, sports writer Sam Craig, who encounter problems as a result of her unflinching commitment to her work.

With an introduction by Damian Ryan.

This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.

NEK Poetry Reading in the Gallery, Sunday, April 13, 3 PM

Come join us for the NEK Poetry Readings in the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum's beautiful Art Gallery in celebration of Poem Town and National Poetry month!

Northeast Kingdom poets Judy Janoo, Scudder Parker, and Louise Rader will be reading selections from their new and published works.

A wine and cheese reception will follow the reading.

This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.

Mi'kmaq Creation Stories with Poetry and Song, Thursday, April 10, 6 PM

Julie Pellissier-Lush, the first Indigenous Poet Laureate for Prince Edward Island, relates some of the “Seven Generations” stories about how the Mi’kmaq People came into being.  Woven into these stories are songs accompanied with drumming and poetry that might inspire creative energy to start your own work in getting to know who you are and where you come from.

Come for the stories, drumming and the fun, learn in a safe place, and take away with you anything that resonates in your heart, your mind and your spirit.

This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.

Gallery Series Presents: Poetry and Music with Reeve Lindbergh and Kingdom Mountain Dulcimers, Wednesday, April 9, 1:30 PM

In our historic Art Gallery, enjoy music played by the Kingdom Mountain Dulcimers and poetry read by Reeve Lindbergh.

This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.

Off-Grid Roundtable, Saturday, April 5, 1 PM

Do you live off the grid? Do you have experience setting up your own off-grid systems? Do you need advice from someone who does?

Come check out the Off-Grid Roundtable! It is held the first Saturday of every month in the upstairs gallery at the St Johnsbury Athenaeum at 1pm.  Current off-gridders, people who are thinking about off-grid living or homesteading, or people who are just interested in learning more are welcome.

On April 5 the focus topic will be on off-grid water systems. If you have related books or other materials to share or swap, please feel free to bring them!

This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.

Seed Swap, Saturday, April 5, 11 am-1 pm

It’s time to think about starting your seeds for that summer garden!  We have a varied selection of vegetable and flower seeds from the Seed Library.  Bring seeds you have saved or seed packets of non-hybrid, non-GMO seeds to swap.

Come anytime between 11 am and 1 pm.  Free gardening resources will be available.  For more information, contact Adele West-Fisher at 802-745-1392 or awestfisher@stjathenaeum.org.

This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.

Writers for Recovery Workshop with Bess O'Brien, Wednesday, April 2, 6:30 pm

Vermont’s Writers for Recovery offers a unique outlet for people with substance use disorder to share their stories and heal.  In this engaging participatory workshop, you’ll hear the powerful stories of people in recovery. You’ll learn how and why the writing techniques used in Writers for Recovery enable people to ease their emotional pain, reduce their feelings of shame, and move forward toward recovery. You’ll even develop new tools for managing stress and difficult situations in your own life.

After this workshop, you’ll look at substance use disorder and people in recovery through a more positive and productive lens. And you’ll discover how the simple act of writing and sharing stories can help us all lead better, more connected lives.

This Vermont Humanities Council event is hosted by the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum.

For more information, contact Adele West-Fisher at (802) 748-8291 or awestfisher@stjathenaeum.org.

This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.

Open House to Celebrate Bob Joly’s Retirement, Tuesday, March 25, 5-6:30 PM

Drop in at the Athenaeum to wish Bob Joly a happy retirement. Refreshments, beer and wine will be served.

This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public

Open House to Meet New Director Kacy Guill, Wednesday, March 19, 5-6:30 PM

Drop by the Athenaeum and meet new Athenaeum Director Kacy Guill. Refreshments will be served.

This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.

Athenaeum Film Fan Club, Wednesday, March 19, 6:30 PM

Join us for this screwball comedy/mystery with William Powell and Myrna Loy. Powell plays a retired detective who is asked to follow the trail of a missing inventor. He is persuaded to investigate by his wife (Loy), who is craving for adventure. Together they embark on a case that leads to the disclosure of deception and murder.

Free popcorn and soft drinks.

With an introduction by Damian Ryan.

This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.

David’s Stories with NEK Author David Martin, March 12, 6 pm

Children's book author David Martin of Lyndon has just released a collection of five non-fiction stories for grown ups. In David's Stories he's written about real things that happened in Vermont, and one piece about his travels to Africa. David’s Stories features humor in the hills, mystery, and armchair travel.

“Unlike my picture books for young children, David’s Stories is a collection of true stories.  Some are funny - like why would some people want to beat us after they stole our truck - and some - like my encounter with a fisher cat, are just magical and mysterious.”

Please come to the Athenaeum on Wednesday, March 12 at 6 pm for a reading along with an extra added something.  Books will be for sale and there will be refreshments.

This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.

Gallery Series Presents: NEK Council on Aging Wednesday, March 12, 1:30 pm

Scott Wheeler: Recording the History of the Northeast Kingdom and its People Tuesday, Mar. 11, 6 pm

Thank you St. J for Approving our Town Appropriation!

With an approval rate of 69%, the people of St. Johnsbury overwelmingly supported the Athenaeum’s appropriation. Thank you for your support!

March Events

Poemtown Submission Guidelines: Deadline February 28

To go to Poemtown website click HERE

Friends of The Athenaeum Monthly Meetings

You are invited to join Friends of the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum monthly meetings!  We generally meet on the last Thursday of each month at 9:30 am. 

The Friends is a volunteer group involved in promoting the resources and services of the Athenaeum, providing hospitality at programs and events, and fundraising for the benefit of the Athenaeum. Friends strive to make resources and services of the Athenaeum more widely known in the community.

Friends volunteer at the Secondhand Prose Bookstore, organize pie sales, and assist with various Friends-sponsored programs and events.

If you have questions about the Friends of the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, contact Adele West-Fisher at awestfisher@stjathenaeum.org or 802-745-1391.

The meetings are free, ADA accessible and open to the public.

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Writing About Harriet: The Story of a Family's Bonds of Affection with Harriet Tubman - Thursday, February 27, 7 PM

Northeast Kingdom resident Bob Amos explores his ancestors' multi-generational relationship with historical icon Harriet Tubman. Well known as a musician and songwriter, Bob has also pursued a passionate interest in family history. Bob's Auburn, New York ancestors were instrumental in preserving Tubman's legacy, writing the first biography and multiple articles about her during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Bob rediscovered some photographs of Tubman taken by his great aunt that had never been seen outside the family. In 2020 Bob's research on his family's connection to Harriet Tubman was published as a feature article in the national history and genealogy magazine American Ancestors. The photographs of Harriet Tubman are being donated to the Library of Congress.

This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.