Her lecture will be about the famous Boston robbery known as the "BRINKS JOB" which is adapted from her popular book The Crime of the Century: How the Brink's Robbers Stole Millions and the Hearts of Boston, published in February 2008 by Commonwealth Editions.

Her other books include East of Boston: Notes from the Harbor Islands, Boston on Fire: A History of Fires and Firefighting in Boston and The Cocoanut Grove Fire. Ms. Schorow was the editor of Boston's Fire Trail: A Walk Through the City's Fire and Firefighting History, published in 2007. She also contributed research and copy to the Boston Globe's Great New England Storms of the 20th Century.

Stephanie has worked for the Boston office of the Associated Press, the TAB newspaper chain and newspapers in Missouri, Utah and Connecticut. She is an avid hiker and backpacker, clay artist and amateur photographer.


JULIA DONAHUE is one of the most versatile historical reenactors in New England as she possesses an extensive collection of characters. Julia created the "Education through our Living History Programs" and is a graduate of Emerson College. She holds a degree in Theater Education and received classical training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.

After spending some time on Broadway, she returned to Boston to join the Freedom Trail Players and appeared as Abigail Adams. Word of Julia's unique form of education reached the State House, and in 2003 Governor Mitt Romney presented a Proclamation naming Julia as the Official Abigail Adams of the Commonwealth. Julia was also presented with a Citation for Excellence in Teaching from the Governor's Council. Her various characters include Abigail Adams, First Lady of the Revolution; Deborah Samson, Soldier Girl and Mercy Otis Warren, Historian, Poet and Political Satirist.

At this year's NEHF Julia will be portraying Elizabeth Foster Goose, the real "MOTHER GOOSE" who was a well-known figure in the historical literature of fairy tales and nursery rhymes.


JAMES B. HOGAN is a historical reenactor and member of the Lincoln Minutemen. He also volunteers at the Minute Man National Historical Park and is a member of the Guild of Historical Interpreters. In addition, Jim has developed a black powder safety course for reenactors.

Mr. Hogan has created the persona of a "1775 NEW ENGLAND CONGREGATIONAL PASTOR" and will bring the religious side of the American Revolution to life. He expertly weaves stories of local pastors, famous Colonial leaders and the events of the American Revolution together and describes them as a battle for the souls of mankind. He will stir your soul and your patriotism.

When he is not running around with a tricorn hat, Bible and Musket, he can be found as a Program Manager in the International Operations Office at Hanscom Air Force Base. He is also a retired captain in the US Air Force and active in the Lexington United Methodist Church.


LINDA PALMER, will be portraying Ann Vassall, a "PURITAN WOMAN" who arrives from Essex, England and becomes one of the early settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Imagine that the year is 1637. Ann Vassall, wife of William Vassall of Essex England, one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Company, welcomes you to your new home in the Bay. Her words of advice and her narration of events going on in town reveal the political and religious controversies surrounding not only her family but Plimoth and Massachusetts Bay residents as well. With her unique style, Linda will take you back to the year 1637 and personify what life was like in America in the early 17th century.

Afterwards Linda will give a lecture on the origins of the Puritan experiment in England among a band of 127 adventurous merchants and Puritan sympathizers to its evolution into a motley cast of thousands, many of whom were dissenters like William Vassall.

Linda Palmer is the founder and performer of the walking tour of 17th century Boston called Where Did the Puritans Go? She has performed her 1637 monologue as Ann Vassall on the tour and at many historical venues throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. She holds a M.A.T. from Indiana University and has taught at universities and community colleges from Hawaii to Massachusetts.


The 54th MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY REGIMENT is an infantry regiment that fought in the American Civil War. It was one of the first official African/American units in the United States armed forces and was the major vanguard in THE STORMING OF FORT WAGNER, one of the most courageous battles fought in the Civil War by the North. At the New England History Festival they will be proudly represented by the 54TH MASSACHUSETTS GLORY BRIGADE FOUNDATION featuring Emmett Bell-Sykes and Ben Goff. To have them speak at your event, contact P.O. Box 260342; Mattapan 02126 (617) 254-7005 or 617-333-9970 or 54thmass@verizon.net


JOHN HORRIGAN, the event’s producer, is a New England folklorist and a prolific “ad hoc historian” who has lectured on historical fires, historical weather and historical astronomical events such as “The Great Hurricane of 1938”, "The Great Brant Rock Fire” and “The Star of Bethlehem”. His new lectures for the 2009 season will include "The Great Solar Flare of 1859", "The Great Roxbury Fire", "Booms, Bubbles, Busts, Depressions, Recessions and Panics: A History of American Financial Crisis" "Fires of the Revolution" "Shipwrecks of the Revolution" and "The New England Lighthouse Storm". He is now branching out into historical music tragedies as well with anniversary presentations on "The 'Paul Is Dead' Hoax", "Glenn Miller's Missing" and "The Day The Music Died". At this year's New England History Festival, John will be presenting three brief "segue" vignettes on "THE GREAT NANTUCKET FIRE" (a fire that raged through Olde Nantucket in 1846) and "THE NIGHT THE STARS FELL" (a brief 175-year anniversary retrospective of the most spectacular astronomical event in recorded history) and "JOHN WINTHROP'S SUDDEN GUST" (witnessed in July of 1643, the first American tornado in recorded history).


SPECIAL GUESTS:


David L. Smith is the President of the Civil War Roundtable of Greater Boston & Editor of the newsletter "THE RECALL JOURNAL". He is also the webmaster for the The Civil War Round Table of Greater Boston which is the 13th oldest CWRT established in 1957.


D. MICHAEL RYAN, currently a Park Ranger for the Minuteman National Historic Park, is a former Associate Dean of Students at Boston College (for over 30 years), is a decorated war veteran and multi-talented author, gifted musician, lecturer, esteemed historian, genealogist and versatile re-enactor. He is widely recognized as one of the most knowledgeable and interactive historical researchers in regard to the American Revolution living in New England today. Mike, who is a member of over a dozen historical societies and re-enactor militia groups, will be signing his new book Concord and the Dawn of Revolution: The Hidden Truths.


MARILYNNE ROACH, whose has authored several books, has penned what many consider to be the definitive work on the Salem Witch Trials entitled The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege, will be on hand for a book signing.


Admission is $16.00. There will be trivia, prizes, exhibits, concessions and souvenirs. Tickets can be obtained by logging on to www.historyfestival.org and using PAYPAL, or by emailing historicalweather@hotmail.com or by calling (339) 368-1971 or by sending a $16.00 check (includes $1.00 shipping fee) made out to: