Did He Ever Return?
I am excited to be visiting Stratton School on Friday morning February 9th to share Charlie with the Pre-K to fourth grade students there. On the following day, February 10th, I will give a book talk at the Carrabassett Valley Public Library at 4:30, perhaps together with some singing along with the signing. Spreading the word about the book and the history behind it continues to be an adventure, and I am sure my father would be delighted that I am telling part of his-story!
A lot has happened along my life-long journey with Charlie on the M.T.A. Did He Ever Return? since the book’s publication in July. Little did I realize how many doors and windows would open in the quest to get the book into the hands of readers.
The event with illustrator Caitlin Marquis at the Maine Historical Society in November was a huge success, with the bookshop there selling out of the books! Now that the Walter and Laura O’Brien Collection is safely in the Brown Research Library, I hope that inquiring minds about the historical, social, and political lives of my parents and other progressives in the forties and fifties will find some interesting primary sources.
As I begin to get my feet wet as an author, I have enjoyed reading the book and having discussions with students at a few schools in Maine including:
Stay tuned for more book events in Maine and Boston.
Family Program – Charlie and the M.T.A.
Do you know why the transit fare card in Boston is called the CharlieCard? Readers of all ages are invited to join us and find out (and don’t worry, you won’t need an extra nickel to get in on the fun)! Join MHS for a very special edition of The Children’s Hour with author Julia M. O’Brien-Merrill and illustrator Caitlin Marquis as they share and read their new book Charlie on the M.T.A.: Did He Ever Return? Inspired by the beloved folk song composed for her father Walter A. O’Brien’s 1949 mayoral campaign and made by famous by the Kingston Trio, O’Brien-Merrill uses both history and the original “M.T.A.” song lyrics to take us on a trip beneath the streets of old Boston. The city and the song come to life in Marquis’ fun and colorful full-page illustrations. The program will feature a special exhibition of artifacts from MHS’s Walter A. O’Brien collection, as well as arts and crafts inspired by the story for the whole family, and maybe even some singing!
Program is free and open to the public. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver. All ages welcome!
CELEBRATE FALL WITH US! Music, sheepdog demonstrations, butter churning, cider pressing, hayrides, blacksmith, weaving, spinning, and lace-making demonstrations, pumpkin decorating and more!
This year Castlebay, the music duo whose performances of Celtic and Maine music combine rousing dance tunes with the magical world of tall tales, will perform at 1:00 pm on Saturday. Throughout the day on Sunday, Two Coves Farm of Harpswell will give sheep dog demonstrations. On both Saturday and Sunday White’s Farm of Winterport will be selling their hot dogs and sausage, and author Julia O’Brien-Merrill will read her delightful children’s book Charlie on the M.T.A. Did He Ever Return? about the real Charlie from the famous song about a man stuck on the Boston subway. Make your own apple or pear cider with our apple press! Bring your own fruit – make sure it has been washed – and your own containers, and use our press (see safety instructions here). On both days there will be farm animals from Lyric Meadow Farm, hayrides, blacksmith, weaving, spinning, and lace-making demonstrations, barrel-train rides, and pumpkin decorating. Hand-sew your own journal at the craft table. Watch butter being churned and taste the fresh butter on New England brown bread baked according to a 100-year-old recipe. There will be cider and homemade cookies for all. The Museum’s pair of resident goats as well as some special guests will be on hand.
Take a hayride to a pumpkin patch where for a small additional fee you can take home your own pumpkin! You may decorate your pumpkin at our craft table.
Family Harvest Days is just one stop along Maine’s Pumpkin Trail, a partnership celebrating history, art and giant fruit along 50 miles of what we think is Maine’s most beautiful coastline! Follow Maine’s Pumpkin Trail on Facebook to discover great ways to celebrate fall with friends and family of all ages.
Special thank you to our event sponsor, Flagship Inn & Suites!
And thank you Jim Kearney for loaning us your cider press!
Admission is free for Museum Members and included with Museum Admission for non-members.
This came by email from a friend of a friend today:
When you work with children you never know what is going to impact them, and most times you never learn what impact you have had on them. But sometimes you get a surprise. 20+ years ago I began singing and playing my guitar once a week with the 4th grade at Pemetic. It started when my Jenn was in 4th grade and they kept asking me back. I took it as a challenge to find songs that the boys would sing along with. There was no show choir then, so singing wasn’t as “cool as it is in our schools now. So I taught sea chanteys and “Charlie on the MTA”, and other fun or silly songs. I was asked back to sing with several 4th grade classes. I really have no idea how many. Today, a mom from one of those classes brought me this brand new book, published July 25, 2017, and told me about how I taught a generation of SWH kids about Charlie. Thank you Marjory Russakoff! You totally made my day. It may be time to dust off the old guitar . . .
BTW ~ The Author’s father was the man for whom the original song was created. He ran for Mayor of Boston and the song was a protest about the increase in fares (from a dime to 15 cents) which in 1949 was substantial Today, the Charlie Card honors Walter O’Brien. He never became mayor, but he will never be forgotten!
In 1949 citizens of Boston were faced with a fare increase from a dime to fifteen cents. “Charlie” was created in a song by Jacqueline Steiner and Bess Lomax Hawes to help fight the fare increase as one of Walter A. O’Brien’s campaign issues.
Charlie on the M.T.A. Did He Ever Return? has hit the shelves of independent bookstores and is available from publisher Applewood Books, Commonwealth Editions: http://www.applewoodbooks.com/Charlie-on-the-MTA-P6548.aspx
I am forever grateful to Caitlin Marquis for her amazing illustrations, as well as to Phil Zuckerman and Jennifer Delaney for their belief in the project.