♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A LOOK AT LOCAL IRISH INCLUDING A LOOK AT LOCAL IRISH CULTURE AND MUSIC JUST IN TIME CULTURE AND MUSIC JUST IN TIME FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

>> SOME NIGHTS WE HAVE 15, 18 >> SOME NIGHTS WE HAVE 15, 18 MUSICIANS.

MUSICIANS.

AND IT'S QUITE LITERALLY ONE OF AND IT'S QUITE LITERALLY ONE OF THE BEST TRADITIONAL IRISH THE BEST TRADITIONAL IRISH SESSIONS ON THE EAST COAST OF SESSIONS ON THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE UNITED STATES.

>>> LEARN HOW WESTERN MASS WOMEN >>> LEARN HOW WESTERN MASS WOMEN FOUGHT ON THE HOMEFRONT DURING FOUGHT ON THE HOMEFRONT DURING BOTH WORLD WARS.

BOTH WORLD WARS.

>> SO IF YOU WORKED WITH ARMY >> SO IF YOU WORKED WITH ARMY ORDINANCE, THEN YOU WERE A WOMAN ORDINANCE, THEN YOU WERE A WOMAN ORDINANCE WORKER.

ORDINANCE WORKER.

THESE ROLES ARE NOT JUST FOR THESE ROLES ARE NOT JUST FOR MEN.

MEN.

>>> AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING >>> AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A DR. SEUSS BOOK, DUT YOU OUT OF A DR. SEUSS BOOK, DUT YOU KNOW THERE'S A ZOO RIGHT HERE IN KNOW THERE'S A ZOO RIGHT HERE IN SPRINGFIELD?

SPRINGFIELD?

>> MY FAVORITE IS WHEN YOU SEE >> MY FAVORITE IS WHEN YOU SEE KIDS COME OUT OF THEIR SHELL WHO KIDS COME OUT OF THEIR SHELL WHO DID NOT LIKE CERTAIN ANIMALS AND DID NOT LIKE CERTAIN ANIMALS AND THEY GET TO LEARN KIND OF HOW THEY GET TO LEARN KIND OF HOW COOL ALL ANIMALS CAN BE HERE.

COOL ALL ANIMALS CAN BE HERE.

>>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES >>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT MAKE US WESTERN COMMUNITY, THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

"CONNECTING POINT."

>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING >> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" PROVIDED BY OUR POINT" PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

.

.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR KRAFTITE -- FOR CREATIVITY, KRAFTITE -- FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

EVERY WEEK WE EXPLORE ALL THE EVERY WEEK WE EXPLORE ALL THE REGION HAS TO OFFER AND TODAY REGION HAS TO OFFER AND TODAY WE'RE COMING FROM YOU FROM WE'RE COMING FROM YOU FROM WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS'S ONLY WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS'S ONLY UNIT IN THE NATIONAL PARK UNIT IN THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM, THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY SYSTEM, THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

SELECTED TO BE THE NATION'S SELECTED TO BE THE NATION'S FIRST FEDERAL ARMI BY GEORGE FIRST FEDERAL ARMI BY GEORGE WASHINGTON HIMSELF, THIS STORIED WASHINGTON HIMSELF, THIS STORIED DEPOT PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE DEPOT PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE ARMING THE U.S.

TROOPS FROM 7 ARMING THE U.S.

TROOPS FROM 7 FINE 77 TO 1968 WHEN IT WAS FINE 77 TO 1968 WHEN IT WAS CLOSED AND CONVERTED INTO AN CLOSED AND CONVERTED INTO AN HISTORIC SITE.

HISTORIC SITE.

THE ARMORY PIONEERED SEVERAL THE ARMORY PIONEERED SEVERAL MODERN-DAY BUSINESS PRACTICES, MODERN-DAY BUSINESS PRACTICES, INCLUDING INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS, INCLUDING INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS, THE MASS PRODUCTION ASSEMBLY THE MASS PRODUCTION ASSEMBLY LINE, AND EVEN THE HOURLIAGE.

LINE, AND EVEN THE HOURLIAGE.

-- HOURLY WAGE.

-- HOURLY WAGE.

WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THE WOMEN WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THE WOMEN WHO MANNED THE ARMORY PRODUCTION WHO MANNED THE ARMORY PRODUCTION LINES LATER IN THE SHOW, BUT OUR LINES LATER IN THE SHOW, BUT OUR FIRST STORY TAKES US ACROSS THE FIRST STORY TAKES US ACROSS THE RIVER TO WEST SPRINGFIELD.

RIVER TO WEST SPRINGFIELD.

INSPIRED BY A DOCUMENTARY INSPIRED BY A DOCUMENTARY CHRONICLING THE MIGRATION OF CHRONICLING THE MIGRATION OF IRISH IMMIGRANTS, LOCAL IRISH IMMIGRANTS, LOCAL RESIDENTS FORMED THE IRISH RESIDENTS FORMED THE IRISH CULTURAL CENTER OF WESTERN CULTURAL CENTER OF WESTERN NEW ENGLAND IN THE CAMPUS OF NEW ENGLAND IN THE CAMPUS OF ELMS COLLEGE IN 1999.

ELMS COLLEGE IN 1999.

IN 2017, THE ICC MOVED TO WEST IN 2017, THE ICC MOVED TO WEST SPRINGFIELD, WHERE THEY CONTINUE SPRINGFIELD, WHERE THEY CONTINUE TO SHARE IRISH CULTURE WITH TO SHARE IRISH CULTURE WITH PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.

PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.

IN ADDITION TO HOSTING LECTURES, IN ADDITION TO HOSTING LECTURES, IRISH DANCE LESSONS, AND A IRISH DANCE LESSONS, AND A STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM, STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM, THEY'RE HOME TO THE IRISH THEY'RE HOME TO THE IRISH RESTAURANT AND THE TRINITY PUB.

RESTAURANT AND THE TRINITY PUB.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER VISITED THE PRODUCER DAVE FRASER VISITED THE ICC FOR SOME IRISH FOOD, MUSIC, ICC FOR SOME IRISH FOOD, MUSIC, AND FLAVOR, AND BRINGS US THE AND FLAVOR, AND BRINGS US THE STORY.

STORY.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> THERE'S A SAYING THAT >> THERE'S A SAYING THAT EVERYONE IS IRISH ON EVERYONE IS IRISH ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY, MORE THAN ONE ST. PATRICK'S DAY, MORE THAN ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS IN FIVE PEOPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS CAN TRACE THEIR ROOTS BACK TO CAN TRACE THEIR ROOTS BACK TO THE EMERALD ISLE ACCORDING TO A THE EMERALD ISLE ACCORDING TO A 2015 U.S. CENSUS.

2015 U.S. CENSUS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> AT THE IRISH CULTURAL CENTER >> AT THE IRISH CULTURAL CENTER OF WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, THEY OF WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, THEY CELEBRATE YEAR ROUND.

CELEBRATE YEAR ROUND.

>> TO US IT'S A GATHERING PLACE >> TO US IT'S A GATHERING PLACE AND IT'S NOT NARROW.

AND IT'S NOT NARROW.

IT'S BROAD, YOU KNOW.

IT'S BROAD, YOU KNOW.

RUGBY PLAYERS ARE NOT ALL IRISH RUGBY PLAYERS ARE NOT ALL IRISH AND PEOPLE COME IN HERE FOR AND PEOPLE COME IN HERE FOR EVENTS AND DINNERS AREN'T AND EVENTS AND DINNERS AREN'T AND THEY'RE NOT NEEDED TO BE.

THEY'RE NOT NEEDED TO BE.

SO IT'S A CULTURAL PLACE THAT SO IT'S A CULTURAL PLACE THAT PROMOTES THE IRISH CULTURE, BUT PROMOTES THE IRISH CULTURE, BUT WE'RE VERY COGNITIVE OF THE FACT WE'RE VERY COGNITIVE OF THE FACT THAT OTHER PEOPLE'S CULTURE JUST THAT OTHER PEOPLE'S CULTURE JUST AS VALUABLE.

AS VALUABLE.

>> THE CENTER GOT ITS START ON >> THE CENTER GOT ITS START ON THE CAMPUS OF ELMS COLLEGE IN THE CAMPUS OF ELMS COLLEGE IN 1999.

1999.

THE COLLEGE PROVIDED SPACE FOR THE COLLEGE PROVIDED SPACE FOR THE CENTER AND THE MISSION WAS THE CENTER AND THE MISSION WAS TO FOSTER AN APPRECIATION OF TO FOSTER AN APPRECIATION OF IRISH CULTURE AND TO SERVE AS AN IRISH CULTURE AND TO SERVE AS AN ACADEMIC CONNECTION WITH OTHER ACADEMIC CONNECTION WITH OTHER CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION.

REGION.

>> WE DID STRATEGIC PLAN AND >> WE DID STRATEGIC PLAN AND THEY SAID YOUR ORGANIZATION IS THEY SAID YOUR ORGANIZATION IS REALLY WELL LIKED.

REALLY WELL LIKED.

WE'RE REALLY WELL RESPECTED.

WE'RE REALLY WELL RESPECTED.

DOES A LOT OF GOOD WORK, BUT YOU DOES A LOT OF GOOD WORK, BUT YOU HAVE TO GROW OR DIE.

HAVE TO GROW OR DIE.

>> THE CENTER MOVED TO THIS >> THE CENTER MOVED TO THIS 20-ACRE SITE IN WEST SPRINGFIELD 20-ACRE SITE IN WEST SPRINGFIELD IN 2015 AND HAS EXPANDED TO IN 2015 AND HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE A RESTAURANT, A PATIO, INCLUDE A RESTAURANT, A PATIO, SOCCER, AND RUGBY FIELDS, AND SOCCER, AND RUGBY FIELDS, AND THE TRINITY PUB.

THE TRINITY PUB.

>> I KNEW ALL OF THE IRISH >> I KNEW ALL OF THE IRISH HERITAGE AND DESCENDSENTS IN HERITAGE AND DESCENDSENTS IN WEST WEST SPRINGFIELD BUT I WEST WEST SPRINGFIELD BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE CENTER DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE CENTER UNTIL THEY CAME TO US WITH THIS UNTIL THEY CAME TO US WITH THIS GRANT PLAN OF TAKING THIS SHELL GRANT PLAN OF TAKING THIS SHELL OF A BUILDING THAT HAS A LOT OF OF A BUILDING THAT HAS A LOT OF HISTORY AND TURNING IT INTO WHAT HISTORY AND TURNING IT INTO WHAT IT IS NOW.

IT IS NOW.

MOST.

MOST.

>> MOSTLY BY VOLUNTEERS, THEY >> MOSTLY BY VOLUNTEERS, THEY BUILT WHAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY.

BUILT WHAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY.

IT'S BEEN MOSTLY DONE BY IT'S BEEN MOSTLY DONE BY VOLUNTEERS, TRUE IRISH LABOR PUT VOLUNTEERS, TRUE IRISH LABOR PUT INTO THE FACILITY HERE.

INTO THE FACILITY HERE.

>> AND HERE'S A BOOK THAT WAS >> AND HERE'S A BOOK THAT WAS USED FOR YEARS.

USED FOR YEARS.

>> DOWNSTAIRS AT THE ICC IS THE >> DOWNSTAIRS AT THE ICC IS THE LIBRARY AND MUSEUM THAT HOUSES LIBRARY AND MUSEUM THAT HOUSES BOOKS ON THE HISTORY OF IRELAND BOOKS ON THE HISTORY OF IRELAND FROM ANCIENT TO MODERN TIMES, A FROM ANCIENT TO MODERN TIMES, A COLLECTION OF IRISH MUSIC, COLLECTION OF IRISH MUSIC, CLOTHING, AND INSTRUMENTS.

CLOTHING, AND INSTRUMENTS.

>> WE RUN TRIPS TO IRELAND.

>> WE RUN TRIPS TO IRELAND.

AND WE SEND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND WE SEND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TO IRELAND.

TO IRELAND.

MANY OF WHOM HAVE IRISH ROOTS MANY OF WHOM HAVE IRISH ROOTS AND IRISH HISTORY BEHIND THEM.

AND IRISH HISTORY BEHIND THEM.

AND HAVE NEVER BEEN.

AND HAVE NEVER BEEN.

SO THAT'S REALLY COOL, TOO, WHEN SO THAT'S REALLY COOL, TOO, WHEN YOU TAKE -- YOU'RE TAKING YOU TAKE -- YOU'RE TAKING SOMEONE THAT'S MAYBE LATER ON IN SOMEONE THAT'S MAYBE LATER ON IN LIFE AND THEY WANTED ALL THEIR LIFE AND THEY WANTED ALL THEIR LIVES TO GO TO IRELAND AND WE LIVES TO GO TO IRELAND AND WE TAKE THEM.

TAKE THEM.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ON MOST WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, THE >> ON MOST WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, THE RESTAURANT AND PUB HOSTS AN RESTAURANT AND PUB HOSTS AN IRISH SESSION, THE LIFEBLOOD OF IRISH SESSION, THE LIFEBLOOD OF TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC.

TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC.

THOUGH THEY VARY IN SIZE, THOUGH THEY VARY IN SIZE, QUALITY, AND INSTRUMENTAL MAKEUP QUALITY, AND INSTRUMENTAL MAKEUP T FORMAT IS FIXED, A REGULAR T FORMAT IS FIXED, A REGULAR MUSICAL GATHERING IN A BAR MUSICAL GATHERING IN A BAR ANCHORED BY ONE OR TWO MUSICIANS ANCHORED BY ONE OR TWO MUSICIANS PAID TO PLAY, SOMETIMES ONLY IN PAID TO PLAY, SOMETIMES ONLY IN DRINKS.

DRINKS.

THE GENERAL SESSION SCHEME IS THE GENERAL SESSION SCHEME IS THAT SOMEONE STARTS A TUNE AND THAT SOMEONE STARTS A TUNE AND THOSE WHO KNOW IT JOIN IN.

THOSE WHO KNOW IT JOIN IN.

>> SOME NIGHTS WE HAVE 15, 18 >> SOME NIGHTS WE HAVE 15, 18 MUSICIANS.

MUSICIANS.

AND IT'S QUITE LITERALLY ONE OF AND IT'S QUITE LITERALLY ONE OF THE BEST TRADITIONAL IRISH THE BEST TRADITIONAL IRISH SESSIONS ON THE EAST COAST OF SESSIONS ON THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE UNITED STATES.

>> I LIKE TO SAY THIS IS LIKE A >> I LIKE TO SAY THIS IS LIKE A MICROCOSM OF IRELAND.

MICROCOSM OF IRELAND.

IT'S AS THE COUNTRY OF IRELAND IT'S AS THE COUNTRY OF IRELAND IS VERY WELCOMING, IT'S VERY IS VERY WELCOMING, IT'S VERY WELCOMING HERE.

WELCOMING HERE.

EVERYBODY IS WELCOME.

EVERYBODY IS WELCOME.

IT'S -- YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE OF IT'S -- YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE OF IRISH ANCESTRY.

IRISH ANCESTRY.

IT'S A GREAT SIMILARITIES TO IT'S A GREAT SIMILARITIES TO PUBS IN IRELAND, WHAT THEY HAVE PUBS IN IRELAND, WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH THE DECKATIONS AND THE DONE WITH THE DECKATIONS AND THE WOOD -- DECORATIONS AND THE WOOD -- DECORATIONS AND THE GOODWORK AND THE BAR.

GOODWORK AND THE BAR.

>> IN 2011 A MEMORANDUM OF >> IN 2011 A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WAS SIGNED TO FORM UNDERSTANDING WAS SIGNED TO FORM A SISTER CITY WITH DINGLE, A A SISTER CITY WITH DINGLE, A TINY DOWN IN SOUTHWEST IRELAND.

TINY DOWN IN SOUTHWEST IRELAND.

>> SO CLOSE TO A QUARTER OF THE >> SO CLOSE TO A QUARTER OF THE POPULATION OF WEST SPRINGFIELD POPULATION OF WEST SPRINGFIELD HAS IRISH DESCENT.

HAS IRISH DESCENT.

THEY KNOW WHERE THEIR FAMILY IS THEY KNOW WHERE THEIR FAMILY IS FROM.

FROM.

A LOT OF IT IS FROM THE WEST A LOT OF IT IS FROM THE WEST GARY, DINGLE PENINSULA, WHICH IS GARY, DINGLE PENINSULA, WHICH IS OUR SISTER CITY, WHICH IS A LOT OUR SISTER CITY, WHICH IS A LOT OF THE IRISH CULTURAL CENTERS, OF THE IRISH CULTURAL CENTERS, THE MEMBERS FROM THAT AREA.

THE MEMBERS FROM THAT AREA.

IT IS COOL THAT THAT ALL KIND OF IT IS COOL THAT THAT ALL KIND OF FITS IN TOGETHER.

FITS IN TOGETHER.

>> SO THERE'S A BIG TRADITION >> SO THERE'S A BIG TRADITION HERE AND THE IRISH POLITICIANS HERE AND THE IRISH POLITICIANS AND THE IRISH MUSICIANS, WE'VE AND THE IRISH MUSICIANS, WE'VE HAD MARY McDA LEASE AND MARY HAD MARY McDA LEASE AND MARY ROBINSON, TWO PRESIDENTS OF ROBINSON, TWO PRESIDENTS OF IRELAND, VISIT.

IRELAND, VISIT.

WE'VE HAD JERRY ADAMS VISIT.

WE'VE HAD JERRY ADAMS VISIT.

WE'VE HAD THE AMBASSADORS FROM WE'VE HAD THE AMBASSADORS FROM IRELAND COME MULTIPLE TIMES.

IRELAND COME MULTIPLE TIMES.

WE'VE HAD POLITICAL LEADERS FROM WE'VE HAD POLITICAL LEADERS FROM IRELAND COME ON A REGULAR BASIS.

IRELAND COME ON A REGULAR BASIS.

SO, YEAH, THEY KNOW WHERE HERE.

SO, YEAH, THEY KNOW WHERE HERE.

-- WE'RE HERE.

-- WE'RE HERE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

CONTENT.

>>> AT THE IRISH CULTURAL CENTER >>> AT THE IRISH CULTURAL CENTER OF WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, YOU OF WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, YOU MIGHT NOTICE A SMALL ROOM NEAR MIGHT NOTICE A SMALL ROOM NEAR THE BAR.

THE BAR.

IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, ICC PRESIDENT SEAN EXCLUSIVE, ICC PRESIDENT SEAN CAHILLANE HAD A SHOWS OFF THE CAHILLANE HAD A SHOWS OFF THE SNUG, A PRIVATE SPACE WHERE SNUG, A PRIVATE SPACE WHERE LADIES COULD ENJOY A DRINK AT A LADIES COULD ENJOY A DRINK AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS NOT PROPER FOR TIME WHEN IT WAS NOT PROPER FOR WOMEN TO BE SEEN IN A PUB.

WOMEN TO BE SEEN IN A PUB.

>> AND THEY WOULD ORDER THEIR >> AND THEY WOULD ORDER THEIR DRINKS.

DRINKS.

AND THE BARTENDER WOULD SERVE AND THE BARTENDER WOULD SERVE THEM, BRANDIES OR WHATEVER, THEN THEM, BRANDIES OR WHATEVER, THEN THEY'D SIT IN HERE BY THEMSELVES THEY'D SIT IN HERE BY THEMSELVES AND THE THINGS WOULD BE PRIVATE AND THE THINGS WOULD BE PRIVATE BUSINESS MEETINGS, COULD BE BUSINESS MEETINGS, COULD BE CONDUCTED IN HERE, BUT THE DOOR CONDUCTED IN HERE, BUT THE DOOR WAS ALWAYS CLOSED.

WAS ALWAYS CLOSED.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> IN EVERY CONFLICT FROM THE >>> IN EVERY CONFLICT FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR THROUGH THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR THROUGH THE WAR IN VIETNAM, THE HISTORIC WAR IN VIETNAM, THE HISTORIC SPRINGFIELD ARMORY PLAYED A SPRINGFIELD ARMORY PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN ARMING U.S. CRITICAL ROLE IN ARMING U.S.

TROOPS WITH MUSKETS, RIFLES, AND TROOPS WITH MUSKETS, RIFLES, AND OTHER MUNITIONS.

OTHER MUNITIONS.

THE ARMORY WAS KNOWN FOR ITS THE ARMORY WAS KNOWN FOR ITS EXEMPLARY MANUFACTURING METHODS, EXEMPLARY MANUFACTURING METHODS, AND MANY OF THE PEOPLEMANNING AND MANY OF THE PEOPLEMANNING THE MACHINES WERE WOMEN.

THE MACHINES WERE WOMEN.

AS WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE AS WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, I SAT WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, I SAT DOWN WITH PARK RANGER SUSAN DOWN WITH PARK RANGER SUSAN ASHMAN AT THE NATIONAL HISTORIC ASHMAN AT THE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY AND ROLES.

HISTORY AND ROLES.

WOMEN WORKERS WHO ANSWERED THE WOMEN WORKERS WHO ANSWERED THE CALL BY JOINING THE WAR EFFORT CALL BY JOINING THE WAR EFFORT AT THE ARMORY DURING BOTH WARS.

AT THE ARMORY DURING BOTH WARS.

>> JUM 16S -- JULY 16TH, 1917, >> JUM 16S -- JULY 16TH, 1917, THE FIRST WOMAN WAS HIRED AND THE FIRST WOMAN WAS HIRED AND SHE WAS AN INSPECTOR.

SHE WAS AN INSPECTOR.

BY TENDCH WORLD WAR I, THERE WAS BY TENDCH WORLD WAR I, THERE WAS 748 WOMEN WHO WORKED HERE.

748 WOMEN WHO WORKED HERE.

AND THEY KIND OF PAVED THE WAY AND THEY KIND OF PAVED THE WAY FOR PIM IN WORLD -- FOR WOMEN IN FOR PIM IN WORLD -- FOR WOMEN IN WORLD WAR II.

WORLD WAR II.

SO THAT IS AN INTERESTING STORY, SO THAT IS AN INTERESTING STORY, TOO, BECAUSE AT FIRST, NOT TOO TOO, BECAUSE AT FIRST, NOT TOO MANY WOMEN WERE APPLYING HERE.

MANY WOMEN WERE APPLYING HERE.

AND SO MANAGEMENT WAS WONDERING AND SO MANAGEMENT WAS WONDERING WHY.

WHY.

AND THEY ACTUALLY WENT DOOR TO AND THEY ACTUALLY WENT DOOR TO DOOR IN SPRINGFIELD, LIKE, DOOR IN SPRINGFIELD, LIKE, ASKING, YOU KNOW, WHY AREN'T YOU ASKING, YOU KNOW, WHY AREN'T YOU WORKING AT THE ARMORY.

WORKING AT THE ARMORY.

IT'S YOUR PATRIOTIC DUTY.

IT'S YOUR PATRIOTIC DUTY.

SO COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS CHILD SO COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS CHILD CARE THAT WAS LACKING.

CARE THAT WAS LACKING.

AND SO THE ARMORY OPENED A AND SO THE ARMORY OPENED A COUPLE OF CHILD CARE FACILITIES, COUPLE OF CHILD CARE FACILITIES, BECAUSE THEY NEEDED THAT BECAUSE THEY NEEDED THAT WORKFORCE HERE.

WORKFORCE HERE.

>> THAT'S THE FIRST THING I >> THAT'S THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT ABOUT WITH THE WOMEN.

THOUGHT ABOUT WITH THE WOMEN.

I SAID THE MEN ARE OFF AT WAR I SAID THE MEN ARE OFF AT WAR BUT THEY STILL HAVE THE DUTIES BUT THEY STILL HAVE THE DUTIES AT HOME WITH THE CHILDREN AND AT HOME WITH THE CHILDREN AND EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING.

SO TELL ME MORE ABOUT SOME OF SO TELL ME MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WOMEN FACED THE CHALLENGES THAT WOMEN FACED MOVING TO THE WORKFORCE BUT ALSO MOVING TO THE WORKFORCE BUT ALSO HAVING TO TEND TO A HOME AND HAVING TO TEND TO A HOME AND CHILDREN.

CHILDREN.

>> THAT WAS CHALLENGING BECAUSE >> THAT WAS CHALLENGING BECAUSE SOME OF THEM DID FEEL BAD, BUT SOME OF THEM DID FEEL BAD, BUT THEN OTHERS, WAIT, THIS IS A THEN OTHERS, WAIT, THIS IS A TIME WHERE THEY CAN BE TIME WHERE THEY CAN BE FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT AS WELL.

FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT AS WELL.

AND THAT WAS -- THAT WAS PRETTY AND THAT WAS -- THAT WAS PRETTY NEW DURING THAT TIME, BECAUSE WE NEW DURING THAT TIME, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS GET THAT PICTURE OF, YOU ALWAYS GET THAT PICTURE OF, YOU KNOW, JUNE CLEAVER AND "LEAVE IT KNOW, JUNE CLEAVER AND "LEAVE IT TO BEAVER," WHERE THEY TAKE CARE TO BEAVER," WHERE THEY TAKE CARE OF THE HOME.

OF THE HOME.

BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH SOMETIMES.

BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH SOMETIMES.

AND YOU NEED THAT INCOME.

AND YOU NEED THAT INCOME.

SO THAT WAS HUGE, IS MAINLY THE SO THAT WAS HUGE, IS MAINLY THE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE THAT THE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE THAT THE ARMORY GAVE TO A LOT OF THESE ARMORY GAVE TO A LOT OF THESE WOMEN.

WOMEN.

>> AND I KNOW THAT AT ITS WAR >> AND I KNOW THAT AT ITS WAR TIME PEAK ACCORDING TO YOUR TIME PEAK ACCORDING TO YOUR WEBSITE, IT WAS OVER 40% WOMEN WEBSITE, IT WAS OVER 40% WOMEN HERE.

HERE.

>> I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MORE, >> I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MORE, BECAUSE THEY TALK ABOUT THE MEN BECAUSE THEY TALK ABOUT THE MEN GOING OFF TO WAR.

GOING OFF TO WAR.

BUT COME TO FIND OUT, THE MEN BUT COME TO FIND OUT, THE MEN GOT DEFERMENTS.

GOT DEFERMENTS.

SO THAT SKILL WAS NEEDED HERE.

SO THAT SKILL WAS NEEDED HERE.

SO THEN THE WOMEN JOINED THE SO THEN THE WOMEN JOINED THE FORCES HERE, TOO.

FORCES HERE, TOO.

AND IT REALLY CHANGED THE AND IT REALLY CHANGED THE DYNAMICS.

DYNAMICS.

>> TELL ME POUR ABOUT -- MORE >> TELL ME POUR ABOUT -- MORE ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE YOU HAD ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE YOU HAD WOMEN AND MEN WORKING SIDE BY WOMEN AND MEN WORKING SIDE BY SIDE.

SIDE.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> EQUAL JOBS.

>> EQUAL JOBS.

>> RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

>> WAS THERE ANY KIND OF >> WAS THERE ANY KIND OF RESENTMENT THAT CAME OUT OF THAT RESENTMENT THAT CAME OUT OF THAT OR WAS THERE APPRECIATION?

OR WAS THERE APPRECIATION?

WHAT WAS THE TONE?

WHAT WAS THE TONE?

>> I THINK THERE PROBABLY WAS >> I THINK THERE PROBABLY WAS SOME RESENTMENT ALONG THE WAY.

SOME RESENTMENT ALONG THE WAY.

I DON'T EVEN THINK THEY HAD I DON'T EVEN THINK THEY HAD WOMEN'S BATHROOMS HERE WOMEN'S BATHROOMS HERE INITIALLY.

INITIALLY.

SO A LOT OF CHANGES, THINGS WE SO A LOT OF CHANGES, THINGS WE DON'T THINK OF TODAY.

DON'T THINK OF TODAY.

THOSE WOMEN DURING WORLD WAR I THOSE WOMEN DURING WORLD WAR I PAVED THE WAY FOR THE WOMEN IN PAVED THE WAY FOR THE WOMEN IN WORLD.

WORLD.

AND SURE, THERE ARE SOME STORIES AND SURE, THERE ARE SOME STORIES ABOUT WOMEN TAKING THE JOBS OF ABOUT WOMEN TAKING THE JOBS OF MEN.

MEN.

BUT THEN AGAIN, THESE POSITIONS BUT THEN AGAIN, THESE POSITIONS NEEDED TO BE FILLED.

NEEDED TO BE FILLED.

AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THE AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THE MEN SAY IF YOU'RE A MACHINE MEN SAY IF YOU'RE A MACHINE OPERATOR, THAT MAN WOULD STEP UP OPERATOR, THAT MAN WOULD STEP UP AND THEN TRAIN THESE WOMEN IN AND THEN TRAIN THESE WOMEN IN THESE PLACES.

THESE PLACES.

AND THERE'S THIS ONE WOMAN, MARY AND THERE'S THIS ONE WOMAN, MARY SMITH, SHE WORKED AT THE FORGE.

SMITH, SHE WORKED AT THE FORGE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE WANTED TO I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE WANTED TO WORK ON THE FORGE, BECAUSE YOU WORK ON THE FORGE, BECAUSE YOU NEEDED -- YOU TOOK A TEST BEFORE NEEDED -- YOU TOOK A TEST BEFORE YOU GOT HIRED HERE TO SEE WHERE YOU GOT HIRED HERE TO SEE WHERE YOU WOULD DO BEST.

YOU WOULD DO BEST.

SO JUST BECAUSE MAYBE YOU WANT SO JUST BECAUSE MAYBE YOU WANT TO TO TO BE IN STRAYS DOES NOT MEAN -- TO BE IN STRAYS DOES NOT MEAN -- IN ADMINISTRATION THAT DOES NOT IN ADMINISTRATION THAT DOES NOT MEAN WHERE YOU'D BE.

MEAN WHERE YOU'D BE.

YOU WERE TESTED, YOUR DEXTERITY, YOU WERE TESTED, YOUR DEXTERITY, YOUR FINGERS, YOUR PHYSICAL YOUR FINGERS, YOUR PHYSICAL TESTS WERE DONE.

TESTS WERE DONE.

AND MARY SMITH ENDED UP ON THE AND MARY SMITH ENDED UP ON THE FORGE.

FORGE.

>> AND SO TELL ME MORE ABOUT >> AND SO TELL ME MORE ABOUT SOME OF THOSE SPECIFIC ROLES, SOME OF THOSE SPECIFIC ROLES, BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME DANGEROUS JOBS THAT THESE WOMEN DANGEROUS JOBS THAT THESE WOMEN WERE HOLDING.

WERE HOLDING.

WHAT WERE THEY DOING ON THE WHAT WERE THEY DOING ON THE LINE -- LINE -- >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO YOU COULD BE LIKE THERE'S SO YOU COULD BE LIKE THERE'S CLERKS.

CLERKS.

THERE ARE ADMINISTRATION.

THERE ARE ADMINISTRATION.

BUT THERE WAS ALSO THESE WOMEN, BUT THERE WAS ALSO THESE WOMEN, MACHINE OPERATORS.

MACHINE OPERATORS.

THEY'RE AT THE FORGE.

THEY'RE AT THE FORGE.

THEY WERE AT THE LATHE.

THEY WERE AT THE LATHE.

THEY WERE -- DURING RIFLE THEY WERE -- DURING RIFLE STOCKS.

STOCKS.

THEY WERE PUTTING TRIGGER THEY WERE PUTTING TRIGGER ASSEMBLIES TOGETHER.

ASSEMBLIES TOGETHER.

ALL THOSE LITTLE PIECES NEEDED ALL THOSE LITTLE PIECES NEEDED FOR THE FIREARM, EVERY LITTLE FOR THE FIREARM, EVERY LITTLE PIECE, THEY WERE WORKING ON PIECE, THEY WERE WORKING ON THAT.

THAT.

THEY WERE INSPECTORS.

THEY WERE INSPECTORS.

SO IT'S NOT JUST THESE ARE MEN'S SO IT'S NOT JUST THESE ARE MEN'S JOBS, THESE ARE WOMEN'S JOBS.

JOBS, THESE ARE WOMEN'S JOBS.

NO.

NO.

THE EQUIPMENT WERE -- THE WOMEN THE EQUIPMENT WERE -- THE WOMEN WERE DOING THE JOBS THAT THE MEN WERE DOING THE JOBS THAT THE MEN WERE DOING TOO.

WERE DOING TOO.

>> THE WAY YOU'RE DRESSED TODAY >> THE WAY YOU'RE DRESSED TODAY FOR US HAS SIGNIFICANCE.

FOR US HAS SIGNIFICANCE.

AND THESE WOMEN WORKERS BECAME AND THESE WOMEN WORKERS BECAME KNOWN AS WOWS, WOMEN ORDINANCE KNOWN AS WOWS, WOMEN ORDINANCE WORKERS.

WORKERS.

>> RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

>> TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT >> TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT MOVEMENT AND WHAT CAME OF THAT.

MOVEMENT AND WHAT CAME OF THAT.

>> SO THAT WAS BASICALLY JUST >> SO THAT WAS BASICALLY JUST WOMEN WHO WORKED FOR ARMY WOMEN WHO WORKED FOR ARMY ORDINANCE, NOT JUST AT THE ORDINANCE, NOT JUST AT THE ARMORY.

ARMORY.

BUT AT DIFFERENT MANUFACTURING BUT AT DIFFERENT MANUFACTURING PLANTS.

PLANTS.

SO IF YOU WORKED WITH ARMY SO IF YOU WORKED WITH ARMY ORDINANCE, THEN YOU WERE A WOMAN ORDINANCE, THEN YOU WERE A WOMAN ORDINANCE WORKER.

ORDINANCE WORKER.

AND I THINK THE BEST PART OF AND I THINK THE BEST PART OF THAT IS THE BANDANNA THAT IS THAT IS THE BANDANNA THAT IS THEY WORE.

THEY WORE.

WE ALL KNOW ROSIE THE RIVETER.

WE ALL KNOW ROSIE THE RIVETER.

EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR, BUT NOT EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR, BUT NOT SO THE WOWs.

SO THE WOWs.

SO ROSIE HAS DPAWTS ON HER -- SO ROSIE HAS DPAWTS ON HER -- DOTS ON HER BANDSAN WRAYS.

DOTS ON HER BANDSAN WRAYS.

BUT I HAVE BOMBINGS.

BUT I HAVE BOMBINGS.

NO OFFENSE, ROSIE, BUT I THINK NO OFFENSE, ROSIE, BUT I THINK THE WOWs GOT SOMETHING ON YOU THE WOWs GOT SOMETHING ON YOU THERE.

THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT JUST WENT ON.

>> THAT JUST WENT ON.

SO IF YOU WERE WORKING HERE, YOU SO IF YOU WERE WORKING HERE, YOU WERE A WOW.

WERE A WOW.

>> AND TO BOOST UP, MORALE, TOO, >> AND TO BOOST UP, MORALE, TOO, TO HAVE THIS UNIFORM FOR WOMEN.

TO HAVE THIS UNIFORM FOR WOMEN.

>> ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE IT IS A >> ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE IT IS A SAD STORY WHERE A LOT OF THESE SAD STORY WHERE A LOT OF THESE WOMEN AT FIRST WERE GETTING WOMEN AT FIRST WERE GETTING THEIR HAIR CAUGHT IN THE THEIR HAIR CAUGHT IN THE MACHINES AND STUFF.

MACHINES AND STUFF.

THEY WERE WEARING LOOSE CLOTHES.

THEY WERE WEARING LOOSE CLOTHES.

AND THE ARMY, YOU KNOW, SAID, AND THE ARMY, YOU KNOW, SAID, HEY, YOU HAVE TO WEAR TIGHTER HEY, YOU HAVE TO WEAR TIGHTER CLOTHES.

CLOTHES.

AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE EITHER HATS AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE EITHER HATS OR HAVE YOUR HAIR TIED UP AND OR HAVE YOUR HAIR TIED UP AND STUFF.

STUFF.

SO THE ARMY CAME OUT WITH THESE SO THE ARMY CAME OUT WITH THESE BANDANNAS AND THEY WERE SO BANDANNAS AND THEY WERE SO POPULAR AND MORALE, TOO, IT WAS POPULAR AND MORALE, TOO, IT WAS A GREAT MORALE BOOSTER, BECAUSE A GREAT MORALE BOOSTER, BECAUSE THEY FIGURED THE HIGHER MORALE THEY FIGURED THE HIGHER MORALE HERE, THE BETTER PRODUCTION IS HERE, THE BETTER PRODUCTION IS GOING TO BE.

GOING TO BE.

>> I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT >> I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT THESE WOMEN CHANGED THE THESE WOMEN CHANGED THE WORKFORCE FOREVER.

WORKFORCE FOREVER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE LONG-TERM >> TELL ME ABOUT THE LONG-TERM IMPACT THAT THIS ERA HAD ON US.

IMPACT THAT THIS ERA HAD ON US.

>> TRULY, WE CAN DO IT, RIGHT?

>> TRULY, WE CAN DO IT, RIGHT?

SO I THINK THAT REALLY OPENED SO I THINK THAT REALLY OPENED THE DOORS.

THE DOORS.

IT GAVE THE WOMEN THE CONFIDENCE IT GAVE THE WOMEN THE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU CAN WORK A LADIES.

THAT YOU CAN WORK A LADIES.

-- A LATHE.

-- A LATHE.

YOU CAN BE AN INSPECTOR.

YOU CAN BE AN INSPECTOR.

THESE ROLES ARE NOT JUST FOR THESE ROLES ARE NOT JUST FOR MEN.

MEN.

YOU ARE CAPABLE.

YOU ARE CAPABLE.

AND AGAIN, I THINK IT WAS THE AND AGAIN, I THINK IT WAS THE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY COULD DO CONFIDENCE THAT THEY COULD DO THAT.

THAT.

AND NOW LOOK AT WHAT WOMEN ARE AND NOW LOOK AT WHAT WOMEN ARE DOING TODAY.

DOING TODAY.

NO DOORS ARE CLOSED.

NO DOORS ARE CLOSED.

>> AND THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY IS >> AND THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY IS SUCH A GEM RIGHT HERE IN OUR SUCH A GEM RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACKYARD WITH SO MUCH HISTORY.

BACKYARD WITH SO MUCH HISTORY.

AND YOU ALL ARE ALWAYS DOING AND YOU ALL ARE ALWAYS DOING SPECIAL PROGRAMS.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS.

TELL ME WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT.

TELL ME WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT.

>> ON MARCH 11TH, WE'RE GOING TO >> ON MARCH 11TH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED SHE'S A HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED SHE'S A WOW.

WOW.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DELVE INTO AND WE'RE GOING TO DELVE INTO THE HISTORY OF WOWs, THE WOMEN THE HISTORY OF WOWs, THE WOMEN WHO WORKED HERE.

WHO WORKED HERE.

BUT ALSO IN DIFFERENT BUT ALSO IN DIFFERENT MANUFACTURING AREAS.

MANUFACTURING AREAS.

AND THE PROPAGANDA, THE POSTERS AND THE PROPAGANDA, THE POSTERS THAT WE SEE ABOUT ROSIE AND SUCH THAT WE SEE ABOUT ROSIE AND SUCH LIKE THAT.

LIKE THAT.

WHY DID THAT COME ABOUT.

WHY DID THAT COME ABOUT.

AND HOW THAT HELPED PAVE THE WAY AND HOW THAT HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR WOMEN TODAY.

FOR WOMEN TODAY.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> IF YOU ENJOYED THAT STORY, >>> IF YOU ENJOYED THAT STORY, BE SURE TO VISIT BE SURE TO VISIT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT WHERE NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT WHERE YOU'LL FIND MORE STORIES YOU'LL FIND MORE STORIES CELEBRATING THE INFLUENCE AND CELEBRATING THE INFLUENCE AND IMPACT OF WOMEN ON CREATIVITY, IMPACT OF WOMEN ON CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY IN CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND ALL MONTH WESTERN NEW ENGLAND ALL MONTH LONG.

LONG.

>>> WITH 735 ACRES, FOREST PARK >>> WITH 735 ACRES, FOREST PARK IN SPRINGFIELD IS ONE OF THE IN SPRINGFIELD IS ONE OF THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL PARKS IN THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL PARKS IN THE COUNTRY.

COUNTRY.

AND IN ADDITION TO HOSTING AND IN ADDITION TO HOSTING SPORTS FIELDS, WINDING TRAILS, SPORTS FIELDS, WINDING TRAILS, AND BRIGHT NIGHTS, FOREST PARK AND BRIGHT NIGHTS, FOREST PARK IS ALSO HOME TO ITS VERY OWN IS ALSO HOME TO ITS VERY OWN ZOO.

ZOO.

SINCE 1894, THE ZOO AT FREEWAY SINCE 1894, THE ZOO AT FREEWAY HAS HOUSED A VARIETY OF EXOTIC HAS HOUSED A VARIETY OF EXOTIC AND NATIVE ANIMALS, INCLUDING AND NATIVE ANIMALS, INCLUDING BOBCATS, SNOWY OWLS, AND EVEN BOBCATS, SNOWY OWLS, AND EVEN MAX THE CAMEL.

MAX THE CAMEL.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN SPENT THE DAY WITH THE SULLIVAN SPENT THE DAY WITH THE ZOO'S EDUCATORS AS THEY HOSTED A ZOO'S EDUCATORS AS THEY HOSTED A ZOO CAMP FOR YOUNGSTERS AND ZOO CAMP FOR YOUNGSTERS AND BRINGS US THIS NEXT STORY.

BRINGS US THIS NEXT STORY.

>> ON A COLD BLUSTERY WINTER'S >> ON A COLD BLUSTERY WINTER'S DAY, IT'S EASY TO PASS BY THE DAY, IT'S EASY TO PASS BY THE ZOO WITHOUT GIVING IT A SECOND ZOO WITHOUT GIVING IT A SECOND LOOK.

LOOK.

OR A FIRST LOOK, FOR THAT OR A FIRST LOOK, FOR THAT MATTER.

MATTER.

ASIDE FROM THE HOWLS COMING FROM ASIDE FROM THE HOWLS COMING FROM A COUPLE OF TIMBERWOLVES INSIDE, A COUPLE OF TIMBERWOLVES INSIDE, THE ZOO KEEPS A RELATIVELY LOW THE ZOO KEEPS A RELATIVELY LOW PROFILE DURING THE WINTER PROFILE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

MONTHS.

IT TOOK ME FIVE OR SIX BIKE IT TOOK ME FIVE OR SIX BIKE RIDES THROUGH THE PARK BEFORE I RIDES THROUGH THE PARK BEFORE I REALIZED THAT THE ZOO WAS EVEN REALIZED THAT THE ZOO WAS EVEN HERE.

HERE.

ANYONE WHO'S BEEN TO FOREST PARK ANYONE WHO'S BEEN TO FOREST PARK COUNTLESS TIMES AND NOT REALIZED COUNTLESS TIMES AND NOT REALIZED THAT THERE'S A ZOO HERE SHOULD THAT THERE'S A ZOO HERE SHOULD KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE.

KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE.

BUT WHILE IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN BUT WHILE IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THIS EXACT LOCATION THE WHOLE IN THIS EXACT LOCATION THE WHOLE TIME, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TIME, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A ZOO HERE SINCE 1894.

ZOO HERE SINCE 1894.

>> WE SIT ON A VERY SMALL >> WE SIT ON A VERY SMALL SECRETARIES OF -- SECT OF SECRETARIES OF -- SECT OF PROPERTY, BUT WE USE IT VERY PROPERTY, BUT WE USE IT VERY WELL.

WELL.

WE HAVE OVER 225 NATIVE, EXOTIC, WE HAVE OVER 225 NATIVE, EXOTIC, AND FORMER PET THAT IS LIVE AND FORMER PET THAT IS LIVE HERE.

HERE.

AND THEY COME -- PETS THAT LIVE AND THEY COME -- PETS THAT LIVE HERE.

HERE.

THEY COME FROM WILDLIFE THEY COME FROM WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS ACROSS THE REHABILITATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

COUNTRY.

SO WE WORK WITH REHABBERS WHO SO WE WORK WITH REHABBERS WHO FIND AN ANIMAL IN THE WILD FIND AN ANIMAL IN THE WILD THAT'S INJURED, TEMPORARILY OR THAT'S INJURED, TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY, AND SOMETHING PERMANENTLY, AND SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THEM THAT MAKES IT SO HAPPENS TO THEM THAT MAKES IT SO THAT THEY CAN'T GO BACK TO THE THAT THEY CAN'T GO BACK TO THE WILD AND LIVE AS A WILD SPECIES.

WILD AND LIVE AS A WILD SPECIES.

SO THEN THEY NEED A PERMANENT SO THEN THEY NEED A PERMANENT HOME AND THEY COME HERE TO THE HOME AND THEY COME HERE TO THE ZOO.

ZOO.

>> WHATEVER PASS AND QUI -- >> WHATEVER PASS AND QUI -- PEACE AND QUIET EXISTED PEACE AND QUIET EXISTED EVAPORATED WITH THE ARRIVAL OF EVAPORATED WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE ZOO CAMPERS.

THE ZOO CAMPERS.

WE HAPPENED TO STOP IN DURING WE HAPPENED TO STOP IN DURING SCHOOL BREAK, WHICH IS ONE OF SCHOOL BREAK, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THREE WEEKS DURING THE THE THREE WEEKS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR THAT THE ZOO HOSTS A SCHOOL YEAR THAT THE ZOO HOSTS A KAY CAMP FOR LOCAL YOUTH.

KAY CAMP FOR LOCAL YOUTH.

FROM WHAT WE SAW, IT'S A PROGRAM FROM WHAT WE SAW, IT'S A PROGRAM THAT SEEMS TO BE BENEFICIAL ON THAT SEEMS TO BE BENEFICIAL ON SEVERAL LEVELS.

SEVERAL LEVELS.

BUT THE KIDS, THE ANIMALS, THE BUT THE KIDS, THE ANIMALS, THE ZOO, AND THE PARENTS WHOSE KIDS ZOO, AND THE PARENTS WHOSE KIDS ARE PUTTING IN SOME HARD WORK ARE PUTTING IN SOME HARD WORK AND LEARNING IN THE PROCESS.

AND LEARNING IN THE PROCESS.

>> IT IS NOT ONLY BENEFICIAL FOR >> IT IS NOT ONLY BENEFICIAL FOR THE ANIMALS WHO GET TO HANG OUT THE ANIMALS WHO GET TO HANG OUT WITH NEW FACES, BUT IT'S WITH NEW FACES, BUT IT'S BENEFICIAL FOR THE KIDS AS WELL.

BENEFICIAL FOR THE KIDS AS WELL.

THEY GET TO HAVE NEW EXPERIENCES THEY GET TO HAVE NEW EXPERIENCES THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OUT THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OUT OF ZOO CAMP.

OF ZOO CAMP.

I DID NOT GROW UP ON A PARDON ME I DID NOT GROW UP ON A PARDON ME WITH GOATS AND DONKEYS AND PIGS WITH GOATS AND DONKEYS AND PIGS AND SHEEPS AND LLAMAS AND AND SHEEPS AND LLAMAS AND ALPACAS WHILE.

ALPACAS WHILE.

WHILE SOME KIDS MAY GET THAT WHILE SOME KIDS MAY GET THAT OPPORTUNITY, THEY GET TO GIR ACT OPPORTUNITY, THEY GET TO GIR ACT WITH BIRD -- INTERACT WITH BIRDS WITH BIRD -- INTERACT WITH BIRDS AND FARM ANIMALS AND REPTILES.

AND FARM ANIMALS AND REPTILES.

MY FAVORITE IS WHEN KIDS COME MY FAVORITE IS WHEN KIDS COME OUT OF THEIR SHELL AND THEY DID OUT OF THEIR SHELL AND THEY DID NOT LIKE ANIMALS, AND THEY LEARN NOT LIKE ANIMALS, AND THEY LEARN HOW COOL THEY ARE.

HOW COOL THEY ARE.

>> SEVERAL OF THESE -- CHILDREN >> SEVERAL OF THESE -- CHILDREN WILL END UP BECOMING RETURN WILL END UP BECOMING RETURN CAMPERS, AND THEY MAY BECOME CAMPERS, AND THEY MAY BECOME VOLUNTEERS OR GOING INTO VOLUNTEERS OR GOING INTO EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAMS.

EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAMS.

SINCE THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY SINCE THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY TENETS OF THIS, ON, THAT CIRCLE TENETS OF THIS, ON, THAT CIRCLE LIFE IS -- OF ORGANIZATION, THAT LIFE IS -- OF ORGANIZATION, THAT CIRCLE I HAVE LIFE IS WHAT CIRCLE I HAVE LIFE IS WHAT THEY'RE HOPING -- THEY'RE HOPING -- >> THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT GIFTS >> THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT GIFTS SOME CRAFTS AND MOVIE ON WHILE SOME CRAFTS AND MOVIE ON WHILE THE PARENTS ARE AT WORK.

THE PARENTS ARE AT WORK.

THIS IS ABOUT TEACHING ALL YOUTH THIS IS ABOUT TEACHING ALL YOUTH ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE AND THEIR PLACE IN THE AND THEIR PLACE IN THE ECOSYSTEM.

ECOSYSTEM.

HUMANS OFTEN, YOU KNOW, FORGET HUMANS OFTEN, YOU KNOW, FORGET THAT WE HAVE TAKEN UP THE SPACE THAT WE HAVE TAKEN UP THE SPACE OF WIEFLTD.

OF WIEFLTD.

AND THAT WILDLIFE ARE DRIVEN AND THAT WILDLIFE ARE DRIVEN INTO MORE POPULATED AREAS.

INTO MORE POPULATED AREAS.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THEM ON THE THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THEM ON THE ROADS AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE ROADS AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE BEING INJURED AND PUSHED OUT OF BEING INJURED AND PUSHED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND ARE ORPHANS.

THEIR HOMES AND ARE ORPHANS.

WE'RE LOOT A ROOT OF -- ROOT OF WE'RE LOOT A ROOT OF -- ROOT OF A LOT OF THAT.

A LOT OF THAT.

WE TEACH THESE KIDS THEY HAVE A WE TEACH THESE KIDS THEY HAVE A JOB TO DO AND IT'S TO RECOGNIZE JOB TO DO AND IT'S TO RECOGNIZE THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD AND THE THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY AND IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY AND HOW WE ALL HAVE TO DO OUR PART HOW WE ALL HAVE TO DO OUR PART TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING NATIVE WILDLIFE.

NATIVE WILDLIFE.

>> OF COURSE, IT TAKES A SPECIAL >> OF COURSE, IT TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF INSTRUCTOR TO NOT ONLY KIND OF INSTRUCTOR TO NOT ONLY CORRAL ALL OF THE YOUNGSTERS, CORRAL ALL OF THE YOUNGSTERS, BUT TO KEEP THEM INTERESTED AND BUT TO KEEP THEM INTERESTED AND WANTING TO LEARN.

WANTING TO LEARN.

FOR INSTRUCTOR SOPHIA, DOING SO FOR INSTRUCTOR SOPHIA, DOING SO HAS BEEN A BIT OF A CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN A BIT OF A CHILDHOOD DREAM COME TRUE.

DREAM COME TRUE.

>> IF I HAD A ZOO CAMP IN MY >> IF I HAD A ZOO CAMP IN MY HOMETOWN, I WOULD HAVE CAME TO HOMETOWN, I WOULD HAVE CAME TO EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

I'VE ALWAYS LOVED ANIMALS AND I'VE ALWAYS LOVED ANIMALS AND NOW I GET TO BE THE ONE NOW I GET TO BE THE ONE INSPIRING KIDS TO ALSO LOVE INSPIRING KIDS TO ALSO LOVE ANIMALS.

ANIMALS.

SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO GET TO BE SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO GET TO BE HERE AND GET TO DO THIS WITH HERE AND GET TO DO THIS WITH KIDS.

KIDS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> WHEN PHOTOGRAPHER AND PHOTO >>> WHEN PHOTOGRAPHER AND PHOTO PRESERVATIONIST TERRI CAPUCCI PRESERVATIONIST TERRI CAPUCCI WAS GIFTED A TROVE OF ANTIQUE WAS GIFTED A TROVE OF ANTIQUE PHOTO NEGATIVES THAT WATCH BEEN PHOTO NEGATIVES THAT WATCH BEEN THROWN AWAY, SHE COMBED THROUGH THROWN AWAY, SHE COMBED THROUGH 4,000 GLASS PLATES AND DEVELOPED 4,000 GLASS PLATES AND DEVELOPED THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT SHE FOUND THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT SHE FOUND INTERESTING.

INTERESTING.

THE RESULTING BLACK AND WHITE THE RESULTING BLACK AND WHITE IMAGES PROVIDE A GLIMPSE INTO IMAGES PROVIDE A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE IN WESTERN WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS DURING THE LATE MASSACHUSETTS DURING THE LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20th CENTURIES.

19TH AND EARLY 20th CENTURIES.

BECAUSE MANY OF THE BECAUSE MANY OF THE PHOTOGRAPHERS AND SUBJECTS PHOTOGRAPHERS AND SUBJECTS REMAIN UNKNOWN, SHE DECIDED TO REMAIN UNKNOWN, SHE DECIDED TO CALL THE PROJECT "SOMEBODY CALL THE PROJECT "SOMEBODY PHOTOGRAPHED THIS J.

SHE JOINED PHOTOGRAPHED THIS J.

SHE JOINED ME FOR A CONVERSATION TO SHARE ME FOR A CONVERSATION TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT AND WHAT MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT AND WHAT SHE DISCOVERED IN THE PHOTOS.

SHE DISCOVERED IN THE PHOTOS.

>> I HAD SEEN A LOT OF OLDER >> I HAD SEEN A LOT OF OLDER PHOTOS.

PHOTOS.

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THE COMPOSITION AND SOME OF THE COMPOSITION AND SOME OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WAS THESE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WAS REALLY STRONG.

REALLY STRONG.

AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT TOLD AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT TOLD ME, TAKE THEM.

ME, TAKE THEM.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS ABOUT THIS PHOTO THAT SPOKE TO ABOUT THIS PHOTO THAT SPOKE TO ME, BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ME, BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THE HISTORY T COMPOSITION, ABOUT THE HISTORY T COMPOSITION, THE PERSON HOLDING SOMETHING THE PERSON HOLDING SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THAT I BELIEVE MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN UMBRELLA.

AN UMBRELLA.

IT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

IT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

AND THE WHOLE COMPOSITION STOOD AND THE WHOLE COMPOSITION STOOD OUT SO STRONGLY THAT I THOUGHT OUT SO STRONGLY THAT I THOUGHT I'VE GOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH I'VE GOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

THIS.

AND YOU KNOW, THEN I STARTED AND YOU KNOW, THEN I STARTED GETTING PHOTOGRAPHS LIKE THIS.

GETTING PHOTOGRAPHS LIKE THIS.

AND I THOUGHT, THIS IS LIKE A AND I THOUGHT, THIS IS LIKE A TREASURE TROVE OF HISTORY.

TREASURE TROVE OF HISTORY.

UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE THE UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE THE NAME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER.

NAME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER.

THEY CAME FROM MULTIPLE THEY CAME FROM MULTIPLE PHOTOGRAPHERS.

PHOTOGRAPHERS.

AND I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I CAN AND I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I CAN SEE A DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY SEE A DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF COMPOSITION, AS WELL AS SOME OF COMPOSITION, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE TECHNIQUE LIKE SOME OF OF THE TECHNIQUE LIKE SOME OF THEM ARE REALLY OVEREXPOSED OR THEM ARE REALLY OVEREXPOSED OR UNDEREXPOSED AND THEN SOME OF UNDEREXPOSED AND THEN SOME OF THESE OTHER ONES WERE JUST THESE OTHER ONES WERE JUST PRECISION.

PRECISION.

AND SO SOMEBODY WAS PAYING AND SO SOMEBODY WAS PAYING ATTENTION.

ATTENTION.

AND I STILL DON'T KNOW WHO THEY AND I STILL DON'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE FROM.

WERE FROM.

BUT I'VE GOT THEM OUT THERE ON BUT I'VE GOT THEM OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET.

THE INTERNET.

PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING MY PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING MY "SOMEBODY PHOTOGRAPHED THIS" "SOMEBODY PHOTOGRAPHED THIS" PAGE ON FACEBOOK.

PAGE ON FACEBOOK.

AND PEOPLE COMMENT ON THEM AND AND PEOPLE COMMENT ON THEM AND SOMETIMES I CAN GET SOME SOMETIMES I CAN GET SOME INFORMATION ON THERE, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION ON THERE, YOU KNOW, AND DO SOME DIGGING.

AND DO SOME DIGGING.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING >> AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

TO SAY.

WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THESE WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THESE PHOTOS, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME PHOTOS, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO IMAGINE THAT THIS IS WHAT TO IMAGINE THAT THIS IS WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE HERE IN THIS LIFE WAS LIKE HERE IN THIS REGION.

REGION.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE THEM YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE THEM YOU'RE KIND OF TRANSPORTED INTO YOU'RE KIND OF TRANSPORTED INTO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> WHAT CAN WE BEGIN TO LEARN >> WHAT CAN WE BEGIN TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND ABOUT WHAT LIFE AND UNDERSTAND ABOUT WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE IN WESTERN WAS LIKE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS OVER 100 YEARS AGO MASSACHUSETTS OVER 100 YEARS AGO WHEN WE VIEW THESE PHOTOS?

WHEN WE VIEW THESE PHOTOS?

>> WHEN I LOOK AT THE >> WHEN I LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPHS MYSELF, I MEAN, I PHOTOGRAPHS MYSELF, I MEAN, I SEE A LOT OF CLEAN LAND.

SEE A LOT OF CLEAN LAND.

A LOT OF NATURAL TREES AND A LOT OF NATURAL TREES AND UNTOUCHED COMMUNITIES.

UNTOUCHED COMMUNITIES.

AND TO ME, YOU KNOW, IT BRINGS AND TO ME, YOU KNOW, IT BRINGS BACK WHAT WE WERE AND WHAT WE BACK WHAT WE WERE AND WHAT WE ARE NOW IS VERY DIFFERENT.

ARE NOW IS VERY DIFFERENT.

THERE'S A LOT OF WASTE NOW.

THERE'S A LOT OF WASTE NOW.

AND IT'S REALLY HARD BECAUSE I AND IT'S REALLY HARD BECAUSE I DON'T SEE A LOT OF WASTE IN DON'T SEE A LOT OF WASTE IN THESE PHOTOGRAPHS.

THESE PHOTOGRAPHS.

>> ANOTHER THING THAT STOOD OUT >> ANOTHER THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IN THESE PHOTOS WAS THEIR TO ME IN THESE PHOTOS WAS THEIR DRESS.

DRESS.

AS I'M GOING THROUGH THEM, I'M AS I'M GOING THROUGH THEM, I'M SEEING.

SEEING.

THERE'S.

THERE'S.

GIRLS WITH THEIR BOYFRIENDS BUT GIRLS WITH THEIR BOYFRIENDS BUT THEY'RE -- BICYCLES BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE -- BICYCLES BUT THEY'RE DRESSED IN A BEAUTIFUL DRESS DRESSED IN A BEAUTIFUL DRESS THAT I WOULD NEVER IMAGINE GOING THAT I WOULD NEVER IMAGINE GOING OUT RIDING AND ANOTHER WOMAN OUT RIDING AND ANOTHER WOMAN HOLDING A LITTLE BABY SHEEP I HOLDING A LITTLE BABY SHEEP I THINK IT WAS, A LAMB.

THINK IT WAS, A LAMB.

>> YEP.

>> YEP.

>> AND I WAS STRUCK BY THE >> AND I WAS STRUCK BY THE CLOTHES AND HOW PUT TOGETHER CLOTHES AND HOW PUT TOGETHER THEY WERE.

THEY WERE.

AND THE DIFFERENT TIMES.

AND THE DIFFERENT TIMES.

THE STYLES AND THE EVOLUTION THE STYLES AND THE EVOLUTION THAT WE CAN SEE IN THESE PHOTOS.

THAT WE CAN SEE IN THESE PHOTOS.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING WHEN I LOOKED AT THEM.

WHEN I LOOKED AT THEM.

SOME OF THEM -- SOME OF THESE SOME OF THEM -- SOME OF THESE WOMEN HAD HATS ON THAT I DIDN'T WOMEN HAD HATS ON THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WERE HATS.

KNOW WERE HATS.

AND THAT WOMAN THAT WAS HOLDING AND THAT WOMAN THAT WAS HOLDING THE SHEEP, I HAD TO LOOK AT THAT THE SHEEP, I HAD TO LOOK AT THAT AND ASK PEOPLE ONLINE, LIKE WHAT AND ASK PEOPLE ONLINE, LIKE WHAT COULD THIS BE.

COULD THIS BE.

THIS WAS -- THAT WAS ONE OF THE THIS WAS -- THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PHOTOS.

FIRST PHOTOS.

WHAT IS ON HER HEAD.

WHAT IS ON HER HEAD.

AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS A STYLE OF A HAT.

WAS A STYLE OF A HAT.

THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF HAT THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF HAT STYLES BACK THEN.

STYLES BACK THEN.

AND YOU KNOW, WE DID SEE A LOT AND YOU KNOW, WE DID SEE A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHILDREN THAT OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHILDREN THAT WERE DRESSED IN THESE PRISTINE WERE DRESSED IN THESE PRISTINE AND BEAUTIFUL OUTFITS.

AND BEAUTIFUL OUTFITS.

BUT FROM WHAT I'M FINDING, YOU BUT FROM WHAT I'M FINDING, YOU KNOW, BACK IN THOSE DAYS, WE KNOW, BACK IN THOSE DAYS, WE DIDN'T HAVE 40 DRESSES IN THE DIDN'T HAVE 40 DRESSES IN THE HOUSE THAT YOU COULD GO PICK HOUSE THAT YOU COULD GO PICK FROM.

FROM.

>> RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU PROBABLY HAD ONE.

>> YOU PROBABLY HAD ONE.

AND IT PROBABLY -- YOU KNOW, IT AND IT PROBABLY -- YOU KNOW, IT WAS PROBABLY BOUGHT FOR THE WAS PROBABLY BOUGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE PHOTOGRAPH.

PURPOSE OF THE PHOTOGRAPH.

AND THEN WORN ON SPECIAL AND THEN WORN ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS AFTER THAT.

OCCASIONS AFTER THAT.

>> SO YOU'VE DONE WORK AS A >> SO YOU'VE DONE WORK AS A FREELANCER, A PHOTOJOURNALIST, FREELANCER, A PHOTOJOURNALIST, WITH "THE BOSTON GLOBE" AND "THE WITH "THE BOSTON GLOBE" AND "THE BOSTON GLOBE" MAGAZINE AND BOSTON GLOBE" MAGAZINE AND YOU'VE ALSO CONTINUED TO BE YOU'VE ALSO CONTINUED TO BE BECOME A TEACHER AND YOU'VE A BECOME A TEACHER AND YOU'VE A PHOTO DOCUMENTTARIAN.

PHOTO DOCUMENTTARIAN.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS WORK THAT WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS WORK THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO YOU AND REALLY SPEAKS TO YOU AND INTERESTS YOU?

INTERESTS YOU?

>> AS A PHOTOJOURNALIST, LOOKING >> AS A PHOTOJOURNALIST, LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS, AT SOME OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS, THEY TELL A STORY.

THEY TELL A STORY.

AND THAT'S WHAT AND THAT'S WHAT PHOTOJOURNALISTISM IS.

PHOTOJOURNALISTISM IS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO TELL A STORY IT'S IMPORTANT TO TELL A STORY IN A PHOTOGRAPH.

IN A PHOTOGRAPH.

SO THIS PHOTOGRAPH HERE WAS SO THIS PHOTOGRAPH HERE WAS TAKEN IN NORTHFIELD AND I LOOK TAKEN IN NORTHFIELD AND I LOOK AT THIS PHOTOGRAPH AND I SEE SO AT THIS PHOTOGRAPH AND I SEE SO MUCH -- I SEE A CHILD'S TOY.

MUCH -- I SEE A CHILD'S TOY.

I SEE A WOMAN THAT MAY VERY WELL I SEE A WOMAN THAT MAY VERY WELL BE PREGNANT.

BE PREGNANT.

I CAN'T TELL THE WAY HER APRON I CAN'T TELL THE WAY HER APRON IS.

IS.

A SHARPENING WHEEL FOR AN AX.

A SHARPENING WHEEL FOR AN AX.

I SEE A MAN STANDING OUT IN I SEE A MAN STANDING OUT IN FRONT OF THIS PLACE HOLDING AN FRONT OF THIS PLACE HOLDING AN AX OVER HIS SHOULDER LIKE HE MAY AX OVER HIS SHOULDER LIKE HE MAY BE LOGGING OR CUTTING WOOD OR BE LOGGING OR CUTTING WOOD OR SOMETHING.

SOMETHING.

SO TO ME, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SO TO ME, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A STORY FORMED IN THAT.

STORY FORMED IN THAT.

AND SO WHAT I SAW WHEN I LOOKED AND SO WHAT I SAW WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS COLLECTION WERE STORIES AT THIS COLLECTION WERE STORIES BEING TOLD IN AN IMAGE.

BEING TOLD IN AN IMAGE.

AND IT WAS VERY STRIKING.

AND IT WAS VERY STRIKING.

I WISH I COULD -- I WISH I HAD I WISH I COULD -- I WISH I HAD THE INFORMATION OF WHO THEY ARE, THE INFORMATION OF WHO THEY ARE, JUST TO KNOW WHETHER I'M RIGHT JUST TO KNOW WHETHER I'M RIGHT OR NOT ABOUT WHAT I'M OR NOT ABOUT WHAT I'M FORMULATING AS A STORY IN THE FORMULATING AS A STORY IN THE PHOTOGRAPH.

PHOTOGRAPH.

>> AND THIS IS REALLY -- THIS >> AND THIS IS REALLY -- THIS HAS REALLY BECOME A PASSION HAS REALLY BECOME A PASSION PROJECT FOR YOU N. AN ARTICLE PROJECT FOR YOU N. AN ARTICLE WITH "THE BOSTON GLOBE," THAT WITH "THE BOSTON GLOBE," THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS PROJECT, WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS PROJECT, YOU MENTIONED WHAT IT'S DONE FOR YOU MENTIONED WHAT IT'S DONE FOR YOUR SOUL, ESPECIALLY THROUGH YOUR SOUL, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

THE PANDEMIC.

CAN YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT HOW CAN YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT HOW THIS WORK, THIS PROJECT, HAS THIS WORK, THIS PROJECT, HAS IMPACTED YOU.

IMPACTED YOU.

>> WELL, IT'S MADE ME THINK >> WELL, IT'S MADE ME THINK ABOUT MY OWN MORTALITY.

ABOUT MY OWN MORTALITY.

A LOT MORE, PART OF THAT ALSO A LOT MORE, PART OF THAT ALSO HAS TO DO WITH GETTING OLDER.

HAS TO DO WITH GETTING OLDER.

BUT ALSO DURING THAT PANDEMIC, BUT ALSO DURING THAT PANDEMIC, WE WERE SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE WE WERE SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WE KNEW DIE.

THAT WE KNEW DIE.

AND I DID KNOW PEOPLE THAT DIED AND I DID KNOW PEOPLE THAT DIED FROM THE PANDEMIC.

FROM THE PANDEMIC.

AS I THINK MOST PEOPLE DID.

AS I THINK MOST PEOPLE DID.

AND THEN LOOKING AT SOME OF AND THEN LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS AND SEEING, THESE PHOTOGRAPHS AND SEEING, YOU KNOW, THE POSTMORTEM IMAGES, YOU KNOW, THE POSTMORTEM IMAGES, IT JUST MADE ME START IT JUST MADE ME START APPRECIATING BEING ALIVE A BIT APPRECIATING BEING ALIVE A BIT MORE AND APPRECIATING WHAT I MORE AND APPRECIATING WHAT I HAVE.

HAVE.

I'VE BECOME MUCH MORE AWARE OF I'VE BECOME MUCH MORE AWARE OF WASTE.

WASTE.

MUCH MORE AWARE OF SIMPLICITY OF MUCH MORE AWARE OF SIMPLICITY OF LIFE THAT WAS VERY -- YOU KNOW, LIFE THAT WAS VERY -- YOU KNOW, UNCOMPLICATED.

UNCOMPLICATED.

AND I THINK TODAY WE HAVE A VERY AND I THINK TODAY WE HAVE A VERY COMPLICATED WORLD.

COMPLICATED WORLD.

AND IT JUST MADE ME STEP BACK A AND IT JUST MADE ME STEP BACK A BIT FOR MY OWN SELF AND MY BIT FOR MY OWN SELF AND MY FAMILY.

FAMILY.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR IN >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR IN EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

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I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

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CARE.

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