Unearthing the Past

Exploring Hardwick’s history through pop culture.

The Writing Popular Culture class at Eagle Hill, led by Jessica Geary, has been exploring history and modern storytelling. Students Chase H. ’28, Skyla P. ’28, Nyveah C. ’29, Cole F. ’27, Luca E. ’29, Walter S. ’28, and Jack S. ’27 have been diving deeply into their latest project, which intertwined ghost stories, history, fashion, and digital tools to bring the past to life for a contemporary audience. Through these topics, the class honed vital skills: identifying audiences, building empathy and contextual knowledge, and refining their written and presentation voices.

The project began with a visit to the old cemetery in Hardwick’s center. There, the students examined gravestones of some of the town’s earliest colonial residents. Guided by members of the Hardwick Historical Society, they delved into the stories of notable figures like Bathsheba Ruggles, wife of General Timothy Ruggles, and mother of Bathsheba Ruggles Spooner, both notable historical figures in Massachusetts.

Armed with historical context and biographical details, each student chose a resident to portray, crafting a “ghost walk presentation.”

Armed with historical context and biographical details, each student chose a resident to portray, crafting a “ghost walk presentation.” These presentations reimagined how early residents might tell their stories to a modern audience. Luca E. ’29, for example, portrayed Paul Mandell and included contemporary references in his narrative, saying, “Oh, I almost forgot there are still some essential things that I haven’t mentioned yet. There is one fact that I want you to know about where my land is, about the ‘East Quabbin Land Trust,’ who is currently the owner. You can search ‘Mandell Hill’ with whatever advanced technology you have now.”

To enhance their presentations, the class partnered with Linda Tomasi, a skilled theater director and costume designer. Tomasi outfitted the students in costumes and guided them in striking authentic poses for their portraits. Since photography wasn’t available during the colonial era, the class turned to modern tools, using AI filters to transform their photos into the style of oil paintings.

The final piece of the project was creating recordings of students’ ghost walk presentations. These were paired with PowerPoint slides showcasing gravestones and historical facts, forming a multimedia artifact for future audiences. These presentations will debut at the Arts on the Hill event in the spring and will be shared with the Hardwick Historical Society for their open houses.