The Manchester-by-the-Sea Cultural Council in partnership with the MBTS Public Library are excited to host Erika Brown and Paul Clark from the Manchester Cricket .

An archive is an important collection of what has been. For a local community newspaper like the Manchester Cricket or the Essex Echo, an archive is a magic treasure trove that connects us to our past. Its filled with stories that may not register with others but they certainly resound with us. In 2018, Erika Brown took over as publisher and editor of the Manchester Cricket, and one of the first decisions she made was to digitize the 136-year-old newspaper's print archive and make it searchable and permanently available through the Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library. The Friends of the Library and the Cricket split the cost of that initial digitization and the library continues to host and digitize current issues. The Essex Echo, an independent newspaper purchased by the Manchester Cricket in 1924, is in the process of being similarly digitized. Search the archive at mbts.advantage-preservation.com.

Erika and the Cricket's longtime assistant director, Paul Clark, will share their favorites from the paper's archive and, where possible, offer some context. These stories can be surprising or thought provoking. They can even be important, and sometimes, they can make us laugh. 

In the end, connecting to a newspaper's archive strengthens our ties to this place that is our home. We'll explore some gems from our archive and oh yes, we'll include one of Paul's favorite features, the local police notes!

This program is made possible through a partnership with the Manchester Cultural Council. The Manchester Cultural Council is a community initiative in partnership with the Mass Cultural Council working to elevate our rich cultural life in Manchester-By-The-Sea. Connect with them on Facebook. 

Registrations are required for this event as space is limited. Due to the registration volume we will be hosting this event at the Crowell Chapel. Parking during the event is allowed on both sides of Rosedale Ave. Please register even if the event is full and please call us to cancel your registration if you are unable to attend.

Special thanks to the Manchester Parks and Recreation for helping us provide an alternative location.