Amherst's forebears come to life

By Mary Carey
Staff Writer

Published on May 01, 2009

Robert "Gil" Roberts was born in Amherst in 1896 and lived to see the entire next century, traveling around the world playing banjo with Louis Armstrong and the jazz trumpeter King Oliver.

Roberts died in 2002 but will live again in early May, one of 14 of Amherst's former residents who will be honored as part of the town's 250th anniversary celebrations, "Conversations with the Past," in West Cemetery. Founded in 1737, the downtown cemetery was placed on the Historic Register in 2000. Roberts can be seen among other former residents on the cemetery mural.

Emily Dickinson's sister Lavinia, Emily's maid Margaret "Maggie" Maher and David Parsons, Amherst's first minister, are some other earlier residents who will be brought to life during the cemetery tours, which begin Saturday.

Roberts played hockey at Amherst High School in 1914 and survived the influenza pandemic of 1917 before visiting 21 countries. He quit playing music for decades after becoming a Jehovah's Witness in the mid-1950s but picked up his banjo again toward the end of his long life, at the urging of friends.

In the intervening years, he drove a big gray Oldsmobile around town doing odd jobs and spreading the word about the church.

"We've put together pictures, mementos and even CD's," said Michael Greenebaum, a member of the 250th Committee. The longtime director of the Valley Light Opera and retired Mark's Meadow Elementary School principal has been working with some of Roberts' descendents on the presentation, which will include recordings of Roberts playing the banjo.

His great-grandchildren, Raquel and Shane Roberts, will help interpret his life for visitors during the tours, which will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m.; Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to noon; Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Thursday, from 5 to 7 p.m.

May events

* Following is a schedule of other 250th anniversary events in May:

* Friday through Sunday: League of Women Voters Book Sale on the Amherst Common.

* Saturday: "My Uncle Emily," a book reading and signing with Jane Yolen, 10 a.m. at the Emily Dickinson Museum; Artisans & Artisans Mayfaire, Amherst Woman's Club, Triangle Street, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

* Thursday: Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner: An Evening of Nostalgia, honoring the Amherst 250th and Hadley's 350th anniversary committees. Call 253-0700 for reservations.

* May 7-9: Amherst Community Fair on the Town Common. Free 250th Anniversary balloons on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

* May 9 : "Music That's Amherst," An evening in celebration of the town's cultures, 7 p.m., Amherst Regional High School auditorium.

* May 15 to 17: "Emily of Amherst," the world premiere of an original ballet of interpretive biography created by Amherst Ballet and the Emily Dickinson Museum. Five performances in three days. Visit Amherst Ballet for full details and tickets.

* May 16: Town Picnic and Antique Car Rally on the Amherst Town Common, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m..

* May 16: Emily Dickinson Poetry Walk and Open House, 1 p.m. at the Emily Dickinson Museum.

* May 16: Music of Love and war, featuring Carmina Burana, 7:30 p.m., Umass Fine Arts Center. Contact Pioneer Valley Symphony and Chorus for full details.

* May 29: Frostiana, Amherst Regional High School choruses, in the high school auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

* May 30 and 31: "East of the Common: Two neighborhoods developed during the Civil War period," an exhibit at the Henry F. Hills House, 32 Gray St., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Historian Ed Wilfert has created two exhibits about the older parts of the Gray, Taylor and Spring street, drawing on archival material from the Jones and Amherst College libraries.

* May 30: Fort River Festival, a celebration of the longest free-flowing tributary of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts.