Michael Niden will lead interested visitors through the historic Zirngiebel/Wyeth house at 178 South Street from 9-3 both Saturday and Sunday, April 9 and 10, in celebration of Needham's Town Flower, the giant pansy.
The property is owned by the N.C. Wyeth Research Foundation & Reading Libraries, a non-profit effort to present in the months and years ahead the world’s most comprehensive library of Needham’s native son’s illustrated books, magazines, and ephemera.
Wyeth’s great granddaughter, Victoria Wyeth, of Pennsylvania and Maine, will be on hand to answer questions about her grandfather, Andrew Wyeth, who was another previous occupant of the property, and to sign books and prints with proceeds going to the restoration effort.
Founder Linda L. Bean of Port Clyde, Maine, will be present to answer questions about the restoration project for the future library and the Zirngieble pansy fields introduced to America by the grandfather of N.C. Wyeth, John Denys Zirngiebel, who came to South Street riverfront as a grower from Switzerland in the 1850s.
The NC Wyeth Research Library and the Needham History Center are co-hosting Needham’s Pansy Day on April 9. There will be pansy plants of all sizes – flats, potted arrangements, and hanging planters – in an array of vibrant colors to purchase at the Needham History Center, located at 1147 Central Ave, where the gift shop will also be open, hosted by Executive Director Gloria Polizzotti Greis.
The tours, book and print sales at 178 South Street will require a reservation to allow a few cars in the yard at a time by scheduling. To register, visit www.tinyurl.com/wyethlibrarysneakpeek
