CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Kenneth Newcomb Oral History Grants

December 8, 2025

Two Kenneth Newcomb Oral History Grants of $500 each are available to high school students living in Newton Upper Falls.

A grant recipient must reside in Newton Upper Falls and be a freshman, sophomore, or junior in high school (9th to 11th grade). Public and private school students are eligible. Proposals require a mentor, such as a high school teacher, who has interest in the topic.

Each grant will be for $500, with $250 paid at the start of the project and $250 paid when the mentor informs us that the project is complete and all materials are submitted to the Upper Falls Area Council. Two grants are available for 2026. Projects should be completed by October 2026.

Proposals, not to exceed 500 words, should describe project objectives and why it is interesting to the student. A letter of support from the mentor should be included.

Grant decisions will be made by the Newton Upper Falls Area Council in February. Proposals are due on January 31, 2026, and should be submitted by email to:

Newcomb.UF.OralHistory@gmail.com

This program is sponsored by the Newton Upper Falls Area Council and the Newton Upper Falls Community Development Corporation.

PROJECT IDEAS

Kenneth Newcomb Oral History Grants

A few project ideas are provided here for your consideration. Any of these can be explored by interviewing a variety of people who have direct involvement or knowledge. These are just suggestions, and we are open to any Upper Falls oral history project that you and your mentor find interesting!

How and why was the Newton Upper Falls Historic District created?
How was the Upper Falls Greenway converted from a railroad to a trail?
Covid recollections, Newton Upper Falls
Northland referendum, March 2020.
Joe Rogan lived in Newton Upper Falls in his teenage years. What do people remember about him?
A lot of work has been done recently by Northland along South Meadow Brook. A fascinating topic for students with environmental interests.
Charles River water quality in Newton Upper Falls, 1950s to today
When the Emerson School was converted to condominiums, what were the impacts on the Upper Falls community?
Upper Falls Landmarks & Institutions (in no particular order):
- - Otis Pettee Stone Barn (a.k.a. Silk Barn) 44 Oak Street
  - Stone Rehabilitation & Senior Living
  - Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Church
  - The Mall at Echo Bridge
  - Tzu Chi Foundation (previously First Methodist Episcopal Church)
  - Gamewell Fire Alarm and Telegraph Company (Pettee Square)
  - Echo Bridge railings, Hemlock Gorge
  - Stone Building restorations, Hemlock Gorge
  - Feast of the Falls, 2013 – 2018

When feasible, interview recordings should be made available at the end of the project. Any AI transcriptions, summaries or translations should be reviewed and edited for reasonableness and accuracy.

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