Anne Barrett’s grandfather, who was born in 1890, used to run the bases on the Topsfield Town Common.
“Baseball was the big game people played here, not football or soccer,’’ said Barrett of the sport that evolved from rounders, popular in England in the 1700s. “When [the town of] Essex came to play, it was hotly contested and everyone turned out.’’
Barrett isn’t a diehard baseball fan, but she is a history buff.
“I’m interested in stories,’’ she said
Barrett, 53, a lifelong Topsfield resident who is vice president of the Topsfield Historical Society, presents “From Rounders to Baseball’’ at the Peabody Institute Library in Danvers on March 31.
It’s the first installment of the library’s Spring Fever Double Header, which includes “The History of Fenway Park’’ with Dan Rea, senior vice president and general manager of the Pawtucket Red Sox, on April 19.
Barrett traces baseball’s evolution from the 19th-century town teams to its growth as America’s pastime.
“I try to do something fun,’’ she said. “I hand out popcorn and do trivia.’’
Baseball is just one of the historical subjects for which Barrett gives presentations. Others range from Victorian Christmas traditions, to Hollywood’s Wild West, to the evolution of the women’s movement.
Barrett graduated from Masconomet Regional High School and went on to get a bachelor’s degree from Colby-Sawyer College and a master’s from Boston University, both in business administration. She worked in marketing communications for corporations and nonprofits.
At one point, Barrett met Jon Kimbell, then artistic director of North Shore Music Theatre, and they collaborated on a historical spotlight segment at the Beverly theater.
She did the research, then put her acting and storytelling experience to work, presenting 20-minute historical perspectives of the shows on stage.
That’s where the story about the boys of summer began.
“The music theater had a show about baseball and I expanded it into a social history,’’ she said. “People said ‘I don’t care about baseball, but I loved your presentation.’ ’’
Barrett has been offering lectures on a variety of topics through her venture, A Brief History!, since 2005.
“I grew up with family history and family heirlooms,’’ she said, adding her ancestry in the area “goes back to 1630 on both sides.’’
“When I have time I am always thinking about what different presentations I could do,’’ Barrett said. “Because everyone does Abigail Adams.’’
Barrett’s presentation begins at 7 p.m. at 15 Sylvan St., Danvers. Admission is free. Call 978-774-0554 or visit danverslibrary.org.
WENDY KILLEEN
Wendy Killeen can be reached at wdkilleen@gmail.com.
