History raconteur Richard W. Gifford will discuss “Highways of Old Dartmouth” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, at the Russells Mills Village Schoolhouse, 1205 Russells Mills Road, headquarters of the Dartmouth Historical and Arts Society.

The talk is the latest in the society’s Sunday afternoon lecture series.

Gifford will use the Old Dartmouth records book, “Old Dartmouth Highways 1705-1786,” a work which can be viewed on the society website at dartmouthhas.org, to explain how, why and where the roadways of Old Dartmouth were placed.

He will also look at the distinction between "open ways" and "driftways" and the roles played by the Dartmouth Selectmen and the Dartmouth Proprietors. He will examine some specific records of roadways in the Russell's Mills area as examples of the old practices.

Gifford is a frequent contributor to research projects performing Old Dartmouth genealogical and historical investigations and publishing much original material to improve our understanding.

Richard graduated from Brown University in 1981 and received his juris doctorate from the University of Connecticut in 1984. 

The lecture will be followed by a brief question and answer period and light refreshments will be provided. A $5 donation is suggested.