Medford historian Dee Morris’s summer history program for 2023 is “The South Medford Experience,” where famous horse racing tracks became a community of homes. In the summer of 1866, two investors threw open the gates of Mystic Trotting Park to a crowd in love with harness racing. The South Medford race track, supplied with over 100 horses, fronted on Main Street at Tufts Square. By the 20th century, these acres evolved into streets filled with comfortable homes owned by Italian American and Irish American families. In this program, Morris will explore the scene and characters of Mystic Trotting Park.

As part of her South Medford Experience program, Morris also is leading three Saturday afternoon walking tours of the neighborhood. They will be offered at 2 p.m. on June 17, July 15, and September 16.