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HEARTHSIDE HOUSE MUSEUM NEWSLETTER
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"The House That Love Built" Vol. 9, Issue 4 April 2016
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Since April 12-18 is National Volunteer Week, there is no better time than now to give appreciation to and recognize the efforts of our special group of "friends" who make Hearthside so successful. There simply is no way to put a price on the gifts they give of their time and talents. Not only could we not exist without volunteers, but our funders recognize how important a role volunteers play in contributing to this success. A national organization known as the Independent Sector does put a price on the value of volunteers, which the latest figures are cited to be $23.07 per hour! For Hearthside during 2015 this time amounted to close to 11,000 hours with all the various volunteers we have as well as others who step in to contribute their time on a one-time basis. That equates to $253,770 in in-kind staffing! And that number is used to help match funds that we seek from funders. Quite impressive! THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE MADE THIS HAPPEN!
Everyone has contributed in some way, and some have done an extraordinary amount to help. It is why the board selects a Volunteer of the Year to recognize someone who has gone "above and beyond." The award will be presented at our upcoming April 23rd meeting of the Friends of Hearthside.
Spring is a busy time for us all, but particularly at Hearthside as our tours are in full gear now, we have our first fundraiser of 2016 scheduled for April 14th with the Chocolate & Wine Evening, private tour groups and rentals are booking, and the season of Teas is upon us. And of course, we have the grounds to clean up, flower beds to prepare, and exterior restoration work to get underway so that Hearthside may look her very best for the thousands of visitors expected to find their way to our door in the coming months. We'll be ready to welcome them with open arms!
And a special thanks to new board member Jen Vuono for organizing her team of volunteers from Citizens Bank who started the yard clean up for us on March 23rd. Amazing what can be done with a team in just an hour or so.
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April 10 Tour Day & Exhibit
April 14 Chocolate & Wine
Evening*
April 23 Meeting of
Friends
of
Hearthside
May 7 Downton Abbey Tea
May 22 Tour Day
June 4-5 American Girl Doll
Tea Weekend*
June 12 Tour Day &
Exhibit
July 16 The Decade That
Roared: A 1920s RI
Experience - Indoor &
Outdoor exhibit,
presentations,
evening
party and
dance
*Reservations Required- Tickets available for sale one month prior; limited space
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| "FASHIONABLY DOWNTON" ANNUAL AFTERNOON TEA SALUTES DOWNTON ABBEY Saturday, May 7th Tickets Now on Sale to Our Members |
 Downton Abbey fans going through withdrawal have something to look forward to. For this year's annual tea on May 7th, Hearthside presents a retrospective look back to the years covered in the beloved Downton Abbey series in high style with the pleasures of a traditional afternoon tea along with a presentation by a fashion historian on the evolution of fashions throughout this period of tremendous change.
The fabulous fashions from this intriguing period, 1912-1926---which began with the sinking of the Titanic through the end of World War I, to the advent of telephones and electricity, and concluding with the jazz age---changed quite dramatically over the course of the series and became a significant part of why we all loved watching the show each week.
Several examples of these fashions and accessories will be featured along with an informative presentation while guests enjoy the delicious pleasures of a traditional afternoon tea. Our guest presenter is
Karen Antonowicz, a teacher of the History of Fashion at RISD, and owner of Nostalgia Antiques & Collectibles, a Providence vintage clothing store, is our guest presenter.
Our volunteers will be dressed in lovely Edwardian and Gilded Age attire. Although not required, guests at our
Downton Abbey Tea are invited to join in too by dressing up in Downton-inspired outfits, complete with hats, fascinators or tiaras. Prizes will be awarded for the best interpretation.  Tea will be served by "the downstairs staff" and include brewed loose leaf tea, elegant tea sandwiches and savory sweets. The elegance of spring flowers, china, linen and lace, add to the ambience of this tea fit for the Crawleys. Conversations about your favorite scenes, characters, and their outfits are encouraged as the best way to keep the Dowager, Lord and Lady Grantham, Mary, Edith, Carson, and all our other favorites from the series, alive for us.
Familiar music from the Downton series, trivia, a raffle, and tours of the museum as well as shopping in the Gift Shop are featured.
This event is always a popular treat for a Mother's Day celebration or enjoying a memorable afternoon with friends.
Two seatings are offered at either 12:30 or 3:30 p.m. Tickets for our members may now be purchased by calling Hearthside at 726-0597 at a cost of $27. Availability of tickets to the public opens on April 7th and the cost is $30 per person. There will only be pre-purchase tickets and no tickets sold at the door. Seating is limited and always a popular event, so it is advised to reserve early.
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| LAST CHANCE FOR TICKETS TO CHOCOLATE & WINE EVENING Thursday, April 14th |
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Thursday evening, April 14th 6:30-9:00 p.m. Chocoholics and wine lovers unite in this special evening celebrating two of life's greatest indulgences. The finest of artisan chocolates are provided by The Chocolate Delicacy and wines served up by Mendon Wines and More. Learn about the perfect pairings, as you test your own knowledge about all things chocolate. A perfect night out for spouse or a group of friends to enjoy a unique experience in the ambience of this historic home while also helping support the continued restoration of Hearthside. Limited tickets will be sold, keeping it to a small, intimate group. Call Hearthside today for tickets....726-0597. Cost is $40 and a portion of the ticket is tax deductible as allowed under IRS regulations. |
| TOUR DAY - SUNDAY, APRIL 10TH Free for All Members of Hearthside & Reciprocal Organizations
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Here's a great opportunity to visit Hearthside for free, if you are a member of Hearthside or one of a number of other local sites that are part of the RI Attractions Marketing Alliance. On Sunday, April 10th between 1 - 4 p.m. our interpretive guides, dressed in period attire, will be available to provide history about the house, and the families who lived there, during the tour.
And if you missed last month's exhibit during Women's History Month, all the displays are still in place featuring numerous women who have shaped our state, nation and world over several generations.
This month's tour at Hearthside is part of the Rhode Island Attractions Marketing Alliance in which several attractions are collaborating to offer expanded benefits to its members throughout the year in a reciprocal membership program for free admission at designated sites. April's featured sites are Hearthside and Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol. Members from either of these organizations, or from the other participating sites, may receive free admission, this month only, for up to four adults by presenting their membership card and photo ID at the entrance upon arrival. Participating organizations include the RI Historical Society, John Brown House, Museum of Work & Culture, Providence Children's Museum, Slater Mill, Fuller Craft Museum, and Blithewold Mansion. Each month, different sites will be featured for the free admission reciprocal program. To check the schedule and which sites are featured when, or for more information about the RI Attractions Marketing Alliance, visit the RI Historical Society's website at www.rihs.org/join. This is just another benefit to our members, and we're delighted to offer them an opportunity to visit other museums at no cost. We look forward to welcoming new visitors on April 10th who are members of these organizations.
Light refreshments will be served in the Colonial kitchen. Last admission is at 3:00 p.m. in order to allow time for the tour and viewing of exhibits.
General admission for the tour is $8/adults; $6/seniors; $4/ages 10-17; under 10 and Hearthside members are free, as well as those members from the above listed organizations.
Check out some of the images from
last month's Women's History Month tour:
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| A display in the boy's room featured the story of Lizzie Murphy from Warren, RI, the first woman to play in national league baseball. Photo by Nat Cokely |
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| Guests in the music room read about the last owner of Hearthside, Penelope Mowbray, and look through the family photo album. Photo by Nat Cokely |
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| Contemporary women were also featured, including RI women such as Claudine Schneider, the first woman elected to Congress. Photo by Susan Gonsalves |
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| An intricately embroidered Edwardian dress, such as worn by women who founded Johnson & Wales, displayed in the master bedroom. Photo by Nat Cokely |
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| Civil War re-enactor Susan Kirsch and Estelle Barada, docent, share a cup of tea in the parlor, which was devoted to women from the Civil War era. Photo by Susan Gonsalves |
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| Among the visitors were a Girl Scout troop to learn about the many women role models throughout history. Photo by Susan Gonsalves |
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| NEXT MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF HEARTHSIDE SAT. APRIL 23RD |
| The Friends of Hearthside will meet again on Saturday, April 23rd at 10:00 a.m. at Hearthside. We welcome all volunteers interested in helping out this year in any way. Details on the work plan for the year, as well as continued planning discussions and ideas regarding our upcoming activities will take place at the meeting. Our meetings are always lively and filled with lots of energy and new ideas. Won't you join us? Kindly let me know if you plan on attending. |
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FRIENDS OF HEARTHSIDE HONORED AT ANNUAL MEETING
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On March 19th, the annual meeting of the Friends of Hearthside was held in the Music Room. It was a special occasion marking our
15th anniversary, almost to the day. On hand to commemorate this special time was
Keith Macksoud, president of the
Lincoln Town Council, and
Jim Jahnz, vice president of the Council, who presented a
Resolution from the Council in
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A 15th Anniversary Cake was enjoyed by attendees at the meeting.
Photo by Ron Deighan
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| Town Council President Keith Macksoud presents a Resolution from the Town to the Friends of Hearthside. Photo by Ron Deighan |
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recognition of the accomplishments and contributions that the Friends of Hearthside has made to the Town of Lincoln with stewardship of this historic landmark.
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Leaders for the past 15 years, President & Founder Kathy Hartley and Vice President John Scanlon present an anniversary cake to the volunteers at the Annual Meeting.
Photo by Ron Deighan
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Town Administrator Joe Almond was also a guest at the meeting. He reiterated the Town's appreciation to the volunteers for the outstanding effort that has been made on a consistent basis for the past 15 years. It is because of this ongoing effort and growing interest by more and more volunteers that Hearthside has been so beautifully restored and become such a successful museum. In addition to reviewing milestones from our organization's history, the election of three board members took place. We welcome
Rick Rosati and
Jennifer Vuono as new board members and congratulate
Bill McManus for his re-election to a three-year board term.
A long list of accomplishments from the past year were reviewed along with our year-end financials. A copy of the documents that were distributed may be read here.
2015 Highlights
2015 Financial Report
We head into our 16th year with much optimism for many more successes and continued growth, thanks to the dedication and hard work by our wonderful crew of volunteers!
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| GET READY TO ROAR THIS SUMMER! THE DECADE THAT ROARED: A 1920s Rhode Island Experience |
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SAVE THIS DATE!
SATURDAY, JULY 16TH
The Decade That Roared: A 1920s Rhode Island Experience
For Rhode Island and America, the 1920s were a time of exciting new technologies, unprecedented cultural change and growing pains. This summer, Hearthside brings the stories of the 1920s to life ... from early jazz, dance crazes , fabulous fashion, and live radio to prohibition, speakeasies, intolerance and scandals.
Set up similar to last summer's 1904 World's Fair exhibit and outdoor event, the
Decade That Roared will take place all day,
both outdoors on the grounds and inside the museum. But this summer's major event will also include a separate celebration that will take place in the evening with a
Speakeasy and Bootlegger's Ball. This event is surely a spectacle you won't want to miss!
Sponsors are currently being sought to support this major undertaking. Please contact me if your employer or someone you know could help. Sponsorships start at $99-$3,000.
Stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks!
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YOUR SUPPORT AS A HEARTHSIDE MEMBER
HELPS US, AND YOU BENEFIT!
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Hearthside Membership starts at just $25 and provides benefits all year long, such as:
- Free tours all year
- Discounts on our special event tickets
- Advantage of purchasing tickets in advance of the public, important for limited seating events, such as American Girl Doll events!
- Member-only events, including a VIP reception each year
- 10% discount in our Gift Shop
- Participation in Reciprocal Membership Programs, such as RI Marketing Alliance
Help preserve history for the next generation. Click Here to Join as a Member or mail a check to Friends of Hearthside, Inc., 757 Great Road, Lincoln, RI 02865. We appreciate your support!
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There's always something happening at Hearthside!
Sincerely,
Kathy Hartley
Founder, President & CEO
Friends of Hearthside, Inc.
The mission of the Friends of Hearthside, Inc. is to preserve, protect, promote, and interpret the heritage of the Hearthside Homestead (b.1810) and the Great Road Historic District through living history programs and events.
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