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HEARTHSIDE HOUSE MUSEUM NEWSLETTER
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"The House That Love Built" Vol. 9, Issue 8 August 2016
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This week we welcome September and while it seems like summer just started, I think we are all looking forward to the cooler days of fall. The sizzling heat of July and August was some of the hottest weather recorded in history.
The hot weather certainly affected
attendance, and in fact, we even had to postpone our scheduled August tour
when the heat index hit 106! Just a week later when we opened on Aug. 21st, the temperatures were much more moderate and as a result a large group of visitors came to see the 1920s exhibit before it was packed away till next time.
After multiple events and tours this summer, I'm finally getting to take a vacation this week. Like many of you, when planning where to go and what to see, I go online to check out
Trip Advisor. It didn't occur to me that Hearthside would be listed on Trip Advisor, but there it was. And with a 5-star rating!
This got me thinking that all our friends who read this newsletter could really
help promote
Hearthside by taking a few minutes and give some feedback for those who are checking out the site before making the decision on whether to come visit. Of course, you can do this for our Facebook page as well. We've had some great comments come in which is so very helpful. I've had many visitors comment that they went to our Facebook page and read so many wonderful tributes and about what is going on here, that they decided to come. So it does work to have those personal testimonials!
I hope you'll contribute some thoughts. Here is a direct link to our listing for
you to comment on
Trip Advisor, or click here for our
Facebook page.
And while you're online, if you haven't yet visited, please take a moment to go to our
new website! Because of feedback that's come our way, we've tweaked some areas so it really does help to let us know your thoughts.
As you can see on the right column in this newsletter, we have a
full calendar of activities coming up in the fall, so check your schedule and make your plans now to bring friends and family to visit. We always strive to make each visitor experience a bit different than the last time.
Look forward to seeing you soon!
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Sept. 10 Friends of Hearthside Meeting
Sept. 16 * Bridging Beyond Boundaries: An Evening with Spiritual Medium Roland Comtois
Sept. 24 Great Road Day -
Smithsonian Museum Day
Oct. 15, 29 * Victorian Mourning Customs Candlelight Tours
Oct. 23, 30 Victorian Mourning Customs Exhibit & Tours
Nov. 6 A Tale of Two Mansions - Tour of Arnold House & Hearthside
Nov. 12 * Victorian Dinner Party Fundraiser
Dec. 1 ** Member VIP Reception/Preview of Holiday Decorations
Dec. 3** American Girl Doll Christmas Party for Members
Dec. 4, 10 & 11 An Old-Fashioned Christmas - Self-guided Tours
Dec. 28 & 30 * An Old-Fashioned Christmas - Candlelight Tours
*Reservations Required
** Members Only
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BRIDGING BEYOND BOUNDARIES: An Evening with
Spiritual Medium Roland Comtois SOLD OUT |
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With room for just 30 guests, this program was sure to be a quick
sell-out, and that is exactly what has happened! Roland Comtois is an internationally-acclaimed medium, speaker and author, so it is a very special occasion that he has agreed to make an appearance at Hearthside on
Friday, September 16th.
Those who have an interest in being put on a waiting list in case of last-minute cancellations should let me know by calling 726-0597 and leave a message.
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A CULINARY JOURNEY THROUGH 100 YEARS EXPLORED IN
HEARTHSIDE'S NEW BOOK
"From Hearth Side to Stove Top" |
After a good deal of interest from our last dinner party "A Culinary Journey Through Time," we are
delighted to announce a new cookbook by Hearthside.
"From Hearth Side to Stove Top"
is a sampler of traditional New England recipes that typically would have been prepared in the kitchen of Hearthside. The recipes start with the beginning years from 1810 when foods were cooked over the open fire, to the cast iron cook stove, and finally the kitchen range in 1910. These hundred years illustrate the most dramatic changes in cooking methods. 
Another feature of the book is that it chronicles the
history of Hearthside through the several families who lived there during those first hundred years, and gives the recipes even greater interest, as one can imagine the various foods being served to family members in the dining room. Additional highlights are details about Hearthside's
Rumford Oven and the attic
Smoker Closet.
Hearthside's kitchen still features the large fireplace where these early meals would have been cooked. The Rumford Oven may still be seen in the dining room where it was discovered hidden in the wall several years ago after being covered up since 1840. And the smoker closet in the attic is shown during our tours, complete with the "meats" that are hanging in it to illustrate how the foods were preserved prior to refrigeration.
The "newer" recipes from 1910 would have been cooked on a stove top, or in the oven, and are most like the ones we are familiar with today. These old-fashioned recipes are most appealing to try out on your own family and maybe start new traditions for a favorite cookie, soup. or pie. The oldest "recipes" are both interesting and entertaining to read about, but not likely that you would cook "Mock Turtle Soup of Calf's Head" or "Pigeon Pie."
The book contains over 200 recipes and was researched and compiled by
Lois M. Hartley
(yes, a relative of mine!). She will be at Hearthside on
Saturday, Sept. 24th
on
Great Road Day
for the release of the book. A highlight of the day will be cooking demonstrations over the open fire by docent
Estelle Barada,
who portrays the Talbot family cook (1904-1926) during our tours. She will be set up outdoors with a fire pit to
cook up some of the recipes
from the book.
Cover art for the book features a hand-colored photograph actually taken of the Hearthside kitchen fireplace by Rufus Waterman around 1910, called "Pilgrim Mothers" which is part of our collection of hand-colored photographs by Waterman and David Davidson.
"From Hearth Side to Stove Top" will be available for sale in our Gift Shop as part of our collection of Hearthside items.
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| FREE TOURS OF HEARTHSIDE & OTHER HISTORIC SITES ON GREAT ROAD DAY SATURDAY, SEPT. 24 |
Here's a great opportunity to visit s
everal historic sites along Lincoln's Great Road for free tours.
Great Road Day, being held on Saturday, S
eptember 24th,
features: Hearthside (1810), the Arnold House (1693),
Hannaway Blacksmith Shop (1870), Chase
Farm Park (1867),
Saylesville Friends Quaker Meetinghouse
(1703),
Valentine Whitman House (1694), Moffett Mill (1812) and the Mt. Moriah Masonic Lodge (1804).
Visitors are invited to tour at their own pace and select the sites they would like to see, or visit all. The
hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is parking at each site with the exception of the Moffett Mill,
which is accessible only by shuttle bus which will run between Hearthside and the Mill. This is an especially rare opportunity to see the inside of the Moffett Mill, as it is only opened occasionally; the last time was two years ago!
Each year, the last Saturday of September is designated as
Smithsonian's Museum Day, with museums
across the country opening their doors for free admission. The goal is to get more people to visit and
appreciate the museums in their own local communities.
For more information about the sites, click on our website.
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FRIENDS OF HEARTHSIDE TO MEET SATURDAY, SEPT. 10
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The next gathering of our volunteers will be on Saturday, Sept. 10th at 10 a.m. at Hearthside. This meeting will be focused on activities for the remaining quarter of this year. Discussions on plans for each of the events, as well as various that need volunteer help on, will be among the agenda items.
Anyone with interest in helping out in the coming months, or with an interest in keeping up with what is happening, are welcome to attend.
Just let me know of your plans to attend so that I can prepare adequate materials for all. Email here or call 726-0597. |
| A STEP BACK TO SUMMERS OF LONG AGO FEATURED AT AMERICAN GIRL DOLL GARDEN PARTY |
| On August 6th, Hearthside welcomed a gathering of young girls and their American Girl Dolls for the annual Victorian Garden Party. Held on the grounds, this popular event featured a presentation on the language of flowers and fans, along with a special display of the 1904 Samantha American Girl Doll with all her summertime accessories. Following refreshments, the girls got to experience some of the old-fashioned lawn games that young girls such as Samantha would have enjoyed a hundred years ago. Tours through the house featured the 1920s exhibit and a shopping trip in our Gift Shop for special treats for the dolls. It was a memorable time for both the girls and their parents!
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So many sweets to select from, and all so elegantly displayed!
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Volunteer Kathy Simonsen gave a presentation about the summertime activities girls enjoyed at the turn of the century, using her Samantha doll collection to demonstrate.
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Flowers were the theme of the day, as this family shows with their flowered dresses, and flowers in their hair. Even the table coverings were masses of pink rosebuds, complements of D'Paulo Designs.
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Docents gather for a picture before the festivities begin. Pictured left to right: Jayniece Jimenez, Kate Grist, Dani Cournoyer, Alexa Raymond, Bev Cournoyer, Kathy Simonsen, and Janet Hook.
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| Girls learned that rolling a hoop was a fun way to spend time during the summer in bygone days. |
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A tender moment between dad, daughter and her doll.
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Passing out supplied of pressed flowers, lace doilies, and American Girl Doll stickers for creating a scrapbook page as both an activity and a take-home memento of the day.
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Volunteer Lydia Mattera demonstrates the language of the fan, holding the fan to her right check, meaning "yes."
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A mom and daughter playing a game of croquet.
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A gathering of American Girl Dolls, the feature of our events that bring young girls to Hearthside for a fun way to learn history.
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Creating a scrapbook page was a shared experience with mom and daughter.
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Member Jennifer Parent with her daughter proudly show off the program booklet which will be added to their collection of past American Girl Doll events, which they have been attending for years.
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PLAN NOW FOR UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
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Victorian Mourning Customs
Oct. 15, 23, 29, 30
Darkness falls on Hearthside as we mourn the loss of Simon E. Thornton, owner of Hearthside who died here in 1873. Throughout the house are all the signs of honoring the loss of a family member during the Victorian era.
This annual exhibit includes funerary objects, fashions, post-mortem photos, a period coffin, jewelry, funeral biscuits, informative panels, and all our docents dressed in mourning attire to provide the details of the history of mourning customs.
Two dates with daytime tours offered on Sundays, and two dates on Saturday evenings for candlelight tours.
Reservations for candlelight tours taken starting September 23.
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The Victorian Table
A Dinner Party Fundraiser
Nov. 12
This most unique dinner party in the candlelight elegance of Hearthside
's formal room features a Victorian menu based on a variety of the finest fresh seasonal local foods and recipes that would have been served here by earlier families.
A 5-course meal is specially prepared in Hearthside's colonial kitchen by a guest chef. Between courses, the chef provides commentary to the guests about the dishes being served and how the food was prepared.
With a table large enough to seat 22 guests, the setting is quite intimate and allows for conversation, just like at a family holiday gathering.
This is annual fundraiser that
benefits our Capital Improvement Fund. Tickets go on sale October 12.
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An Old-Fashioned Christmas
Dec. 4, 10, 11, 28, 30
As featured in several publications, Hearthside at Christmastime is just gorgeous.
Because it is such a busy time of year, we suggest that you mark your calendar now to reserve time to make a visit to Hearthside part of your holiday traditions.
Each room throughout the house is elaborately decorated, including gaily decorated mantels and trees in each room. Santa is with us at each opening prior to Christmas.
With extraordinary decorations and live seasonal music, there is no way you cannot get into the holiday spirit! If you do happen to miss out prior to Christmas, plan on a visit after the holidays when we offer candlelight tours. Always popular with out-of-town guests!
Reservations for candlelight tours taken starting Nov. 28.
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A beautiful white wicker Victorian-era high chair was donated by
Penny Mowbray, last owner of Hearthside. The high chair matches a similar style baby carriage that belonged to her ancestors which she had restored and donated to Hearthside several years ago.
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Hearthside is most fortunate to receive so many wonderful donations of items that add to our collections. Each one has helped to support our mission to tell the stories of our past in a most important way....with actual historical artifacts!
We gladly accept donations that fit with the period and themes of the house. However, many times we may have to turn down items because of duplication,not fitting into our interpretation, or simply because we have no room for them. Now that the house is quite full and we have very limited storage available, it is very difficult to accept any furniture or large objects. Since Friends of Hearthside is a nonprofit charitable organization, all donations are tax deductible for the donor.
Our sincerest gratitude goes out to all those who have given so generously to help keep history alive!
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This 1923 Eastman Kodak movie projector was donated just a few days prior to the opening of our Decade That Roared exhibit in July. On it was a 16mm film that turned out to be "Mickey's Mad Dog," a 1932 Disney movie featuring Mickey Mouse. It was donated by
Rich Langlois.
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These dresses from the 1920s had belonged to the late Muriel Jordan of Lincoln and were donated by her son-in-law Seth Hamilton, and were displayed during the Decade That Roared providing a glimpse of the fashions of that era.
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Rich Langlois donated a hard bound collection of 1929 Pawtucket Times newspapers. This enormous book contained only two months worth of newspapers, clearly showing how robust the newspaper once was. The news articles and array of advertising within the collection served as an important resource for our research for the Decade That Roared exhibit.
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YOU CAN SUPPORT HEARTHSIDE IN MANY WAYS!
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Hearthside depends upon the support of its
members,
donors, and
visitors to be able to bring history to life through tours and innovative programming and exhibits, as well as preserve the important historic structures of Hearthside and its neighboring sites.
A gift of
Membership
starting at just $25 provides benefits to you 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
Click here to
Join as a Member
or mail a check to Friends of Hearthside, Inc., 757 Great Road, Lincoln, RI 02865. Basic membership is $25, $50 for Family, $75-$199 Contributor.
Over the years, it has been
Donations that have helped to
create the museum that Hearthside is now. Starting with virtually an empty house, it is now filled with antiques and important collections that help us tell the stories that bring history to life. As important as the donations of items are cash donations. These unrestricted dollars help us
maintain the house and collections, which require special care with expensive archival storage necessary for their conservation and protection. Click here to
Donate.
Funds collected during
Tours and Special Events comprise a large part of our budget. It's a win-win when you come visit Hearthside. You get to enjoy guided tours provided by our volunteers in period costume, creative programming, and interesting exhibits and we benefit from the admissions collected. Often times, we run
Raffles as well, which are also a big boost to the overall event revenues. Click here to see our
Calendar of Activities.
Your purchase in our
Gift Shop
also plays an important role in helping to preserve history for the next generation. Visit our Online Gift Shop
on our new website if you can't make it in to visit our shop in person.
Of course, we wouldn't exist at all without volunteers. We started 15 years ago with a group of volunteers and not a dime to our name. Volunteer help is always needed! There are a number of ways you can be involved, and time commitment is up to you. Click here to sign up as a Volunteer.
With all these choices, there is an opportunity for everyone to contribute to Hearthside's success one way or the other. 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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