A most unique event is in store as members of the Massachusetts Old Colony Antique Phonograph Society visit Hearthside on Sunday, April 30th to exhibit several of their treasured antique phonographs. And since the phonograph is all about the history of recording music, we will be recording a musical performance of Hearthside's antique piano onto cylinders that can be played on the Edison phonograph.

The pieces on exhibit will include a Tefephon, an unusual Dutch-made machine that uses a spool of plastic ribbon for the recording; an Edison Home Model D; a Columbia-made Languagephone; a Victor II open horn disk talking machine; a Zonophone model A; and more, plus selected cylinder and disk records of historical political significance.

Our guest pianists are the exceptionally talented Leah and Christopher Trek, ages 11 and 13 respectively. Both are accomplished musicians, and have been recognized with awards from the New England Music Festival. 

Doors open at 1:00 with continuous admission until 3 p.m. The museum closes at 4:00 p.m.

Admission $10; $5 student age 10-17; under 10 and members free.  

Miss Downton Abbey? If you're like me and the majority of fans of this show who do, then you'll want to join in for this memorable afternoon of relishing in the grandeur of a formal tea, remembering the beloved characters of Downton Abbey.

This year, fashion historian Ren Antonowicz returns with a special presentation to delight us once again with sumptuous post-Edwardian fashions.   "Footwear and Fribbles" (shoes, hats and accessories) were just as interesting as the dresses and were as much of the lure of the show as the storyline and characters. 

Because of limited space, two seatings are offered. Seatings are 12:30 & 3:30 p.m.

Tickets Now on Sale.  Advance  purchase only.   Cost $34; $30 for members.

  

Email info@hearthsidehouse.org or call 726-0597 to reserve before they sell out!

Last month, we offered the first of our regularly scheduled weeknight guided tours, and our next one is on  Thursday, May 4th .  Visitors told us how much they appreciated having the opportunity to just come in and take a tour without crowds or special exhibits in place.  Through the tour, visitors learn about the history of the house and some of the families who lived here.  All three floors are included on the tour.  Only one group tour will be given, which  starts at 6:30 p.m .  The tour concludes by 7:45 p.m.  Admission is $10; $5 ages 10-17; members are free!

Enthusiastic volunteers fill the Music Room during the Annual Meeting. Photo by Bill McManus

On Saturday, March 25th, Friends of Hearthside celebrated the official start of its  16th year !  Our annual meeting is always a  great time of reflection on all that we've accomplished over the past year and to look forward to what's ahead in the coming year.  This one was no exception.  For those of us who have been around since the beginning, it was also a time to recall just how far we've come.  All because we have been fortunate to have a great team of volunteers behind us!

Highlights of our accomplishments from the last year were presented, among which were the $50,000 restoration of the porch roof and dormer, the launching of our new website, publication of our history-cookbook, and the acquisition of the Talbot Loom collection.  We welcomed some 3,000 visitors, and logged in over 8,000 volunteer hours at a value of $188,480!  Treasurer Emily Camparone reviewed our healthy financial position.  An Annual Report is in the works and will feature not only the review of last year, but a retrospective of the history of our organization.  To see two pages of the report, highlighting the accomplishments from last year and our financials, click here  2016 Accomplishments.

Sharing in the celebration was our Town Administrator, Joe Almond.  He didn't just show up to bring greetings, but more importantly to thank and recognize the hard work that our group does for the preservation of Great Road's historic properties.  He admitted that in the beginning he thought our group wouldn't last, but surprisingly it has, and it has flourished.  He is proud of what we do and credits us with bringing a great deal of activity to Great Road and heritage tourism to the Town. 

You could hear the gasps in the audience as he then unveiled the plans for the new  Visitor Center at Chase Farm Park.  The center will be built from a $400,000 DEM grant matched by a $100,000 appropriation from the Town.  It will be located adjacent to the stone garage (that had been the original dairy of Chase Farm) and behind the Blacksmith Shop.  The plans showed a community room, restrooms, and a covered outdoor pavilion for picnic tables.  The design brings in the look of the original barn that was there originally, but was lost in a fire in 1925.  This center will  enhance the offerings at Chase Farm Park, the new school house, and the Hannaway Shop and make group visits for day-long experiences possible.  Construction is due to begin shortly.   

Kathy Hartley and John Scanlon assist Joe Almond in displaying the plans for the new Visitor Center to be built at Chase Farm Park.   Photo by Bill McManus

Elections of board members also took place, with Jennifer Parent and Kirk Hindman joining the board as new members. Both John Scanlon and I agreed to serve another term.  Board members serve for  three-year terms. Currently, our board has 10 members.   At the Board of Directors meeting that followed the Annual Meeting, officers for 2017 were elected. The slate remained the same, with myself as President, John Scanlon as Vice President, Diane Prete as Secretary, and E mily Camparone as Treasurer.

	Kathy Hartley and John Scanlon present Volunteer of the Year plaques to Nadine Hancock and Michelle Scully.  Their names have been added to the previous winners on the plaque at the front entrance   Photo by Bill McManus.

 

Nadine Hancock  is our Gift Shop Manager and over the past year, she has done a most outstanding job with merchandising, making our gift shop a pleasant shopping experience for all visitors, especially with her warm smile and welcoming personality.  And our shop has actually made a profit!  

Michelle Scully's  enthusiasm for the 1920s was an important factor in the success of last summer's event, The Decade That Roared.  As a member of the planning committee, she jumped in and took on just about every role there was from research, writing, producing panels, securing donations and performers, and "building" our speakeasy.  Not only that but she served as a docent during the day, and switched over to a bartender for the Bootleggers' Ball in the evening.  The amount of time, talent and resources that Michelle gave to Hearthside during 2016 was incredible, especially with holding a full-time job as well.  And we know she'll continue to do great things as she takes on the role of Volunteer Coordinator for 2017!

Members of the Lincoln Budget Board tour the Pullen School House slated for restoration this summer.  An appropriation of $15,000 is being recommended for the town budget and will be voted on at the May 8th Lincoln Financial Town Meeting. Photo by Bill McManus

The Hannaway Blacksmith Shop (c.1880)  was relocated to Chase Farm Park in the 1980s. Friends of Hearthside instituted classes and demonstrations in hand forging in 2004.  The shop, which operates year round, is a huge success, drawing students from across RI as well as other states, including New Hampshire and New York on a regular basis. 

Last year, there were issues with the structural supports for the roof, which were immediately repaired by the Town.  At the same time, it became apparent that a new roof would be needed because of leaks.  Because it is necessary to follow historic structure standards when making repairs such as a new roof, the cost amounts to $20,000.  The Town is also requesting this amount be allocated in the 2017 budget.

We urge Lincoln voters to attend the May 8th Financial Town Meeting and show your support for these two very important projects that will complete this heritage area of Great Road!

The projects that we do during our closed period over the winter months spilled over into March, giving us a bit of a challenge in trying to fit it in between our opening dates.  The final project was to repair and paint the woodwork in the  master bedroom, which had been peeling, crumbling and stained from earlier water damage.  What a difference after the repair!  Good for at least another 100 years!  Special thanks to  Ivan Ake painters for another superb job....done in just two days, and to all our supporters for making it possible!

  

Crumbling plaster in the corner between the door frame and window seat was severe.

After repair, the wall is stabilized and looking new once again.

  

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.