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HEARTHSIDE HOUSE MUSEUM NEWSLETTER
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"The House That Love Built" Vol. 11, Issue 6 June 2017
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The persistent rains this spring reeked havoc on the fields of Chase Farm Park, including 5 inches that fell just days before the June 11th Fox Hunt at Chase Farm Park. Although it was a beautiful day, we were unable to hold our event as planned due to the soggy grounds....a major disappointment for so many, not just our guests but to all of us who have been planning it since January. It has been re-sc
heduled for the Fall, and we can only hope for a dry spell and a beautiful day so this unique event may happen.
June has been filled with activity and new visitors, including a tour by 40 fourth grade students from
Ashton Elementary School, a tour by 21
seniors from Fall River,
the American Girl Doll Tea Weekend, visits by a
tour bus company and a
travel writer, along with our
regularly scheduled guided tour. The kids had quite the time discovering how much fun history could be, from hitting the anvil with the hammer at the blacksmith shop to weaving a bookmark on their "straw" looms. I know they went home with memories which will last for years. I was particularly touched to receive a packet in the mail a few days later with thank you notes from each student with drawings of what made the biggest impact on them from their trip to Hearthside and the Hannaway Shop.
Plans for the
July 23rd 1904 World's Fair are nearing completion. While we may have said it before, this one really is going to be even
bigger and better and even more exciting than the first two editions in 2014 and 2015! We continue to make new connections and discover even more history than before to enrich our offering. It will definitely be
something not to be missed....and that is exactly what
Rhode Island Monthly magazine had to say in their write up in the June issue.
Sometimes when we're so busy doing what we're doing, it's hard to realize just how much people do pay attention to what is going on. I got quite the surprise when I opened up
The Valley Breeze
on June 8 to see an advertisement by
Blais Insurance
on the front page offering
Congratulations to Hearthside
on our recent recognition by Yankee Magazine in their "Best of New England" edition. How thoughtful and generous it was for them to do this!
Gestures such as the kids writing thank you's and Blais Insurance giving such public acknowledgement of our efforts really hit home as to WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO...
making a difference in preserving history and improving the quality of life in our community!
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Sun.. July 23
1904 World's Fair Tribute
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wed. Aug. 2
Meeting of the Friends of Hearthside 6:30 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 5
American Girl Doll Garden Party
12 noon & 2:30 p.m.
Thurs. Aug. 24
6:30 p.m.
1904 World's Fair Exhibit & Tour
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| HISTORY COMING TO LIFE AT CHASE FARM |
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History is coming back to life in a big way at the 1867
Chase Farm next to Hearthside. Everywhere you look there are shovels, staging, building materials, and lots of workmen as they work to transform the park with the restoration of the
Pullen Schoolhouse and the addition of a
Visitor Center at the site of the former barns of the Chase Farm. Completion of the projects are expected in the fall.
Friends of Hearthside has been working in partnership with the
Town of Lincoln throughout the schoolhouse project, insuring that historical standards are followed. Watch for more announcements soon about the school house and the programs we will offer there.
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Excavation at the schoolhouse doorway has been completed and the original steps are back in place.
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| The new chimney as seen from inside the school house will accommodate a working wood stove when complete. |
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The new chimney has been built at the school house, and in the background a view of the Chase Farm garage where the roof has been removed as part of the construction of the new Visitor Center being built by the Town of Lincoln.
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The foundation is prepared on the back side of the garage for the visitor center restrooms and community room. School house is in the background.
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Rendering of the Visitor Center as seen from the school house. The Center has been designed to mimic the original barn structure that had been located there. The garage, which was formerly the dairy of the original farm, has been incorporated into the structure as seen with the barn doors.
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View of the Visitor Center from behind the Hannaway Blacksmith Shop. A pavilion off the community room will offer picnic tables and shade for groups visiting the park. The farm house is seen in the background to the right.
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FOX HUNT TAKE TWO:
RESCHEDULED TO SATURDAY, SEPT. 16
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The Fox Hunt that had been cancelled on June 11th has been re-scheduled to Saturday, September 16th. Plan now to join us for an elegant picnic luncheon buffet, bagpipe music, lecture, and photographs with the hounds, horses and riders in their formal attire.
This event is a fundraiser for Hearthside and has limited seating. Tickets are $45.
The event runs from 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Watch for the announcement for ticket sales in mid-August.
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| MEET ME AT THE FAIR: The 1904 World's Fair Comes to Hearthside on July 23rd! |
SUNDAY, JULY 23RD 11 A.M. - 5:00 P.M
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You ca
n go to the beach anytime during the summer, but it's not every day that you can go back in time and get a taste of what the
Greatest International Exhibition
ever was like....the
1904 St. Louis World's Fair.
So mark your calendar now and be sure to make plans to attend this amazing event.
It's an ideal way to spe
nd a summer's day with the family
or friends.
With something for everyone, our World's Fair features nonstop activities outdoors, which provide a
glimpse of the types of experiences the visitors to the original fair would have had on "The Pike," the entertainment area of the fairgrounds.
Around the grounds,
there w
ill be
old-fashioned Arcade games
for the kids, a show about Jim Key the educated horse, a beautifully-restored brass-era antique car and a truck, artists painting, demonstrations of archery and sculpture along with a living statue, and more. Under the big tent will be
music from the period, belly dancing, and a circus/magic show. Strolling the grounds you may catch a stiltwalker, juggler, Mary Poppins, or a barbershop quartet seranding you with songs from yesteryear.
Chinese and Native American cultures
will be showcased,
different Rhode Island organizations
with relevant missions to the Fair will be represented, and a show of reptiles to see and touch adds to the experience.
Of course no Fair is complete without food, and the 1904 Fair welcomed many foods which became quite popular, such as
hot dogs, iced tea, Dr. Pepper, and ice cream cones.
Looking for more intellectual stimulation? A smaller tent will host brief lectures and presentations on various topics about the Fair and Rhode Island's legacy of achievement at that time.
Inside the museum, some wonderful
exhibits will be displayed throughout
, including dozens of carefully researched and attractively designed panels with interesting facts about the Fair, and particularly
Rhode Island's role as an innovative leader
and award winner in many areas.
We are fortunate to have had the support of the RI Humanities Council for the development of the panels in 2014 and 2015 making this exhibit possible.
The 1904 St. Louis World's Fair Society has been extremely supportive by providing us with everything we need to accurately portray what happened at that historical event.
This is truly a
community event
, and we want all to be able to participate! And thanks to our sponsors, we are able to keep the event quite affordable at $10 general admission; $5 ages 10-17; 9 and under free.
Many
new features have been added
to this year's event. A
special edition of the newsletter
will be sent out prior to the World's Fair with details on all the exhibits and schedule of performances so you can plan your visit. There is a lot happening so you should consider spending the day and not miss a minute of it. After all, it
won't happen again for another two years!
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR MAJOR SUPPORTERS:
 
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| VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR WORLD'S FAIR EVENT |
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Want to
attend the World's Fair event for free?
Volunteer to work at it and you will enjoy this amazing event as our guest. We need an army of volunteers to help insure a successful event and a great experience for all our guests. We expect well over 1,000 visitors that day so many hands are needed to help manage all aspects of the event.
Interested? Contact our
Volunteer Coordinator, Michelle Scully by
email as soon as possible.
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IT'S TIME FOR THE AMERICAN GIRL DOLL GARDEN PARTY
SATURDAY, AUGUST 5TH |
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Seatings at 12 noon & 2:30 p.m.
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An old-fashioned garden party is in store for young girls and their favorite American Girl Doll on
Saturday, August 5th
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Unlike the Afternoon Tea event, the Garden Party is more informal. Girls ages 5-12 gather under the tent accompanied by their mom or other relative, and enjoy activities that would have been part of a girl's life at the turn of the century.
Coming right after our 1904 World's Fair, the focus is on the Samantha character, whose story is from 1904. Samantha lives in a mansion, somewhat like Hearthside, and would have spent summer days gathering flowers to preserve, chasing butterflies, playing lawn games, and enjoying treats such as lemonade, cookies and other sweets. Hearthside's Garden Party offers similar activities so girls can experience what life was like for Samantha.
The party also features tours through the house where the 1904 World's Fair exhibit will remain on display. And no party would be complete with goodies to bring home so there will be prizes, raffles, a favor, and shopping in the gift shop for a special outfit or accessory.
Two seatings are available for this popular event: 12 noon or at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $30 for a child/adult pair; $20 for an additional child and $10 for additional adult.
Members receive 10% discount and availability to purchase tickets starting now. Tickets for the public go on sale July 5th by contacting Hearthside through e
mail
[email protected]
or call 726-0597.
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A TEA PARTY, A DOLL DRESS AND A LITTLE GIRL INSPIRE
PUBLICATION OF CIVIL WAR BOOK
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 We can never know the true extent of the impact Hearthside has on our visitors, but this is one story that has recently emerged that really demonstrates how far reaching the exposure to history can mean to a young person. And in turn, what can happen from there.
Back in 2011, 10-year old
Jasmine Chevalier came with her parents to Hearthside's Antiques Fair to pick up her tickets for the upcoming
American Girl Doll Tea. She became captivated watching a few of our youth docents playing the old-fashioned games of hoops and graces in the yard. Before her visit was over, Jasmine decided she wanted to become a docent at Hearthside.
On the afternoon of the tea party, Jasmine became totally hooked on the whole experience. She had her eye on the prize....raffle prize that is. It was a beautiful Civil War style ball gown for the American Girl Doll. Low and behold, she was the winner, and so was Hearthside as Jasmine became a youth docent shortly after. That Civil War dress led to learning more about the history of the Civil War, which was brought to life for Jasmine when Hearthside hosted two re-enactments during her time as a docent. Of course, she shared her excitement and newfound knowledge with her parents, Russ and Donna, who enthusiastically supported her and participated in our events.
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A doll dress similar to this one inspired Jasmine Chevalier, and her father, to delve into history. Each year, volunteer Barbara Stevenson donates a Civil War-style gown for our raffle at the Doll Tea.
Photo by Susan Gonsalves
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Life began to change for the Chevaliers when Russ was diagnosed with ALS in March of 2012. As the physical effects began to cripple parts of his body, he started
using photography as a form of therapy. With the Civil War conflict foremost in his mind from the experiences provided by Hearthside, he began to take particular notice of all the
Civil War monuments while driving through different cities and towns in RI, Conn. and Mass.
As he
photographed various monuments, he became fascinated with the
incredible artistry that was involved in creating them. After 15 monuments were photographed, he shared them with his wife, and she too became taken with their beauty. and suggested that he compile them into a book. With Donna's help, they planned it out. Donna did the
research, while Russ wrote the
narrative and the book became a reality. Just recently released,
Rhode Island Civil War Monuments is a full-color, artistic tribute to our state's heroes from that turning point in history.
The Chevaliers are already planning their next book which will be a multi-volume book on the monuments in Massachusetts.
Kudos especially to Russ for his courage and determination in pursuing this wonderful
documentation of art and history.
Rhode Island Civil War Monuments sells for $15 and is available in Hearthside's Gift Shop.
And to think it all started with a little girl winning that doll dress at Hearthside!
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A GLIMPSE OF RECENT EVENTS
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On Sat. and Sunday, June 3 and 4, Hearthside hosted its annual
American Girl Doll Tea weekend. Girls and their moms and grandmothers enjoyed an elegant tea party with many special features.
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Photos by Susan Gonsalves |
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Estelle Barada is surrounded by all kinds of dolls as the girls arrive for the tea.
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| Young Kelli Larson presents me with a beautiful Hydrangea plant with a thank you card for hosting her at the Tea. This was Kelli's third year coming to the Tea. |
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These young ladies were dressed for the occasion with hats, gloves and matching outfits for their dolls.
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A favorite activity at the Tea is to climb aboard the buggy and strike a pose with the dolls.
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A scavenger hunt game allowed girls to explore through the upstairs bedrooms and search out the doll scenes for similar objects found in the room.
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A beautiful bow in her hair was the perfect accessory for this elegant tea.
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It was a memorable afternoon of quality time spent with moms and their daughters.
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Kirsten, the doll character from 1884, is set up in her bedroom scene that was displayed in the nursery. The dolls and scenes were on loan from Lisa Minca from her extensive doll collection.
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On Monday, May 29, a contingent of volunteers marched in Lincoln's Memorial Day Parade. The two-mile parade stretched down Smithfield Avenue and gave us a great opportunity to announce our recent recognition by Yankee Magazine as "Best in New England" as well as the upcoming 1904 World's Fair event. Photos by David Cruz
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| Don't rain on my parade! Lynn Armstrong and Tatum Pelletier huddle under the umbrella as rain drops fell prior to the parade. |
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Marilyn Clement and Kathryn Lawrence wait patiently for the festivities to begin.
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Dave Cruz gave a brief thought to hopping aboard this bicycle and quickly changed his mind.
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News boys were a popular sight at the World's Fair and so Michelle Scully decided that is how she wanted to dress for the parade.
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| Leading off the Hearthside contingent was Tatum Pelletier and Kate Grist, carrying the banner celebrating our Yankee Magazine recognition. Lynn Armstrong, Christine Maino and Rhonda Chadwick with the Vote for Women sign are in the background. |
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Also not wanting to try to ride this big bicycle was Lou Doeg, who rolled it for the two-mile route. In the background is Estelle Barada and John Scanlon.
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As with most nonprofit organizations, members make everything possible. With so many great activities this year, becoming a member will allow you the benefits of participating in these programs with free tour admissions, event discounts and exclusive accessibility to our members only. With a reciprocal arrangement with other museums, our members are also offered free tours at certain other attractions.
Basic membership starts at $25 with benefits for one adult; or with family level at $50 for two adults, and contributor at $75 and up. The higher the level, the greater your membership benefits extend and the more support you provide to offset our operating expenses. Every little bit counts!
Click here to
Join as a Member Today and start enjoying your benefits right away. There's a full schedule ahead and you won't want to miss out. And of course, we appreciate your much-needed support!
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| As they say, there's always something happening at Hearthside...now more than ever!
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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