There really is a Santa Claus!  Hearthside has just received a great number of wonderful antique furnishings as well as artifacts for our collection, through the generosity of our friends, Alice & Fred Reinhardt.  The Reinhardts, who are passionate about antiques and in fact were long-time antique dealers, are in the process of selling their home in Woonsocket.  Their Victorian-era home was filled with period appropriate antiques, all carefully hand-picked by them from all over the country, and all having a story about their history and how the Reinhardt's came to find their treasures.  To have to part with even one item was extremely difficult. But, Alice & Fred had an idea.  As a fairly "new" museum, they knew we had needs, and they had an abundance of items.  So it was a win-win situation that made both of us very happy! 

It was as overwhelming for us as it was for them.  We were invited to "shop" in their home, going from room to room and selecting just the pieces that would enhance Hearthside's collections.  Then, the biggest surprise of all was when Fred offered up his

passenger van to us.  Without hesitation, we gladly accepted.  This van is the answer to the challenge we've had in providing access to the Moffett Mill.  The only way we've been able to up to this point has been by having a shuttle bus.  But,that is only feasible during large scale events when the Town can provide it to us.  Now, we have our own shuttle bus that will make visits to the Mill possible on a more frequent basis.  The Great Road  Heritage Campus "courtesy van" will be ready to roll once our season opens in the spring!

The Reinhardt's have already given many gifts to Hearthside over the years,  selecting a particular item that they felt would be a good addition for us.  These have included items for exhibits such as the wicker coffin used during our mourning exhibit and various Victorian dresses, but also a child-sized pump organ.  Among the new contributions are Victorian lamps and a couch and matching chairs. 

                                                            

Words cannot express the level of gratitude we have for the Reinhardt's.   Their gifts to Hearthside are truly their legacy to preserving our heritage, and their memories.  I know they will visit us often and enjoy their seeing their "past" in new surroundings.  

We're delighted to announce that The Champlin Foundation has awarded the Moffett Mill a $47,150 grant for the restoration of the windows of the historic wooden mill along Great Road.

This relic from the early Industrial Revolution was built in 1812 by George Olney and closed around 1900 by the last owners, the Moffett family. The building was last restored in the 1990s. There are some 35 windows in the mill which sits alongside the Moshassuck River, just below Chase Farm Park. 

During the 19th century, the mill was among the first to have new metal-working technology, including a metal lathe and drill press powered by the water for making  tools and repairing vital machine parts for other mills and farms along Great Road. In the later part of the 1800s, the mill's work expanded into furniture making and wagon building. At the time of the Civil War, the mill's second floor housed braiding machines used to produce laces for shoes and corsets.

This grant is incredibly important to preserving this rare early American machine shop and we are very grateful for Champlin's support.   The Mill, which is owned by the Town of Lincoln, is managed as a museum by our organization and opened during Hearthside's special events.  With the donation of a passenger van, we do expect that there will be many more opportunities for touring the Mill in the near future.

It's been quite a year, packed with a variety of programs and exhibits that help keep history alive.  All of us are volunteers, and we do this out of a passion for preservation....not only of Hearthside and the other historic buildings alongside it on Great Road....but also of traditions, memories and stories from our past.  It isn't just about coming to take a tour though.  It's about making an impact.  With our programs, we hope to make new traditions, new memories, and new stories that will become part of many of those who enjoy an enriching experience when they come to Great Road. 

I know you care about preserving our heritage and the irreplaceable buildings that we are so lucky to have along Great Road.  Since you subscribe to this newsletter, you know the variety and quality of activities we offer, all in fun and unique ways.  And all those programs help raise revenue to be able to preserve these buildings where history took place.   

We appreciate your interest in following us, and now ask that you consider supporting us by making a gift during Hearthside's Annual Appeal.   It takes resources to continue to bring such quality programs and exhibits to our community.  Help us now with a gift of any size so that 2019 can be another great year of preserving our heritage.  Visit  www.tinyurl.com/Great-Road  to make a donation, or if you prefer send a check to Friends of Hearthside, 757 Great Road, Lincoln, RI  02865.  Friends of Hearthside is a 501c3 nonprofit organization so your gift is fully tax-deductible.

Thank you!  Your support makes a huge difference to our organization!

As part of our Christmas display, we had a Christmas Memories book on the library desk.  That was the room when it seemed that everyone stopped to exclaim, "I remember when..."  So we invited visitors to share their favorite Christmas memories by writing in our book.  It is heartwarming to read the variety of experiences, yet all with a common theme of "family" and "traditions."  That is what Hearthside has come to represent over the years.  It is clearly as much a home now, as it was for over 200 years with the 11 different owners who lived there.  The "family" is now the community....all the visitors who step inside and fall in love with it, as well as all the volunteers who work so hard to make such an exceptional place to visit.  

For some, like the Mowbrays, it was a personal journey in which they walked from room to room, recalling the many years of Christmas celebrations they enjoyed here as a family.  For others, it was discovering Hearthside for the first time and pledging to make a visit at the holidays part of their new family traditions.  And for many, Hearthside already has captured their family's heart and become an annual trek to visit the very best Santa and see the most amazing decorations in this beautiful home.

As the season comes to a close, enjoy reading below some of the Christmas memories recorded in our book and recall some of your own favorite memories.  In our next newsletter, I'll share more pictures from the season.

Drew Mowbray with his mother Penelope in front of the music room Christmas tree. Drew was visiting from his current home in Germany and surprised us with by taking part in the Dec. 9th tours.  Photo by Rhonda Chadwick

I magine visiting your former home and finding Santa there!  The Mowbrays took the opportunity to sit with Santa.  Wonder what was on their Christmas list?   Photo by Rhonda Chadwick "We were shushed upstairs on Christmas Eve, but if we laid down on the floor and peered through the banister, we could see the tree in the parlor and all the presents.  We put out cookies and milk for Santa in the front hall.  My father fed an interest in collecting by giving me so many neat buttons and buckles from the Civil War.  One year, I got a young boy's Civil War uniform.  I still have all of them."   - Drew Mowbray (grew up at Hearthside 1950s-1960s)

Making their first Christmas memory as a married couple was Jennifer Cote and Josh Perron of Lincoln.  Hearthside's parlor was the scene for "first look photos" prior to their ceremony, and our public opening on  Dec. 2nd.

Family traditions with today's generation are being made at Hearthside.  This family has had their children's Christmas picture taken each year since their first one was a year old.  Each year it seems the family has grown by another child!

 

 

"For me the excitement leading up to Christmas was almost as good as Christmas itself.  Opening pretty Christmas cards with my mother every day when the mail came was a highlight.  My favorite cards were those from the Mowbray's, especially the one of Hearthside showing the family in the house on Christmas Eve.  Each year, we went to downtown Providence for a day of shopping, a visit to the Outlet Department Store to see Santa, and then to Shepard's Tea Room for lunch.  Most memorable gift was getting an Easy Bake Oven and a Betsy-Wetsy doll in 1959." - Kathy Chase Hartley   Lincoln, RI   
 

"At about 12 years of  age, I received a Victrola and some 45's. When I came down Christmas morning, the music was playing compliments of Santa." - Linda Halpin, Seekonk, MA

 

"Sitting next to Santa here." - Jane Drolid, Pawtucket, RI 

 

"Christmas Eve, hanging up stockings with the whole family and every evening curling up with grandma to watch the tree lights before dinner in the big recliner." -- Wendy, Randolph, MA 

 

"Stumbling across this beautiful and festive home for the first time while picking up our first Christmas tree with my best friend I love." - April and Erick   Cerritis, CA 

 

"Family dinners with my grandparents. Going to Radio City Music Hall to see the Rockettes. Decorating the tree, trying to outdo my brother!" - Jenn Robinson, Bellingham, MA 

 

"We would always get a can of vegetables as a wrapped gift. This was a tradition in my family to say thank you for everything, even if it was a can of corn. We still continue this with family."--Helen L'Heroux, Woonsocket, RI 

 "Going Christmas caroling door to door." - Nancy Elderkin, Lincoln, 

 

"My all-time favorite present ever was my American Girl Doll, Kirsten. She inspired my love of history and led me to my current career in museums. Sometimes a simple child's toy can be life changing."-Jenna Alessandro, Pawtucket, RI 

 "I was born and raised in Rhode Island, moving away when I was 24.  Now at 42, I have never missed a Christmas in Rhode Island, returning every year since 1999.  The Hearthside House and the history here is precisely why I return each year.  The magic of history and the warmth of the rich culture makes it all worth the trip."  - Jeremy Marguard, Pawtucket, RI (currently Miami, FL)  

 

"This beautiful house brought back lovely memories of mine and the families that lived here. Thank you and happy holidays!"-- Cheryl Holder, North Clarendon, VT 

American Girl Doll Collector and Hearthside volunteer Lisa Minca and her daughter Thea, gave a most informative and enjoyable presentation on what life was like for Felicity and girls during the 1770s, while displaying her Felicity doll and accessories as well as backdrop scenes.  Photo by Susan Gonsalves

The American Girl Doll event is a perfect occasion for grandmothers to have a special afternoon with their granddaughters, such as Allison Almond and her granddaughter Taylor.   Photo by Susan Gonsalves.	Parties are not only fun, but girls also love to dress up for them, often times dressing their dolls to match their own outfit.  Photo by Susan Gonsalves
One of the highlights of the party was singing Christmas carols.  And when they sang loud enough, it meant that they were successful in getting Santa to join them at the party.   Photo by Susan Gonsalves	The girls at the American Girl Doll Christmas Party had the first opportunity, with their dolls, to visit with Santa this season.  Hearthside opened to the public the next day.  Photo by Susan Gonsalves

While the "mouse house" is a hit with visitors throughout the year, it is only at Christmas that the Hearthside mouse family emerges from behind the door on the back staircase to greet visitors and celebrate the holiday.  This year another member of the family appeared.  Meecie Mouse joins her mother Rhodie Mouse and brother Vermie Mouse.  The mouse family was conceived and created by David Cruz, our multi-talented volunteer photograher who also took this picture.

  

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.