A special feature concluded our Wedding Exhibit as we turned back to the days when everyone in the area worshipped at the Quaker meetinghouse just down the street.  An actual Quaker ceremony was held at the Saylesville Friends Meeting- house at which our volunteer, Bev Cournoyer, and her husband Terry, renewed their wedding vows on the occasion of their 17th wedding anniversary on April 21.  

It was a rare opportunity to experience this traditional Friends gathering. Our volunteers filled the meeting-house decked out in their 1860s attire.  What a sight it was to see all the hoop dresses, bonnets and top hats among the pews.  Several Quakers attended too as many had never seen a traditional ceremony. Everyone in attendance  signed the wedding certificate as witnesses just as traditions calls for in Quakerism.  

In preparation for the event, one of the historians from the Friends was able to locate a copy of the wedding certificate of Stephen Hopkins and Anne Smith, the grandmother of Stephen Hopkins Smith who built Hearthside. They were married at the Saylesville Friends Meetinghouse in 1755, making Governor Stephen Hopkins the step-grandfather to our Stephen, who was also very active at this meetinghouse.  Following the ceremony, guests gathered under the tent for light refreshments and toured the meetinghouse as well as cemetery where Stephen Hopkins Smith is buried.

  

Our latest donations are unique ones.  The first was the gift from  two donors to re-upholster the wing back chair in the Music Room.  It had been a gold striped  fabric which over the years had gotten quite worn and dirty looking.  Deb Paulo of D'Paulo Designs , one of our talented volunteers whose business is creating and planning special events, stepped up and offered to have the chair freshened up with new upholstery.  After selecting and purchasing the fabric, she brought in a re-upholsterer who specialized in vintage and antique  item s.  Briel Delmonaco,   owner of  Uniquely Chic Vintage , a custom furniture and rental business located in Lincoln, fell in love with Hearthside when she came to pick up the ch air, and decided to donate her services.  These two talented ladies make a great team and Hearthside is grateful to have been the beneficiary of their enthusiasm and generosity!

The other donation is a rare antique given by  Alice & Fred Reinhardt , members who have donated and loaned a number of items to Hearthside over the years.  This beauty is a rare late 19th century child's pump organ, and it still works!  Pump or gans had a relatively short history of just 30 years from 1865-1895 with the development of other forms of music delivery such as phonographs, music boxes, and improved pianos.  

Thanks to each of these donors for their generosity and thoughtfulness in adding to the museum with these gifts!

Over the past month we lost two members of our "family."  Tom Comer, a long-time member of Hearthside, passed away on March 5. Although living some 2 1/2 hours away in Conn., Tom and his wife Barbara were frequent visitors, and planned their weekend trips to Rhode Island to attend our special events throughout the year. They were a fun-loving couple and avid history buffs.  Tom's affection for Hearthside was incredibly strong, so much so that Tom spoke of his wonderful memories here right through his final days and it was included in his obituary.  We will miss him a great deal!   

Another heartbreaking note is the passing of  Valency Baro, infant daughter of Justin and Erin.  You may recall reading in the newsletter earlier this year about the love story of our two volunteers who married last fall and were excited to share the news that they were expecting.  Valency was born prematurely and sadly passed away at the age of one month.

It was pure decadence at Hearthside during April as we served chocolate, wine, and a five- course candlelight dinner as part of our annual fundraising events. We thank all who supported these events, from our vendors to our guests!  Enjoy a brief review through photos.

Even with a re-scheduled date because of a storm to April 4, there was a full house of chocolate and wine lovers for a most unusual tasting experience during Legendary Love:  An Evening of Chocolate & Wine.   Photo by David Cruz

The chocolate fountain was the "appetizer" for what was to follow in the formal tasting.   Photo by Bill McManus	During the reception, guests enjoyed a glass of Prosecco and learning about the basic process of making chocolate.  Rose petals covered all the tables.  Photo by David Cruz
Chocolatier Aura Fajardo, owner of Aura's Chocolate Bar, provided delicious heart-shaped chocolates with unusual ingredients such as lavender and honey, spicy mocha, and blueberry and sweet pea lime.   Photo by Bill McManus	John Scanlon on the far right explains his contribution to the chocolate menu....chili made with chocolate and a chocolate barbecue sauce that guests got to bring home to try.  Nayan Patel of Paul's Fine Wines and William Boynton of Horizon Beverage Company provided the wine pairings.   Photo by David Cruz
The setting sun shines in on the table awaiting guests at the Victorian Dinner Party on April 28th. The dinner party theme was the Talbots celebration for the return of  Ben & Gladys Chase of the Chase Farm from their 1921 honeymoon cruise.   Photo by David Cruz	The massive candlebra featured a floral centerpiece which was donated by Lincoln Gardens.   Photo by David Cruz
Guest chefs who prepared the five course dinner included (l to r) Bruce Tillinghast, John Scanlon and Deb Norman on the far right.  Volunteer Deanna Seardon helped in the kitchen with plating the dishes.  Photo by David Cruz	This couple reads some of the exhibit panels from the wedding exhibit as docent Janet Hook explains.   Photo by David Cruz
During the reception, guests learned about the White Star Line luxury ship, the Megantic, which Ben and Gladys Chase took for their honeymoon cruise. A promotional video made by White Star in 1921 that featured the attributes of the ship was shown on a monitor.  Photo by David Cruz	Items on display in the exhibit included honeymoon pictures and postcards from the various ports of call and luggage with White Star Line luggage tags.  Each guest received a luggage tag for their own journeys at the conclusion of the dinner.  Photo by David Cruz
Chief Justice Frank J. Williams (retired) prepared this delicious dessert, as he has done each year for our dinner parties.  It is called  Tarte de Fruit, or Fruit Tart.  All the menu items were selected as being from the era and could have been served at a celebratory dinner party such as this.  Photo by David Cruz	Soft candlelight provided the perfect atmosphere for enjoying food and cnversation in the re-creation of this dinner party that was held by Hearthside's Talbot family for the Chases upon their return from their honeymoon.  Photo by David Cruz

  

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.