Having Fun With History!  That is the theme chosen for this year's programs, with offerings that appeal to young and old alike.  Along with the annual favorites, this year has some new features.  Just as soon as we can, Hearthside will open the season to bring you the programs we've planned.

Our opening exhibit, Toys From the Attic, is entirely new and is a perfect kic k-off to this theme, with hundreds of toys on display from the early 1800s through the 1980s.  The toys are arranged by decade as well as vignettes and show many toys that got their start some 70 years ago or more but are still popular with today's generation of kids.  The exhibit 

                                                    

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SEASON SPONSOR  

History was made at Hearthside last fall when  weaving returned to the 3rd floor attic space for the  first time since 1926 when Arnold & Katherine Talbot moved their hand weaving business, The Hearthside Looms, from Lincoln to Philadelphia.  

Not only did we get a great group of students for this inaugural class, but they had the very best teacher!  Dana Signe Munroe  loves to weave and was quite anxious to share her knowledge with the group.  She spent a great deal of time

studying the historic patterns created by Talbots in order to use them in her weaving lessons.  In her day job, Dana is Registrar at the Rhode Island Historical Society.

about all the prep work involved in getting the loom ready to weave, and then they were off and running with warping their looms and throwing their shuttles. Although the students used small table top looms rather than the antique floor looms, the results were just as amazing.

The class was so successful and enjoyed by the students that a "Weaving II" class has just gotten underway.  Another "Weaving I" class will begin once the advanced class has completed.  An announcement for that class will

be made later.  Anyone interested in the beginner's class may contact us to be sure to get onto the list, as space is limited to six students.

Our inaugural class of weavers were "crowned" upon the completion of their course!  From left to right are Juliette Matuszek, Barbara St. Germain, Dana Signe Munroe, Mary Baker, Diane Konicki, and Rhonda Chadwick.  Congratulations to all!  Arnold and Katherine would be so proud of you!

In the last newsletter, we announced the award by The Champlin Foundation of a  $33,030 grant to Friends of Hearthside for the purpose of protecting our collections.  The project has now begun with the construction of a  new archives space in the existing garage. This will provide a great deal of storage space, while also creating the properly controlled environment with the installation of a heating and cooling system that is essential for antique clothing, artwork, and artifacts.  Currently, our storage consists of space under eaves and in closets, and after 18 years of receiving donations of thousands of articles, there is simply no more available space.   The new space will have shelving for the special archival boxes we store our textile collections in , as well as a processing room  and tables for the preparation and cataloging of items.

And as anyone knows who has visited during the summer, the temperatures inside the house soar into the 90's and don't come down till the crisp mornings of the fall.  Those are not good conditions for antiques!   As part of the grant, blackout shades  have been installed on 30 windows in the house, which will help protect the furnishing and artifacts from the damage caused by sunlight.  The darkness has another great advantage....keeping the hot summer sun out and lowering the temperatures inside.  We look forward to some relief from the heat during our summer programs!

Protecting our collections is one of the most important roles we have as stewards of Hearthside and the invaluable antiques and heirlooms which have been entrusted to us.  Needless to say, we are THRILLED to be getting this new space and shades!

We are so grateful to The Champlin Foundation for once again providing a substantial grant for preservation of our historic resources.  In 2019, Champlin provided $47,000 for the Moffett Mill window restoration, which was a major factor in opening it to the public as well as the need to preserve the building.  

Hearthside goes into mourning for the annual exhibit of Victorian funerary customs.

 

Docent Karen Carloni stands amidst the exhibit of Victorian mourning etiquette in one of the bedrooms.  Photo by David Cruz	Docent Lou Doeg (aka the undertaker) demonstrates the procedure involved in embalming, using actual antique equipment, that would have been done bedside during the 19th century.  Photo by David Cruz
Docents Jenna Alessandro and Ellen Metcalfe await the arrival of the next group of visitors into the dining room where mirrors and the mantel are draped with black cloth and the table set with silver trays and wrapped funeral biscuits.  Photo by David Cruz	This 19th century memorial card with its elaborate cut work was brought as a gift to Hearthside by one of the visitors on a tour.  The majority of the Victorian mourning collections are  items that have been donated since we started the exhibit 9 years ago.  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 history of the Hearthside House and the Great Road Heritage Campus.