Job Hunt in Public Humanities: FW: Historic New England e-newsletter

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News

from

Historic New England

e-newsletter

January 2009

Reinvesting in city youth

On December 4, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley visited the Pierce House to present a $5,000 check in support of Historic New England's out-of-school-time programs in the Boston area, as part of the annual Asset Forfeiture Reinvestment Program. Students from the Irving School's Citizen Schools after-school program were on hand during the presentation. The children are taking part in a knitting apprenticeship in which they make baby hats for infants in neonatal intensive care. They are among several dozen groups from Boston-area youth organizations that receive free programming in photography, archaeology, and weaving, thanks to grants like this one. "This program allows us to fund safe alternatives to risky behavior," Conley said. "It's one way to ensure that city kids have the same access to healthy, productive activities as kids elsewhere do."

Celebrating Young Friends

On December 9, the Young Friends of Historic New England were graciously hosted by members of the Vose family at Vose Galleries. The private reception included viewing two exhibitions, Charles Hawthorne and Jerry Farnsworth: A Provincetown Legacy and John Whalley: An Inner Light.

Founded in 1841, Vose is the oldest family-owned gallery in America. Their youngest (and sixth) generation, Elizabeth and Carey Vose served as hosts, along with their parents Bill and Marilyn, and spoke about the gallery's history and the exhibitions. The event was a great success; more like it are planned in the coming year.

Next up for Young Friends is an after-hours tour and reception at Beacon Hill's Nichols House Museum. For information on joining Young Friends of Historic New England, please contact Caitlin Thiem at 617-227-3957, ext. 244.

A long winter's nap

Staff at the Phillips House recently tested newly acquired mechanical skills when they put two Pierce-Arrows, one Model A Ford, and five carriages to bed in the carriage barn.

All of the cars and carriages were dusted, vacuumed, and inspected for pests looking for a warm winter home. Trunks were checked. All removable cushions were extracted, wrapped in special plastic, and placed into quarantine for the winter. The battery of the Model A was removed and all fluids, including gas levels and antifreeze, were checked. Once every wheel spoke was inspected and every cushion wrapped up, the vehicles were placed under covers for a dark and peaceful winter rest.

Barrett House ice storm recovery plans

The December ice storm wreaked havoc at the beautiful rural setting surrounding the Barrett House. Fortunately, the main house escaped injury, but nearly every tree around it was damaged and most will require extensive pruning or removal. A huge tree at the front of the property fell on top of the wrought-iron fence, destroying a six-foot section. Property care staff plan to hire an arborist to assess the site, give recommendations about tree removal, and to help prioritize the scope of work. Staff are particularly concerned about preserving the allée of maple trees behind the house, which plays such a significant role in the landscape.

Traveling kitchens

The Hoosier cabinet from Castle Tucker traveled to Historic New England's Collections and Conservation Center for treatment in preparation for the America's Kitchens exhibition, which opens on June 11 at the New Hampshire Historical Society. The cabinet is unusually well preserved, with many original details, including canisters, jars, a sliding countertop, and hardware.

This is one of the many twentieth-century appliances undergoing conservation review for the America's Kitchen exhibition. Staff has also worked on stoves c. 1920 and c.1950, a monitor-top refrigerator, and an early twentieth-century ice box.

For regular updates on the exhibition and other Year of the Kitchen projects watch for information in upcoming newsletters and at AmericasKitchens.org.

Special member event

Contributing, Historic Homeowner, and Supporting members of Historic New England are invited to join Cataloguer Sarah Sherman on Wednesday, January 21, for an illustrated talk, Beads, Buttons and Brooches. She discusses highlights from Historic New England's jewelry collection, which contains more than 2,700 items dating from c. 1750 to the present, and the history of jewelry fashions and traditions in New England over the past three centuries.

Join us at the Otis House Museum from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Registration is required. Please call 617-227-3957, ext. 264, or email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org.

Plant of the month

Evergreen Amaryllis, Hippeastrum striatum. This wonderful little bulb is an amaryllis that does not go through a dormant period. The foliage stays green year round and it can bloom at least twice a year. It is native from northern Argentina to Mexico, and has a flower spike of beautiful true orange flowers with up to four blooms per spike. It is easy to grow - bright light and an average room temperatures are all that are required. The Lyman Estate Greenhouses carry a variety of sizes of pots with numerous bulbs, for $9.00 and up.

The greenhouses are open Wednesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (until 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays). For more information, call 781-891-4882, ext. 244.

Historic New England members receive a 10% discount, and Garden and Landscape members receive a 15% discount at the Lyman Estate Greenhouses. For Garden and Landscape membership information click here.

Historic house tenants

Historic New England seeks a tenant for an apartment located within the Barrett House, a historic house museum in New Ipswich, New Hampshire. The rent is $575 per month, plus electricity and $125 per month for heat and hot water. The tenant is responsible for limited security and property care duties. The second-story apartment has a full kitchen, living room, hallway with large storage closets, two bedrooms, one full bathroom, as well as the use of a barn loft for storage of lightweight household items. Off street parking for two cars is included. A full background check is required for all candidates. For more information, please call 860-928-4074 or email BarrettHouse@HistoricNewEngland.org.

Historic New England seeks a tenant for an apartment located within the Quincy House, a historic house museum in Quincy, Massachusetts. The rent is $900 per month, plus electricity, oil heat, and hot water. The tenant is responsible for limited security and property care duties. The two-story apartment has a full kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, one full bathroom, washer and dryer, as well as the use of a basement for household items. Off street parking for two cars is included. Pets are not allowed. A full background check is required for all candidates. For more information, please call 617-227-3957, ext. 256 or email LWalczak@HistoricNewEngland.org.

Program highlights

Gadgets and Gizmos Year of the Kitchen Program

Sundays, January 11, February 8, and March 8, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; Phillips House, Salem, Mass.; 978-744-0440. $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers.
What are those odd-looking gadgets in the kitchen? Who made them? How do you use them? Explore the Phillips House kitchen and experiment with the odd looking gadgets and gizmos that made life easier for the domestic staff

Meet the Author- Book Signing Year of the Kitchen ProgramThursday, January 15, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.; Governor John Langdon House, Portsmouth, N.H.; 603-436-3205. Free.

Celebrate America's Kitchens, Historic New England's newest publication, with a talk and book signing by author and Curator Nancy Carlisle. Innovatively designed and lavishly illustrated with drawings, photographs, and colorful ephemera from Historic New England's diverse collections, America's Kitchens describes what it was like to live with and work in kitchens that had none of the conveniences we take for granted. At the same time, the book analyzes the profound place of the kitchen in our own lives today. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.