Hearthside - The House That Love Built

Friends of Hearthside Celebrate 7 Years of Success

Key Accomplishments

2001-2008

Background: Friends of Hearthside was formed in 2001 by Kathy Chase Hartley, a lifelong resident of Great Road in Lincoln . Hearthside was purchased by the Town of Lincoln in 1996, however it was not being opened to the public except for one afternoon a year at Christmas time. Friends of Hearthside was formed to make this historic landmark accessible to the public on a regular basis and to help preserve it for the future.

Mission : Friends of Hearthside is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion and stewardship of Lincoln 's historic Hearthside Homestead as well as the other adjoining Town-owned historic sites along Great Road .

Here are the highlights of what we have done to meet our mission in the 7 years since Friends of Hearthside was formed:

Organization

  • Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) allowing for charitable donations
  • Developed volunteer corps of some 30 energetic volunteers who put in an average of 5,000 volunteer hours a year.
  • Raised over $250,000 through event revenue, memberships, donations, grants, raffles, and opened a gift shop.
  • Volunteers have been trained as Certified Interpretative Guides .
  • Professional approach to preservation and serving as a house museum by becoming members of National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preserve Rhode Island, American Museum Association and New England Museum Association.
  • Participated in focus groups and efforts for re-authorization of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor as well as supporting efforts to get the Blackstone Valley selected as a Preserve America community by the White House.
  • Part of a statewide network of historic sites for mutual support and cooperation.
  • The Friends have quickly received widespread recognition for their efforts: 2008—Nominated for Presidential Award given by Preserve America resulting in being a finalist in the top 20 projects nationally; 2007— Governor's Award for Tourism ; 2006--- Preserve Rhode Island Preservation Education & Advocacy Award ; 2005---The John H. Chafee Heritage Award ; 2004--- The Valley Breeze Good Neighbor Award.
  • Ted Sanderson, former Executive Director of RI Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission recently commented, “Ten years ago Great Road was a lovely place to drive through. Today, Great Road is a destination thanks to the efforts of Friends of Hearthside. ”

Preservation

  • Conducted Historic Structures Report to assess the house for restoration needs as well as provided much-needed research on families who lived there, in order to form basis for development of tours .
  • Undertaken significant restoration efforts, including window repairs, masonry work, roof rafter restoration, interior painting, portico repair, and installation of new drainage system. Also added a handicap ramp and landscape lighting.
  • Instituted preservation methods such as using monitors to measure structural movement, temperature and humidity, and archival storage for textile collections.

Promotion

  • Expanded from 4 openings in 2001 to an average of 50 openings a year ; offering a variety of programming …all with an educational focus on history. Programs such as Heritage Crafts Festival, Traditional Afternoon Tea, Civil War Re-enactments, Victorian Christmas, Native American Powwow, musical concerts and monthly Open Houses.
  • Have brought in over 13,000 visitors to Hearthside since forming in 2001.
  • Developed promotional brochure and membership materials
  • The Friends group has become active in both preservation and tourism, acting as ambassadors for Great Road and gaining high visibility throughout the state and Blackstone Valley . Partnered with the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and National Park Service to maximize visibility opportunities throughout the Valley. Ongoing cooperation and working relationship with Blackstone Valley Tourism Council to attract visitors and tours, such as Tour Rhode Island, Footsteps in History event, Elderhostels, meetings of organizations, family celebrations, and other small groups to include Hearthside and the Great Road as their location choice. Produced Great Road DeTour Map with BVTC to direct visitors to Lincoln .
  • Has served as a catalyst for additional tourism in Lincoln by forming collaboration with other historical sites in Lincoln, such as Blackstone Valley Historical Society, the Valentine Whitman House, the Kelly House, the Arnold House, and the Friends Meeting House. Also formed partnership with The Lodge Restaurant to provide discounts to visitors of Great Road sites.
  • Extensive ongoing media coverage, with several feature articles in print, TV, radio, magazines, books, and the internet has brought attention to Hearthside and Great Road , helping to create a “buzz”.
  • Developed a website and email newsletter for exposure and frequent communications to keep members and the public informed.
  • Volunteers dress in extravagant Victorian costume to enhance the visitor experience to step back in time.
  • Outreach across state and throughout the Blackstone Valley to raise awareness of Great Road and the preservation work being done there by Friends of Hearthside through participation in a variety of activities such as charettes for St. Ann's Church in Woonsocket, hospitality training in Providence, blacksmithing demonstration in Newport, Victorian Stroll in Pascoag, Memorial Day Parade in Lincoln, July 4th Parade in Cumberland. Also active participation in preservation and tourism conferences in Rhode Island and New England .

Stewardship

  • Secured furnishings and artifacts to transform the house into a house museum.
  • Researched and developed numerous exhibits including antiques, prints, a collection of vintage clothing, antique looms and spinning wheels, buggy, sleigh, wine press and still.
  • Extended efforts to other Great Road historic properties including Hannaway Blacksmith Shop, Chase Farm House and Moffett Mill:

•  Hannaway Shop , owned by the Town of Lincoln but had only been opened occasionally, now offers weekly classes and demonstrations in hand forging. Shop has been featured in a documentary about John Clarke and hosted the 2007 Regional Meet of the New England Blacksmiths Association.

•  Chase Farm House – also owned by the Town of Lincoln and has been vacant for over 20 years. This Victorian farmhouse sits at the entrance to Chase Farm Park . Friends of Hearthside is leading an effort to reuse the farm house as the site for a dairy farming museum and visitor center. Received grants to complete a feasibility study as well as the development of a site plan for the reuse of the farm house. Chase Farm Park is in an idyllic setting of rolling hills and meadows of the former dairy farm and is the site of musical concerts, Civil War battles, kite flying, Pow Wow, bicycle races, and passive recreation.

• The 1812 Moffett Mill has been abandoned since the early part of the 1900s but recently restored. All original equipment will be re-installed shortly and once a pedestrian bridge is built for access, which is scheduled for 2009, Friends of Hearthside will coordinate openings and provide docents.

  • Advocated for the inclusion of Blackstone Valley history in school curriculum and is now one of 40 partner sites for curriculum-based programs in the Blackstone Valley .
  • Working with Town of Lincoln on the establishment of historic district zoning for Great Road .
  • Developed a partnership with the Lincoln School Department to integrate Great Road history into the school curriculum of elementary, middle and high school to use historic sites in teaching as well as to develop interest in future stewards.
  • Instituted a regular program for the property to keep the grounds well maintained; planted gardens for added beauty.

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