Hearthside - The House That Love Built

FRIENDS OF HEARTHSIDE MARK SIX YEARS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Key Accomplishments

2001-2007

Background: Friends of Hearthside was formed in 2001 by Kathy Hartley, a lifelong resident of Great Road in Lincoln. Hearthside was purchased by the Town of Lincoln in 1996 and was not open to the public with the exception of 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.

  • Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) allowing for charitable donations
  • 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.
  • Secured furnishings and artifacts to make the house interesting and attractive for visitors.
  • Developed numerous exhibits including antique prints, a collection of vintage clothing, antique looms and spinning wheels, buggy, sleigh, wine press and still.
  • Developed volunteer corps of some 30 energetic volunteers who put in an average of 5,000 volunteer hours a year.
  • 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 10,000 visitors to Hearthside since forming in 2001.
  • Raised over $200,000 through event revenue, memberships, donations, grants, raffles, and even opened a gift shop.
  • Developed promotional brochure and website
  • 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.
  • Extended efforts to now include 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. 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 a pedestrian bridge built for access. Friends of Hearthside will provide tours when the property opens for visitors.
  • 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. Working with Town of Lincoln on the establishment of Elderhostels,historic district zoning for Great Road. 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.
  • Advocated for including Blackstone Valley history in school curriculum and is now one of 40 partner sites for curriculum-based programs in the Blackstone Valley.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Extensive ongoing media coverage, in print, tv and radio, has brought attention to Hearthside and Great Road, helping to create a “buzz”.
  • Volunteers dress in extravagant Victorian costume to add to the visitors experience and make it even more special.
  • 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.
  • Volunteers have been trained as Certified Interpretative Guides.
  • 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 conferences in Rhode Island and New England.
  • The Friends have quickly received widespread recognition for their efforts: 2007—Governor’s Award for Tourism; 2006---Preserve RIPreservation Education & Advocacy Award; 2005---The John H. Chafee Heritage Award; 2004---The Valley Breeze Good Neighbor Award.
  • Ted Sanderson, Executive Director of RI Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission recently commented, “Ten years ago Great Road was a lovely placeto drive through. Today, Great Road is a destination thanks to the efforts of Friends of Hearthside.”

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