FRIENDS OF HEARTHSIDE CELEBRATE RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In March of 2001, the first meeting of a group of volunteers, to become
known as Friends of Hearthside, was held. From that first meeting on, there
has been a high level of energy and passion directed toward preserving Hearthside
and to showcasing it to the public through a variety of unique events and
open houses. The level of success, especially in such a short time, has been
outstanding, as reported at the Annual Meeting held in November . Most notably
are the visitor numbers, close to 5,000 in 3 years, as well as the investment
that has been generated by Friends of Hearthside, some 3,000 volunteer hours
annually and well over $200,000 in cash and inkind donations.
The mission of the “Friends” has also grown and now extends
stewardship beyond the historic homestead to also include the preservation
of the neighboring Hannaway Blacksmith Shop and most recently, the Chase
Farm House, which is adjacent to the Blacksmith Shop. Clearly, Friends of
Hearthside has proven to be a moving force along the Great Road Historic
District. To keep this record of success going, we encourage more volunteers
to join in achieving even greater things in the year ahead.
HIGHLIGHTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2001-2004
- Incorporated as a nonprofit organization and received 501(c)(3) status
from IRS allowing for charitable donations; established memberships a nd
created newsletter.
- Research and production of Historic Structures Report by
Roger Williams University, documenting history of Hearthside’s families,
the architecture of the house, and a structural assessment, as a result
of a grant from the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage
Corridor Commission. Discovery of rare Rumford oven during research process.
- Awarded a total of over $125,000 in grants to address capital
improvements, includinga $51,500 grant from
the RI Historic Preservation Commission, $65,000 from The Champlin Foundation,
and $500 from Preserve RI.
- Received two $1,000 grants from the RI General Assembly:
one to establish an indepth Hearthside website: www.hearthsidehouse.org receiving
an average of 150 visitors per month which promotes Hearthside and Great
Road as a destination; and the other to reproduce of the original Hannaway
Blacksmith Shop sign.
- Organized core group of volunteers, developed tours, and
held numerous public events, resulting in an annual average of
3,000 volunteer hours or $48,000 worth of inkind investment.
- Special events have included: Civil War Re-enactment,
Spirit Communications, Traditional Teas, Fall Heritage and Traditional
Artisan Festivals, Garden Party, and Victorian Christmas Open Houses, and
fundraising events: Colonial Dinner, Victorian Reception, and Colonial
Winetasting at the Arnold House: result of over $14,000 in event
revenue.
- Serve as a catalyst in the Great Road Historic District by
coordinating openings of other historic properties.
- Attracted nearly 5,000 visitors since opening in 2001;
Opened 4 times in 2001, growing to 30 times in 2004.
- Reorganized the neighboring Hannaway Blacksmith Shop with
displaysof original tools, as well as
set up of a blacksmithing demonstration program and weekly
classes in hand forging.
- Hosted numerous public and private functions, including
Blackstone River Valley Heritage Corridor Commission, tourism directors
throughout RI, Town Clerks Association, political fundraisers, press conferences,
business meetings, family celebrations, and wedding receptions.
- Donations of several artifacts and furnishings to create a house museum,
including a 150 year-old loom, enabling the re-creation of Talbot Weavers
history at Hearthside.
- Creation of other sources of revenue such as opening a gift shop, raffles,
donation boxes, and adding costumed tour guides to private functions, thereby
increasing the rental fee and bringing in an additional $6,000.
- Formed collaboration with nearby historic sites (Arnold House, Kelly
House, Whitman House, and Blackstone River Theatre) to coordinate openings
together and promoting the area as a destination rather than single site
experiences.
- Initiated monthly Open Houses, attracting 30-50 visitors during each
3-hour opening. Costumed guides have enhanced the visitor experience during
the tours.
- Ongoing media exposure in both print and TV media to
increase awareness of Hearthside and Great Road, both locally, statewide
and regionally.
- Major restoration work begun on exterior of Hearthside:
roofline repair, roof rafters restored, preliminary engineering work to
determine movement along foundation. Initiated general maintenance plan
with Town for painting, tree removal, driveway repair. Masonry, chimney
and window restoration on schedule for early 2005.
- Active participation in education workshops for historic preservation
at the statewide and local level, and specifically of the Blackstone River
Valley Heritage Corridor Commission to promote linkages among historical
and cultural sites in the Valley for tourism and education purposes.
- Act as ambassadors to raise visibility of Hearthside
and the Great Road Historic District throughout the Blackstone
Valley and across the state to promote the importance of preserving our
heritage. Selected as outstanding example of preservation to participate
in Blackstone Valley’s application to the President’s Preserve
America Program; resulted in 24 communities throughout the Blackstone Valley
being named as Preserve America communities.
- Serving as a catalyst to develop the neighboring Chase Farm House,
a town-owned property left vacant for over 25 years, as a possible visitor
center/dairy farming exhibit. Successful application to National Trust
for Historic Preservation for $1,500 in matching funds to hire preservation
architect to study for reuse
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