Hearthside - The House That Love Built

RESEARCH REPORT COMPLETED ON HEARTHSIDE

On Friday, December 5, 2003 a historic structures report on Hearthside was presented to the town of Lincoln. The report was supported by funding from the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission and was commissioned by Friends of Hearthside, Inc., which was successful in securing the grant award of $10,000. The report was recently completed by students and faculty of Roger Williams University’s School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation. The report, in its entirety, is contained in three voluminous binders, which include information on all the families who have lived in the 19 th century mansion, its architectural history, paint analysis, and detailed drawings and photographs. Under the supervision of Professor Myron O. Stachiw, the project involved 13 students researching archives and repositories to collect information, as well as requiring the assistance of three professionals in the field of historic preservation. It took three semesters to complete the project.

Goal of Project

The goal of the project was to conduct an architectural conservation and conditions assessment of the building, to carry out historical research on the property to establish a chain of title, and to begin physical investigation and documentation of the building to establish a chronology of construction and alterations. This information will be useful to prioritize the repairs needed for the structure, as well as provide the basis for its historic interpretation for tours.

Secret Discovery

While the date of construction for Hearthside has always been stated as 1810, there is some evidence that points to a later date of 1815. There were at least six major phases of construction and alteration identified which occurred over the nearly two centuries that the house has been in existence. Through the physical investigation of the dining room fireplace and chimney, a significant discovery was made. Remains of a relatively rare Rumford kitchen were found within the chimney structure, consisting of at least three stew stoves and an oven, which is significant evidence for an early 19 th century, modern kitchen set-up, and the fact that these remains have many surviving elements helps to identify life at Hearthside during that period. Paint investigation provided information on early paint colors and helped in understanding the sequence of changes to the structure and in identifying early architectural elements. The investigation revealed that the window shutters on the windows are original.

Recommendations

The architectural conservation and conditions assessment identified a number of issues that require attention, and short and long-range plans of preserving and maintaining the house are included in the report.

The report recommends that Hearthside be used as a museum to educate the public about both the historical significance of the home and surrounding area, including the Hannaway Blacksmith Shop which will now be utilized as a demonstration platform to further the interest and education in that early trade.

Credentials

Well known in historic preservation communities throughout the country, Roger Williams University Professor Myron Stachiw, brings an impressive background to the project. He has served as historical consultant for the Mark Twain House, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, including research into Monticello, Montpelier and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. He was also a research historian and archaeologist for the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities and Old Sturbridge Village. He has received several awards for his work and has authored numerous publications and serves as guest faculty and lectures frequently around the country. Professor Stachiw expresses his feeling that this report was only a beginning and that it must continue. “The research effort is far from complete at Hearthside. While the report has served to provide an outline of the phased development of the house, it has raised many questions regarding the original configuration of the kitchen (now the dining room) and its fireplace and oven, as well as the sequence and date of construction of the rear ells. Additional investigation of the kitchen/dining room chimney must be undertaken, but the investigation should proceed slowly and cautiously with much planning and consideration of consequences along the way, as building archaeology is ultimately a destructive process. Documentary research must also continue in the future."

Comments

In attendance at the unveiling of the report was Penelope Mowbray, who with her family was the last occupant of Hearthside, and the family to have lived there the longest, 40 years, before the Town of Lincoln purchased the property in 1996. Mrs. Mowbray expressed her pleasure with the recent activities at Hearthside and her excitement about the research and the discovery of the report, stating, “We always wondered why the wall was configured in such an odd way and that there just had to be something back there!”

Commenting on the report, Chairman of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission and Executive Director of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Robert Billington stated, "Great Road is one of the outstanding landscapes of the Blackstone Valley where people can actually see evidence of a changing agricultural society into an industrial nation.  Hearthside is one of several unique structures that capture that moment in time.  With a small investment from the Corridor Commission, the work of the faculty and students of Roger Williams University, and the energy of Friends of Hearthside and the Town, we now have a document to help guide future preservation and provide the right stories to tell the public, not just the folklore."

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