Hearthside - The House That Love Built

"THE HEARTHSIDE STORY" IS NOW A SONG First Performance Scheduled for July 8th Concert

The legendary romantic tale of “Hearthside,” has now been captured in song by local singer and songwriter, Wayne Carlow. The song will premiere at a free Country Western concert scheduled for Saturday, July 8 th on the grounds of Hearthside. Believed to be the only song written about the house since it was built 196 years ago, “The Hearthside Story” is based on the tale of a young man who falls in love with a woman and with the hope of marrying her, he builds her a house with “white pillars in front, backed by field stone.” But, she rejects his house in the country, preferring instead to stay in the city.

“The Hearthside Story” song came about as a result of a casual suggestion made by Kathy Hartley, founder of Friends of Hearthside, to Wayne Carlow when she met him at Lincoln’s Memorial Day Parade just last month and learned that he was a songwriter. While he didn’t make any promises to write a song, he did get inspired and both the music and lyrics came to him later that evening.

A resident of Scituate, Rhode Island, Wayne Carlow began his musical endeavors some 14 years ago and has since written several songs and is hoping to record a CD in the near future. He is a member of R.I. and New England Country Music, the Rhode Island Country Music Horizons, and New England Folk Festival. A guitar, mandolin and harmonica player, Wayne has sung and performed throughout New England, many times on a volunteer basis for benefits.

“My wish for performing “The Hearthside Story” publicly for the first time is to do it on the steps of Hearthside,” says Carlow. His infectious enthusiasm for the efforts to preserve Hearthside and for this new song has inspired many of his musician friends to volunteer to join him for the performance. What had started as a one-man show has turned into an all-afternoon concert with five bands, all of whom are donating their performances for this historic moment in the town of Lincoln. Joining Wayne at the concert will be local performers Durango Mango, Ray Manning and Ed Ledoux, Val Leri and the Rodeo Cowboys, and Bernie Geary and The Swamp Yankee Hoedowners.

The concert takes place during Hearthside’s regular Open House, which is hosted by the Friends of Hearthside on the second Saturday of each month. The hours on July 8 th are being extended from 12 noon till 5:00 p.m., to allow ample time for touring the house and enjoying the music, making for a perfect family outing on a summer afternoon. While there is no charge for either the tour or concert, donations are strongly suggested.

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