North Attleborough Historical Society

April 2010

Apr 09, 2010

April Meeting
On Monday, April 19, 2010, at 7:30 P.M., Patty Fanning of Norwood and Bridgewater State College will enlighten us of the life of Fred Holland Day. Born in Norwood, Day was the first to promote photography as a fine art.
Welcome

To new member Frances Anderson of North Attleborough.

Letter

This is an excerpt from a letter recently received by the Society..."Over eighty-one years ago, I attended the one room schoolhouse in the Oldtown section of North Attleboro. If I recall, each row of desks was a grade, and Miss McGivny was the teacher. No indoor plumbing. Girls' outhouse was on the left of the building and boys' on the right. We would bring our brown bag lunches across the street to the church...Miss McGivny would ring a handbell when lunch was over...On July 7, 1928, I celebrated my fifth birthday at the farm house next to the old Chateau Dreyfus, now the site of the Emerald Square Mall. When the stock market crashed in 1929, we moved to Pawtucket...I would walk to school either down Draper Avenue or Allen Avenue, quite a hike for a five year old." Kachadour Avedisian, Cranston.

Mark Your Calendars
Please circle Sunday, May 2. Plans are already underway for our May Breakfast and Open House. Breakfast is from 8:30 to 11:30 A.M. Open House at the Garrison will run from 9:00 to noon. Breakfast will include ham, eggs, muffins, hash browns, beans, juice, coffee, tea and homemade pies.

Please consider providing pies or muffins when our members call for contributions.

Other happenings in this area:

Apr. 12 - 7:30 P.M - Mansfield Historical Society - Then and Now, a photographic look at change in Mansfield

Apr. 15 - 6:45 P.M. - Attleboro Historic Preservation Society - Tour of All Saints Anglican Church

Apr. 15 - 7:00 P.M. - Old Colony Historical Society "Harbor and Home - Furniture of SE Mass." - Brock Jode

Apr. 15 to Aug. 28 - Old Colony Historical Exhibition - "Taunton, the Inland Port"

Apr. 18 - 1:30 P.M. - Blackstone Valley Historical Society - Blackstone Valley ephemera (maps, milk bottles, calendars, etc.)

Apr. 20 - 7:30 P.M. - Norton Historical Society - "Norton's Anniversaries"

Apr. 22 - 7:30 P.M. - Rehoboth Antiquarian Society, Carpenter Museum - "Preserving Your Family Treasures"

Apr. 27 - 7:30 P.M. - Foxboro Historical Society

Apr. 28 - 7:00 P.M. - Johnston Historical Society, 101 Putnam Pike, Johnston, RI - "Collecting Hot Wheel Cars and Accessories"

Apr. 30 - 6:00 to 7:30 P. M. - Falls Firebarn Museum Pasta and Meatballs Supper, Elks Club,

Bulfinch St., $9.00.



When planning what to write in this month's message, I needed to remember when it was that I became involved in the Historical Society and I think it was in the early 1980s. How fortunate I have been to have worked with only two pairs of curators: Dorothy and Bill Rice and Claire Harrison and Dorothy Conroy. Long tenures have resulted in stability for this Society.

Claire came on board in 1993. At our recent Board Meeting, Claire submitted her letter of resignation, which was accepted with deep regret but also extreme gratitude. But there is some good news for all of us. Claire expects to remain an active Society member and open house guide. Thus, she is only trading hats. And there is more good news. Dorothy will continue as co-curator for at least thirty more years. (Did she really say that or did I just hopefully make it up?)

So the Society is looking for a good person to fill some big shoes. The co-curators plan the eighteen third grade programs in the spring, the five programs in the fall, the decorating of the Woodcock House for the holiday fair, the open house in May, the opening of the schoolhouse for all trustees meetings, and numerous other events and activities. The small stipend that is presented is certainly insufficient for the time spent. This is a most valuable service and we all benefit.

The Bylaws state that the Board of Trustees appoints the curators. The Board believes the curators should come from the membership. Thus, the Board is looking for candidates. Should you want to learn more of the post, I am at 508-695-3349 or at 181 Fales Road, North Attleborough or at hale.james@gmail.com.

Should you be interested, please send a letter of intent to me. The Board would like to make the appointment on Monday, April 26.

Again, thank you, Claire. We have all been enriched by your contributions.

Jim