North Attleborough Historical Society

September 2008

Sep 04, 2008

September Meeting

On September 15 at 7:30 PM, at the Little Red Schoolhouse, member Seth Hobson and his father, Jay, will take us on a historical visual tour of the Cushman Union Church in the Adamsdale section of North Attleborough. The church is celebrating its quasquicentennial birthday. Now , how many years is that? Come join us at the meeting and find out.

Capital Projects

There are two new storm doors on the Garrison House and new thresholds to both entry doors to the schoolhouse. Thank you to Claire Harrison for her gift of these doors.

Welcome

We welcome new member, John Kelly. Also, welcome to our newest members of the Board of Trustees, Judy Friend and Bob Rice. Both have long family ties to North Attleborough and to the society.

Necrology

Should anyone ever desire to read the many minutes of meetings from the many decades this Society has existed, the name LeStage would be front and center. The donations of time, treasures, and talents from the Lestage family are incalculable. The passing of Sue LeStage in the early summer is noted, and the Society expresses its sincere sympathy to the LeStage family and friends. The Society also notes with sympathy the passing of Bette Hemmingsen and Robert Greene.

Help

Efforts have begun on our Holiday Fair, this year to be held on Sunday, November 23. Another chairperson is needed. Sandi Burns has again graciously agreed to cochair, as has Heather DeMelia. But Heather's work schedule is going to have her away from North Attleborough for much of the fall, and someone is needed to work alongside Sandi. The good news is that this fair continues with many of the tables in place. The main efforts needed will be those of coordinating and making sure everything is on schedule. Are you the one who has been looking for some way to become more involved in the Society? Please call Jim Hale (695-3349) with your acceptance.

Thank You

Thanks to the Lanpher family and Nancy Campbell for helping to organize the yard sale to be held on September 13.

Congratulations

Kudos to Lynn Gariepy, the recipient of the William and Dorothy Rice Service Award for 2008. Lynn is one of those many contributors that make this Society so special.

Suggested Day Trip

Lost Gardens of New England and Cape Cod. Heritage Museums & Gardens, Sandwich MA (508-888-3300). Through October 31. An exhibit of reproduction drawings, watercolors, and photographs documenting vanished New England gardens.

President?’s Message

Happy New Year! Because this Society primarily follows a school schedule, it feels like a new year is beginning although the calendar might disagree. But this also means that summer is winding down. Things stayed lush and green around the property for much of the summer. Thanks to Claire Golembewski, Cheryl Kummer and the ladies of the Garden Club.

I'm sure that the third grade Plainville students have been told of their upcoming visits in October. What a wonderful annual event this is for area third graders.

If you are celebrating your quasquincentennial birthday, how old would you be? You would probably be listed in the Guiness book. Join us on September 15, in the schoolhouse, to listen to Seth and Jay Hobson tell us of the Cushman Union Church and its connection to our Little Red Schoolhouse.

The advent of fall always means an abundance of activities. Please be aware of all our events. I hope to see all of you at every one of them!

Jim


Sep. 11, 7:00 PM - Taunton Library - "Petticoats and Politics" - Mrs. John Quincy Adams

Sep. 13 to Nov. ??- Old Colony Historical Society exhibition - "Abraham Lincoln was Here? Stories of Taunton and the U. S. Presidency"

Sep. 13 - 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM - North Attleborough Historical Society Yard Sale. Dealer spaces available. No Society Table.

Sep. 13- 3:00 to 5:00 PM - Pawtucket Festival Daggett House, open house, Slater Park, Pawtucket, R. I.

Sep. 17 - 7:30 PM -Norton Historical Society - "100 Years Ago in Norton" - George Yelle

Sep. 20 - 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Rain Date for North Attleborough Historical Society Yard Sale.

Sep. 20 - 4:00 PM - Blackstone Valley Historical Society - 50th Anniversary - Film by Glenn Laxton

Sep. 23 - 7:30 PM - Foxboro Historical Society - "Foxboro Churches" - Jack Authelet

Sep. 24 - 7:00 PM - Johnston RI Historical Society - "Collecting U. S. Military Artifacts"

Oct. Date to be Announced - 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM - North Attleborough Historical Society Yard Sale. Dealer spaces available. Society Table if someone steps forward to run it. Duties would include finding other helpers, collecting items, cleaning the items, pricing them, setting up the space, selling during the day and cleaning up afterward.



Program 2008 - 2009

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
362 North Washington Street
P.O. Box 1102
North Attleborough , MA 02761
508-695-6680

OFFICERS

President James Hale
Vice President Nancy Campbell Secretary Elizabeth Mansfield
Acting Treasurer Joan Tinkham

TRUSTEES

Sandra Burns Muriel Crockett
Andrew DeMelia Heather DeMelia Diane Finnegan Judy Friend
Susan Galligan Robert Lanpher Ron L'Herault Marilyn McDeed Ross Pini Bob Rice

Curators
Claire Harrison Dorothy Conroy


DUES

Dues are payable in June. Members not current thirty days after the second notice will be dropped from the mailing list.


COMMITTEES

COLLECTIONS - Judy McCormack, Claire Harrison, Dorothy Conroy, Nancy Campbell, Marilyn McDeed, Beth Mansfield, Bob Rice.

DEVELOPMENT-Nancy Campbell, Heather DeMelia, Claire Harrison, Bob Lanpher, Don Ouellette

FINANCE - James Hale, Joan Tinkham, Andrew DeMelia, Bob Lanpher, Marilyn McDeed

GENEOLOGY- Nancy Campbell, Dorothy Conroy

GULSKI GARDEN - Cheryl Kummer, Claire Golembewski

HOSPITALITY - Diane Finnegan, Dorothy Conroy, Susan Galligan, Ross Pini, Muriel Crockett

MEMBERSHIP - Marilyn McDeed

NEWSLETTER (Smoke Signals) - Claire Golembewski

OPEN HOUSES - Claire Harrison, Dorothy Conroy

PROGRAM - James Hale, Sandi Burns

PROPERTY - Robert Lanpher, James Hale, Cheryl & Kyle Kummer, Ron L'Herault, Andrew DeMelia

PUBLICITY - Robert Lanpher, Sandra Burns

SUNSHINE - Heather DeMelia

WAYS and MEANS - Heather DeMelia, Judy Friend, Robert Lanpher, Sandra Burns

THIRD GRADE PROGRAM - Claire Harrison, Nancy Campbell, Dorothy Conroy

YARD SALES
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Rain Date: September 20, 2008
9:00 AM-2:00 PM

October Yard Sale
Date TBA

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
CHRISTMAS FAIR
IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE
November 23, 2008
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

MAY BREAKFAST
AND OPEN HOUSE
May 3, 2009
Breakfast
8:30 AM- 11:30 AM
Open House
9:00 AM - 12:00 noon

SPRING CLEANING
YARD SALE
Some time in May 2009
9:00 AM-2:00 PM

MEETINGS

Please see your copy of the SMOKE SIGNALS each month for more details of the meetings.

Monday, September 15, 7:30 PM
Happy Quasquicentennial Birthday
Cushman Union Church

Member Seth Hobson and his father, Jay Hobson, will take us on a historical visual tour of the Cushman Union Church in the Adamsdale section of North Attleborough. The church is celebrating its quasquicentennial birthday.

Monday, October 20, 7:30 PM
Exploring Psychic Phenomena
and Local UFO Sightings

It is always a pleasure to have member David Downs with us. On this evening, this unique presentation will offer us an opportunity to explore UFO and other psychic phenomena which have been reported in our area.

Monday, November 17, 7:30 PM
The Great Attleboro Fire
of 1898

Through a collection of pictures, maps, and clippings, George Shelton of the Attleboro Industrial Museum will take us through the great fire and tell of its lasting effect on Attleboro and the surrounding area.

Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 2:00 PM
New England Folk Art

Native North Attleborough artist, Elizabeth Friend, will discuss her study of folk art in New England, focusing on the development of early American folk art, 1776-1876.

Monday, March 16, 7:30 PM
When Women Went to Sea

History teacher and author of several books on Cape Cod, James Coogan, will take us to a time when Cape Cod might be described as wilderness. His presentation is a topic featured in his award winning book, "Sail Away Ladies."

Monday, April 20, 7:30 PM
A History of Blacksmithing

South Attleboro resident, Dan West, an active blacksmith, will discuss the evolution of blacksmithing, from before the Iron Age to the present. Dan will connect blacksmithing to this area, and particularly to Oliver Ames, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and others.

Date and Topic to be Announced for
ANNUAL MAY MEETING

OPEN HOUSES
To be scheduled

Members are invited to call
Claire Harrison (508-384-2082) or
Dorothy Conroy (508-695-6748)
to arrange a private tour of the Garrison House if they have guests from out of town who would like to see our house. Please call them
a few days ahead, if possible. There will be a small admission charge for nonmembers.


The North Attleborough Historical Society programs are supported in part by a grant from the North Attleborough Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.