“The Fabrics of Lives Lived” Lecture, Demo, Exhibit & Tours

As part of its ongoing honoring of America’s 250th anniversary, Hearthside Museum and the Great Road Heritage Campus will continue a special presentation series offering relevant topics about preserving our heritage. On Sunday, August 30th, the feature will be on safe ways to clean and conserve family fabrics and the stories that go with them.

Dana Signe-Munroe, who brings her years of expertise in caring for historic artifacts and textiles at the RI Historical Society at the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center, will discuss how to care for delicate family treasures in fabric, whether a quilt, handkerchief, sock, pillowcase, baby bonnet, sampler, crocheted doilies, embroidery, clothing, or knitwear. These family objects help tell the stories of the people who made them, owned them, and used them. They are passed from generation to generation as tangible proof of their lived experiences. The talk will include a hands-on demonstration on how to clean textiles in your own family collection safely and store them correctly for future generations to enjoy. The presentation takes place under the tent on the grounds of the Hearthside House Museum from 1:45-2:30 pm. Hearthside will be open from noon-4 pm with exhibit viewings before and after the presentation.

The museum's current exhibit, “We the People: A Journey Through Great Road’s History and Legacy,” is part of the America 250th commemorations, which offers unique perspectives on local people, events, and objects that shaped the nation’s history, including artwork, weaponry, uniforms, fashions, documents, and a variety of artifacts as well as informative panels throughout two floors of the museum. Visitors will have the opportunity to view the exhibit before the presentation through an early opening of the museum at noon and again following the program. Guides are in period attire, making this step back in time even more of an experience. There is just one more opportunity left to view this celebratory exhibit before its final closing on September 12th.

Also open for touring between 1-4 pm are the other historic sites of the Great Road Heritage Campus. One of the rarest survivors of the early Industrial Revolution is the Moffett Mill, built at the time of the War of 1812. Among the first wooden machine shops in the state, the Moffett Mill, was first owned by the Olney family and later by the Moffett family. Original tools and equipment remain in place at this former versatile job shop, which provides a real sense of a journey back in time to when the water-powered mill was still in operation. Access to the Mill is only by shuttle van that leaves from Hearthside at 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 pm.

Learn about what it was like to be a student during 1876 as the teacher taught about the centennial of the American Revolution at the Pullen’s Corner Schoolhouse, also known as the "Hot Potato School." This charming one-room schoolhouse was Lincoln's last one, where students from kindergarten through age 14 were taught by one teacher and with all ages together.

Bill Hannaway's Blacksmith Shop, which originally started as part of the Moffett Mill, continues to produce hand-forged items in the historic shop that once sat across from Hearthside. Today, it is at the entrance to Chase Farm Park, where every weekend students may learn the craft of hand forging in the same shop that served residents, farms, and businesses in this community during its early years.

Guests may choose options for their visit. Admission to the museum is $15 and includes tours of all the campus sites and the textile presentation. Attendance for just the presentation is $8; and for just visiting the Mill $5, which includes the shuttle van transport. Advance registration/payment is available through the website greatroadheritagecampus.org. There is no fee to visit the blacksmith shop. A suggested donation of $5 is appreciated at the schoolhouse.

Hearthside Museum is located at 677 Great Road, with parking available across the street. The Campus is located at Chase Farm Park, 671 Great Road, Lincoln, with parking available in the lot behind the blacksmith shop. For advance registration or more information, visit the Great Road Heritage Campus website at greatroadheritagecampus.org or info@hearthsidehouse.org, (401) 726-0597. "We the People" is supported in part by a grant from the Rhode Island Semiquincentennial Commission (RI250).