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In This IssueIn This IssueIn This IssueIn This Issue Page 2 Wish List Page 4 Exhibit Preview Party Page 5-6 Historic House Tour Page 7 Family Day Celebration Page 8 Annual Meeting Page 9 Summer Programs for All Ages
Past Times Published by The Little Compton Historical Society ~ Summer 2015
Save The DatesSave The DatesSave The DatesSave The Dates
Exhibit Preview Party July 3 Family Day July 4 Annual Meeting Aug. 12 Historic House Tour Sept. 20 Cider Social Oct. 12
The ProjectThe ProjectThe ProjectThe Project For over a year LCHS volunteers and staff have been
researching a sampling of Little Compton’s historic
homes. The homes date from the 1680s to the 1950s and
each has a different
story to tell. The
goal has been to
learn the history
behind the men,
women, and
children who lived
in the homes—
owners, tenants
and servants—in
order to better
understand our
local history.
The result is a
collection of nine, highly-detailed, historic house
histories that shed light on Little Compton’s first settlers,
summer visitors, European immigrants, and even World
War II soldiers.
The ExhibitionThe ExhibitionThe ExhibitionThe Exhibition LCHS will feature these stories in this summer’s special
exhibition entitled The Stories Houses Tell. The exhibit
will share the sometimes-surprising lessons we can learn
from Little Compton’s old houses, including the inability
of married women to own property in previous centuries,
the inheritance of family homes by younger sons rather
than the oldest, and the frequent dividing and sharing of
houses by more than one household. The exhibit will also
explore the use of private homes as workplaces including
weaving, shoemaking, and seamstress shops as well as
dairies, hotels and
boarding houses.
Hands-on activity
stations will be
available for
people of all ages
to enjoy, including
a kid-sized, take-
apart, seventeenth-
century house
frame and an
oversized weaving
loom. The exhibit
opens to the public
on the Fourth of July and will run through Columbus
Day. Hours are Thursday through Sunday from 1 to 5
PM or by appointment.
Preview Party & Family DayPreview Party & Family DayPreview Party & Family DayPreview Party & Family Day An Exhibit Preview Party will kick off the Special
Exhibition on Friday, July 3 and will be followed by a
Family Day Celebration on July 4. Please turn to pages 4
and 7 for more information on those events. The
exhibition and Family Day have been generously
supported by a grant from the Rhode Island Council for
the Humanities.
The Stories Houses Tell Special Exhibition 2015
Continued on page 3
President Dora Millikin
Secretary
Diane MacGregor
Treasurer
Jack Angell
Directors Claudia Cooley Bell
Shelley Bowen
Fred Bridge
Bart Brownell
Randy Byers
Piper Hawes
Richard W. Lisle
Richard Menoche
J. William Middendorf, II
Carolyn J. Montgomery
Christopher Rawson
Maureen Rego
Mike Steers
Paul Suttell
Caroline Wilkie Wordell
Robert Wolter
Managing Director
Marjory O’Toole
Administrator
Nancy Carignan
Newsletter Designer
Shelley Bowen Little Compton
Historical Society
PO Box 577
Little Compton, RI 02837
(401) 635-4035
www.littlecompton.org Wilbor House Museum
548 West Main Road Little Compton, RI 02837 (401) 635-4035
Page 2
SUMMER HOURSSUMMER HOURSSUMMER HOURSSUMMER HOURS
Wilbor House Tours Special Exhibition
Thurs.-Sun.
1-5 PM
or
by appointment.
Research
by appointment
Office Hours
Tuesday ~ Friday 9 AM ~ 3 PM
Summer HoursSummer HoursSummer HoursSummer Hours
Wilbor House Tours Thursday ~ Sunday
9 AM ~ 3 PM
Research
Educational Programs by appointment
Office & Shop Hours
Tuesday ~ Friday 9 AM ~ 3 PM
Corporate MembersCorporate MembersCorporate MembersCorporate Members Local businesses play an important role in the preservation and presentation of Little Compton’s history. Additional Corporate Members are always welcome. Please call 635-4035 or complete the membership form on page 10.
SEASON SPONSORSSEASON SPONSORSSEASON SPONSORSSEASON SPONSORS Briggs Beach, Inc. Lees Supermarket Spinnaker Real Estators
EVENT SPONSORS EVENT SPONSORS EVENT SPONSORS EVENT SPONSORS The Barn Restaurant Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyards Katharine H. Leary, CPA Gray’s Daily Grind Gray’s Grist Mill Law Offices of Michael J. Harrington Sparks Company. Inc. Jacob Talbot, Inc., Fine Homebuilder
SCHOOL PROGRAM SPONSORSSCHOOL PROGRAM SPONSORSSCHOOL PROGRAM SPONSORSSCHOOL PROGRAM SPONSORS Goulart Petroleum, Inc. Roger King Fine Arts Madden Electric Company Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute
CORPORATE MEMBERSCORPORATE MEMBERSCORPORATE MEMBERSCORPORATE MEMBERS American Classic Real Estate Arkins Construction, Inc. Beach Paint John M. Cotta, CPA Cotta & Associates Country & Coastal Properties C S & M Tele-Systems, Inc. Donald J. Dufour, DDS Fern Acres Funeral Home Franlart Nurseries, Inc. Gray’s Daily Grind Gray’s Grist Mill Grow Design Hearthstone Home Inspections Richard Humphrey, Attorney at Law Humphrey’s Building Supply Center Lamplighter, Inc. L.C. Creative, Inc. Mataronas Lobster Co., Inc. John A. Pagliarini, Jr., Esq. Partners Village Store, LLC Phil’s Propane William Raveis Real Estate Sakonnet Lobster Co. Sayles Livingston Design Serena’s Studio Richard Sisson, Jr. Lawn & Garden Dennis Talbot, Inc. Walker’s Roadside Stand Wilbur’s General Store, Inc. Windy Hill Nurseries, Inc. Wishing Stone Farm
Antique or Vintage Items
To be sold in our Antique Sale to benefit
the Historical Society.
Antique Items with
Little Compton Histories
For possible inclusion in our permanent
collection. The Collections Committee will
review each item.
Digital Images of Family Photographs
Your clearly labeled photographs may help
us identify the hundreds of unidentified
photos in our collection.
Digital Images of Early Documents
Scans or photographs of original deeds, wills,
inventories, bonds, contracts, indentures,
manumissions, etc.
Obituaries, Funeral and Memorial
Service Programs, Copies of Eulogies
Help us document the lives of our
residents by sharing
information about your loved ones with us.
Written Histories
Record your Little Compton memories
and we will archive them.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Family Day—July 4
Docents
Receptionists
Wanted as gifts or loans!
The Historic House TourThe Historic House TourThe Historic House TourThe Historic House Tour This season’s highlighted activity is our Historic House
Tour of the nine homes featured in the book. The tour
will take place on Sunday, September 20 from Noon to
5 PM. The event is a major fundraising effort for the
Historical Society that takes place only once every five
years. Tickets will go on sale on July 4 and will also be
available on our website littlecompton.org. Advance
tickets are $35 and day-of-event tickets are $40. This
year for the first time the Historical Society will offer a
special Patrons’ Brunch at Wyndfield Farm, the home
of Board President Dora Millikin. The brunch will
feature a tour through several historic buildings on the
property including Dora’s art studio and Wren House,
the Millikin’s recently restored historic home that was
moved to their property from the grounds of the
Westport Rivers Brewery. Tickets to the Patrons’
Brunch start at $100 and include a House Tour Ticket
and a complimentary copy of The Stories Houses Tell.
Please see page 5 for more information on the Historic
House Tour.
Buy The BookBuy The BookBuy The BookBuy The Book The Stories Houses Tell has been a collaborative effort on the
part of several local researchers and writers. It includes a
chapter on the restoration of the Wilbor House Museum
by former Executive Director Carlton Brownell and an
afterword by renowned New England house historian
Marian Pierre-Louis with “How-To” advice on doing
your own Little Compton house history. The book will
retail for $12. LCHS members receive a $2 discount on
every book purchased. Readers may purchase the book
during the Society’s regular hours or may send a check
to PO Box 577 that includes $5 shipping and handling
for each book. You may also look for the book at local
retailers or on Amazon.com early in July. The Historical
Society will be selling copies of all their books at the
Congregational Church Fair and the Little Compton
Antiques Show. Borrowing copies will be available at
the Brownell Library.
continued from page 1
is participating in the is participating in the is participating in the is participating in the
Little Compton Little Compton Little Compton Little Compton Antiques Show Antiques Show Antiques Show Antiques Show
July 31July 31July 31July 31----August 1August 1August 1August 1
At Sakonnet VineyardsAt Sakonnet VineyardsAt Sakonnet VineyardsAt Sakonnet Vineyards
Please donate antiques and vintage items in good
condition for the Historical Society’s booth.
Antique & Vintage Items Needed Clean out your attics and barns and
please donate your items!
We will pick up at your home!
Donations are tax-deductible and proceeds benefit the
Historical Society’s programs and activities.
Call 635-4035. Page 3
Explore the Collection 24 Hours A Day
Visit
littlecompton.orglittlecompton.orglittlecompton.orglittlecompton.org
And click on the
OnOnOnOn----Line CollectionLine CollectionLine CollectionLine Collection
To browse images
and information on
over 13,000 items
related to Little
Compton’s History.
Ladies Bathing Suit
LCHS On-Line Collection
Exhibit Preview Party Please return this form to
LCHS, PO Box 577, Little Compton, RI 02837 by June 29
Please make checks payable to LCHS. Tickets will be held at the door.
_________ I (We) plan to attend Number Attending ______
Name(s) ___________________________________________________________________________
The amount of your gift over $30 per person is tax deductible.
____ I (We) are unable to attend but would like to make the following tax deductible donation. $_________
� Guests $ 30 per person
� Supporters $ 50 per person
� Sponsors $ 100 per person
� Patrons $ 250 per person
The Little Compton Historical Society invites you to their annual
Exhibit Preview Party Friday, July 3, 2015
6—8 PM
The Wilbor House Museum
Honoring the special exhibit and publication of
Hors d’oeuvres by Compton Catering & Clambakes
Open Bar: Wine, Beer and Soft Drinks
Historic House Tour
Featuring Ten Historic Sakonnet Properties
Goodrich-Strobell Cottage Head House Huntoon House Lunt House Marsh House Number Four Schoolhouse Seabury House Seaconnnet House Friends Meeting House Wilbor House Museum
Sunday, September 20, 2015 Noon to Five
To benefit The Little Compton Historical Society
Tickets on sale June 1 $35 in advance, $40 day of tour
Ticket sales are limited. Available at the Wilbor House, by mail or at littlecompton.org.
Rain or Shine
Children 12 and over are welcome.
High heels, photography, videography and food and drink are prohibited.
Patrons’ Brunch at Wyndfield Farm 1541 Main Road, Westport, MA 10 AM—Noon
Help support LCHS even more by attending the Patrons’ Brunch. Tour Wyndfield Farm’s historic buildings,
enjoy a delicious brunch and receive a complimentary copy of The Stories Houses Tell prior to the House Tour.
Seating Limited. Reservations by September 10.
LCHS 2015 House Tour Ticket Order Form
Patron’s Ticket—Includes Brunch at Wyndfield Farm, House Tour Ticket & Copy of The Stories Houses Tell ______ $100 Silver Patron ________ $250 Gold Patron
��
Advance House Tour Tickets ______ $35 Regular Admission
��
_____ Copies of The Stories Houses Tell $10 each + $5 shipping
��
Amount Enclosed $ __________
Name: ______________________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Phone:_________________________ E-mail: _______________________________________
Mail to LCHS, PO Box 577, Little Compton, RI 02837. Tickets orders received by September 10 will be mailed to you.
Orders received after that date may be picked up at The LC Community Center, September 20, 11:00 am—4 pm.
For Office Use Only : Tickets Numbers _____________
Head House Long Highway Built c. 1815 the Head House is a classic New England Cape-Cod-style house at the heart of historic Goosewing Farm. For much of the twentieth century the farm provided access to nearby Goosewing Beach. The property’s current owners, the Acebes Family, have recently completed a remarkably authentic restora-tion of the historic house with portals allowing visitors a view of its construction techniques. They have also creatively linked the historic Cape to a similarly sized and designed contemporary addition to provide comfortable kitchen and bathroom facilities. The farm’s stone barn has been recently restored providing views of the Atlantic Ocean that extend to Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands. The Head House restoration is one part of an award-winning architectural preservation plan for Goosewing Farm.
Huntoon House Sakonnet Point Road Incorporating the mid-eighteenth-century Bailey farm house, the Huntoon House features a number of historic fireplaces and a graceful front staircase. Twentieth-century additions including bay windows and a sun porch provide stunning views of the landscape from every direction. A graceful allée of Linden Trees leads to the house and is complimented by several gardens, one of which includes “The Trap” the site of several weddings. In the nineteenth century the property was known as the James Irving Bailey Farm. Bailey’s poultry was famous in New York. Much of his pastureland is now the “back nine” for the Sakonnet Golf Club.
Lunt House Fort Church East Reservation Built in the 1950s using two World War II buildings from the Fort Church Army Reservation, the Lunt House epitomizes Little Compton’s long-standing tradition of repurposing buildings. A barracks and an administration building were combined to form a summer home with spectacular views of Briggs Marsh and Richmond’s Island. The property was once part of the Peleg Bailey Farm. At first simply or even hastily constructed the house was the summer home of well-known publishers Storer Lunt and Margaret McElderry. Today after significant restorations, updates and additions, it is the year-round residence of the Brownell Family.
Marsh House Beach Street Resting on land that was once part of the Tillinghast Bailey Farm, the Marsh house is another example of the creative repurposing of Little Compton’s buildings. Originally built on the nearby beach as a beach club, the club house and two rows of bathhouses were moved back from the beach to their present location in the spring of 1938 to create a summer home for Alexander and Elizabeth Philippi. That well-timed move helped the buildings escape the destruction of the 1938 Hurricane. The house remains in the Philippi family today and is a well-loved family and community gathering spot for parties and holiday celebrations. Its impressive fireplace is made from stones collected on the beach.
Number 4 Schoolhouse West Main Road Originally one of Little Compton’s ten District School Houses, the Number 4 School House has been lovingly renovated into an inviting year-round home. The property features a backyard cottage that provides extra room for guests. The Town of Little Compton acquired the property via a Sheriff’s auction and used it as a school house until 1929 when the central school opened on the Commons. It has been a private home ever since. The Number 4 School was used for grades one and two in the 1920s and several Little Compton residents can still remember attending school clustered around its pot-bellied stove for warmth.
Seabury House West Main Road One of Little Compton’s very few Victorian homes, the Albert T. Seabury House was built in the late 1880s on a farm that has been in use since the 1680s. The original farmhouse was moved to the north to make room for the Seabury House and still exists today. The Seabury House retains its original Victorian-style character and now provides a comfortable country home for the current owners. A number of furnishings displayed throughout the house belonged to the original occupants. The property includes several original outbuildings including an impressive stone barn that is now being preserved for use as a family gathering space.
Strobell-Goodrich Cottage Bailey’s Ledge Constructed in the early-twentieth century this summer cottage was the retreat of Caroline Lloyd Strobell an author and one of the three female owners of the Communist newspaper The Daily Worker. Caroline loved her quiet Little Compton home built in “The Orchard” of the historic James Irving Bailey Farm. The cottage was soon joined by two other summer homes enjoyed by Caro’s family and friends, including her nephew Lloyd Goodrich the Director of the Whitney Museum in New York City. The Orchard was often visited by relatives Frances and Albert Hackett, both Hollywood screenwriters. The three houses in The Orchard are still owned by a Goodrich family member today.
Seaconnet House West Main Road
Now a large private home, often called The Palace, Seaconnet House was once an enormous hotel welcoming summer visitors to Little Compton in the 1840s. Henry Richmond deconstructed the hotel in 1863 and created the home much as we see it today. The Army took the property by eminent domain during World War II for use as officer’s quarters on its extensive Fort Church. The Richmonds were able to purchase it back and continue its use as a summer home. Shay Lynch has enjoyed the property as his family’s summer home for over forty years. The house features a dancing staircase, a sunroom addition built to resemble a ship’s overturned hull, and a “HaHa” or sunken garden.
Friends Meeting House West Main Road The Friends Meeting House was rebuilt in 1815 after a terrible hurricane damaged its c. 1700 predecessor. As they often did in Little Compton and in other early-America communities, builders reused many of the eighteenth-century materials in the new structure. The building features two separate entrances, one for women and one for men, and has a drop-down wall that creates two separate worship spaces. The separate spaces were a sign of equality and respect between men and women.
Wilbor House Museum West Main Road One of the oldest surviving homes in Little Compton, the earliest rooms of the Wilbor House were built c. 1690 by Samuel and Mary Wilbor. Additions followed in 1740 and 1860. The Wilbor House has been home to almost 100 different people since 1690 including indentured servants, school teachers, Portuguese immigrants and twentieth-century tenants. A special exhibition, The Stories Houses Tell, will be on display in the Archival Barn.
Saturday, July 4
12—4 PM
The Wilbor House Museum
Free and Open to the Public
Celebrating the Opening of the
2015 Special Exhibition
&
An Old Fashioned Fourth of July
Free: Admission
Wilbor House Tours
Refreshments
Children’s Activities
Cake Walk Fundraiser
Contests & Trophies: Pie-Eating Contest
Skillet Throw
Watermelon Seed Spitting
And many more...
Sponsored by
Little Compton Historical Society
Annual Meeting Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday, August 12, 2015August 12, 2015August 12, 2015August 12, 2015
7:00 PM Business Meeting 7:15 PM Annual Lecture
Refreshments to follow
Little Compton Community Center
All are welcome. Free event.
New Stories from Old HousesNew Stories from Old HousesNew Stories from Old HousesNew Stories from Old Houses LCHS Managing Director Marjory O’Toole
will discuss the sometimes-surprising stories
learned in this year’s investigation into Little
Compton’s historic houses, from the role of
first-born vs. second-born sons, to the business
ventures of widowed women, to the lives of
indentured Native American servants. Re-
searching Little Compton’s historic homes has
provided new insight into our local history
and the lives of thousands of residents.
Special Exhibition 2015
Open to the Public
Free to Members
$5 Non-Members ($7.50 includes Wilbor House Tour) $3 Non-Member Children (Wilbor House Tour included.) July 4—September Labor Day—Columbus Day: Thursday—Sunday Saturday & Sunday 1-5 PM 1-5 PM
Private Tours for Groups of Any Size—By Appointment
Page 8
Sponsored by
For All AgesFor All AgesFor All AgesFor All Ages Night at the MuseumNight at the MuseumNight at the MuseumNight at the Museum
Thursday, July 23 & Tuesday, August 18 Thursday, July 23 & Tuesday, August 18 Thursday, July 23 & Tuesday, August 18 Thursday, July 23 & Tuesday, August 18 5 to 8 PM5 to 8 PM5 to 8 PM5 to 8 PM
The Wilbor House and the Special Exhibition will
be open late for visitors of all ages to enjoy a guided
lantern lit tour of one of Little Compton’s oldest
surviving homes and a visit to this summer’s special
exhibition, The Stories Houses Tell. A variety of old
fashioned toys will be available on the grounds for
your enjoyment, and samples of warm, Dutch Oven
corn bread and lemonade will be served while
supplies last.
Members Free Regular admission applies to non-members.
Walking ToursWalking ToursWalking ToursWalking Tours $5 LCHS Members, $10 Non$5 LCHS Members, $10 Non$5 LCHS Members, $10 Non$5 LCHS Members, $10 Non----MembersMembersMembersMembers All Ages WelcomeAll Ages WelcomeAll Ages WelcomeAll Ages Welcome Free Ages 6 and underFree Ages 6 and underFree Ages 6 and underFree Ages 6 and under Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Lost Landmarks on the CommonsLost Landmarks on the CommonsLost Landmarks on the CommonsLost Landmarks on the Commons Friday, July 24Friday, July 24Friday, July 24Friday, July 24 10 to 11:30 AM10 to 11:30 AM10 to 11:30 AM10 to 11:30 AM
Enjoy a guided and sometimes-surprising walking tour around the Commons searching for lost landmarks. Use 100-year-old images to uncover which buildings have disappeared and which have transformed into something new. Led by LCHS Managing Director, Marjory O’Toole.
Old Burying Ground Old Burying Ground Old Burying Ground Old Burying Ground Thursday, August 20Thursday, August 20Thursday, August 20Thursday, August 20 10 to 11:30 AM10 to 11:30 AM10 to 11:30 AM10 to 11:30 AM
Explore the ins and outs of Little Compton’s Old Burying Ground with the help of LCHS Managing Director, Marjory O’Toole. Locate the cemetery’s oldest engraved stone. Learn about Little Compton’s remarkable residents. Unravel the mysteries behind some of our most curious epitaphs and trace the history of gravestone fashion through time.
Summer ProgramsSummer ProgramsSummer ProgramsSummer Programs For KidsFor KidsFor KidsFor Kids A Day in the Life of Martha Wilbor A Day in the Life of Martha Wilbor A Day in the Life of Martha Wilbor A Day in the Life of Martha Wilbor Tuesday, August 25Tuesday, August 25Tuesday, August 25Tuesday, August 25 9 AM to 3 PM9 AM to 3 PM9 AM to 3 PM9 AM to 3 PM Ages 7 to 12Ages 7 to 12Ages 7 to 12Ages 7 to 12
Join us for an exciting day exploring the life of the first child born in the Wilbor House. Spin wool and weave like Martha would have done. Make friendship bracelets on a lucet and learn to make corn husk dolls. Bake treats in a summer kitchen and churn your own butter to top them off.
Minimum 6 kids, Maximum 12.
$$$$40 members, $50 non-members
A Day at Peaked Top SchoolA Day at Peaked Top SchoolA Day at Peaked Top SchoolA Day at Peaked Top School Tuesday, July 28Tuesday, July 28Tuesday, July 28Tuesday, July 28 9 AM to 3 PM9 AM to 3 PM9 AM to 3 PM9 AM to 3 PM Ages 6 to 13Ages 6 to 13Ages 6 to 13Ages 6 to 13
Enjoy an 18th century day in Little Compton’s first school house. Try on costumes. Write with a feather pen. Sew your own copy book. Learn about dreaded punishments. Bake a Dutch Oven treat and play school-yard games that children have enjoyed for centuries.
Minimum 6 kids, Maximum 12.
$40 members, $50 non-members
1. 3.
2.
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5. CallCallCallCall 635635635635----4035403540354035 to registerto registerto registerto register for any for any for any for any of the of the of the of the summersummersummersummer programs.programs.programs.programs.
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID Little Compton RI
Permit No. 30
The Little Compton Historical Society PO Box 577 Little Compton, RI 02837-0577
Return Service Requested Return Service Requested Return Service Requested Return Service Requested
Historic House Tour Historic House Tour Historic House Tour Historic House Tour Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 Noon to 5 PM Patrons’ Brunch Patrons’ Brunch Patrons’ Brunch Patrons’ Brunch 10 AM to Noon
Postal Customer
Membership With Benefits from
Coast to Coast Join or Renew Today!
LCHS participates in the
Time Travelers reciprocal membership program.
Your Historical Society membership card provides you with FREE
or Discounted Admission to 250 historic sites
all across the country! For a complete list of participating sites log onto
www.mohistory.org/content/membershipservices/timetravelers.aspx
or call LCHS at 635-4035.
As always you’ll enjoy local membership benefits including
free admission to the Wilbor House and our special exhibitions,
invitations to special events and advance registration for our most
popular programs. Most importantly, your membership gift helps
preserve Little Compton’s rich history for generations.
Members receive $2 off every copy of The Stories Houses Tell.
LCHS Membership □ Event Sponsor $250 & up
□ Program Sponsor $150
□ Supporting $100
□ Corporate $75
□ Contributing $50
□ Family $30
□ Individual $20
□ My Company will match my membership or gift. Completed matching form enclosed.
Please make checks payable to:
Little Compton Historical Society PO Box 577, Little Compton, RI 02837
Name: ___________________________
Address: _________________________
City: ____________________________
State: ____________ Zip: __________
Phone: ___________________________
Email: ___________________________
