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Other Activities, Programs and News. |
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Activities and
News
Historical Happenings Fisher Schoolhouse Named One of 1000 Great Places in Massachusetts to Visit The Great Places in Massachusetts Commission revealed the list of 1000 Great Places in Massachusetts. The Committee reviewed over 12,000 nominations before choosing the top 1000. The Great Places initiative celebrates what is unique about the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, its communities and its people. The list includes historic sites, cultural venues and natural landscapes spanning all parts of Massachusetts. According to Eric Turkington, Chairman of the Great Places Commission, "his list of 1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts celebrates what a truly special place Massachusetts is. It reminds us how fortunate we are to have such a wealth of heritage, cultural diversity, and natural beauty right in our backyard." The Fisher Schoolhouse, headquarters of the Westwood Historical Society, at 830 High Street was chosen as one of the 1000 Greatest Places in Massachusetts. Built in 1845 the schoolhouse was named for Ebenezer Fisher, a prosperous local farmer, legislator and Revolutionary War veteran who had bequeathed $600 for its support. This one-room schoolhouse educated Westwood's children for fifty years. It closed in 1905 when enrollment dropped to 8 pupils. William Colburn purchased the schoolhouse and moved it from Clapboardtree to Milk Street, where it was used to store hay. In 1994 Roger Pierce transferred the title to the schoolhouse to the Westwood Historical Society for a fee of $1. In May 1994 the town agreed to lease the site at 830 High Street next to the Thurston Middle School. The Westwood Historical Society agreed to move the schoolhouse to the High Street site and to restore it to its 19th century condition. The building was moved to its High Street location in 1994. The Society raised more than $300,000 to cover the cost of restoration. The restored Fisher Schoolhouse opened in December 1999. The Schoolhouse has served as an important resource to Westwood. It serves as headquarters of the Westwood Historical Society and provides a venue for the monthly programs and exhibits. In 2000 the Society in conjunction with Westwood Public School, launched the 1800s School Days Program, a truly unique program that enables every third grade student in Westwood to experience a typical 1800s school day. This May marked the eleventh year the program was offered. The school day includes lessons from McGuffy's Reader, working problems on slates from Warren Colburn's "Intellectual Arithmetic," penmanship using quill pen and ink in their copybook, a spelling bee, and games of the period. More than 2000 Westwood third graders have attended the third grade program, which is staffed entirely by volunteers. This past year, 13 third grade classes spent a full day learning at the school. The Westwood Historical Society is currently involved in a major project to restore the Baker House, home of Betsey and Obed Baker, located at 909 High Street, which they hope to make an important resource to the town. To honor Betsy Metcalf Baker, one of America's first inventor/entrepreneurs, they hope to develop a center for the study of entrepreneurship at the Baker House and make this available to Westwood schools and residents. Their goal is to have the Baker House included as another location in the Great Places in Massachusetts. The list of 1000 Great Places is available on the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) web site at http://massvacation.com/1000/1000_places.pdf.
Westwood Historical Society Wins Grants Grant from Dedham Institution Charitable Foundation 2011 update The Dedham Institution for Savings Foundation is contributing $5,000 to the Westwood Historical Society. These funds will be used towards the restoration of the Baker House, a historical building that was the home of Betsy Metcalf Baker, one of America's first women entrepreneurs. The grant will be used to support handicap accessibility, including a ramp and a restroom that meets ADA requirements. Historical Society Receives Grant from Dedham Institution for Savings Charitable Foundation (see information article Obed Baker House)
Grant from Westwood Educational Foundation 2009 The Westwood Education Foundation awarded a multi-year grant to the Historical Society. The grant will help fund the development of a center for the study of entrepreneurship at the Baker House. The Westwood Historical Society will develop case studies and other materials to educate Westwood School children and residents on the subject of women's entrepreneurship in business in the early 19th century. The focus of this study will be Westwood's own Betsy Metcalf Baker, one of America's first inventor/entrepreneurs. Betsey was responsible for establishing a cottage industry that led to factory production of her own design of a fashionable straw bonnet. The teaching materials will be taken from the Westwood Historical Society Archives. Most of the materials were given to the Society by the Baker family that still lives in Westwood. The development of the course materials will be collaborative effort of the Westwood School Department, the Westwood Recreation Department, several local colleges and members of the Westwood Historical Society. The course will initially be taught at the Historical Society's Fisher School and eventually moved to the restored Baker House where Betsey lived and taught during her imaginative life. The Historical Society s pleased to have received a $2,000 grant from the Westwood Educational Foundation. The grant will be used for deacidification and archival framing of a large number of Margaret Philbrick's art works, recently donated to the Society by Mr. & Mrs. Otis Philbrick. Also included are many of Margaret's handwritten step by step processes. Irene Buonopane is coordinating with High School art teachers and students using some of Margaret's techniques. Grant from Local Cultural Council sponsored by Massachusetts Cultural Council In January, the Historical Society received grant approval from the Local Cultural Council (LLC) Program sponsored by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. LLC grants are made to all Massachusetts' 351 cities and towns to support community cultural activities. The grant will support our Cultural Outreach Program Series, including lectures, historical interpretations, and a baroque music concert. Grant from Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities. Bring Ideas to Life
In February, the Historical Society was awarded a Research Inventory Grant of $1000 from the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities. The Grant will be used for the Pickhardt Family collection, discovered in the attic of their Islington home on East Street by new owners. The collection includes three generations of original family art, poetry, essays, letters, diplomas, business records, Islington history and photographs. One of the photos is on the cover of "Images of America, Westwood." The collection adds exciting information about Islington and its residents from the 1880s to 1950s. The Westwood Historical Society is very grateful to receive this Research Inventory Grant. This program is sponsored in part by the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities. Certificates
Issued for the Historic Districts.
The
Massachusetts Historical Commission has recently issued two
certificates, one for the Fisher School-High Street Historic
District and the other for the Colburn School- High Street Historic
District stating their inclusion in the National Register of
Historic Places, as of June 16th, and June 9th, 2000 respectively.
The process was initiated five years ago when the application was
made for the Fisher School. We share a sense of pride that
Westwood's two Historic Districts have been listed. Antique
Photographs Sought. The Historical
Society is working on making a folder of photographs and information
on every historic house in Westwood including Victorian and early
20th century homes. The Society would like to be able to answer the
many requests for information, thus they are building a photo file
of early pictures of the houses in Westwood. If you have any photos,
they will be copied and returned if they are too precious to part
with. Of course, the Society would love the originals but are
delighted with copies. Ernie Greppin has photographed most antique
homes as a record in the year 2000. The Society received a grant
from the Westwood Educational Foundation to cover the costs of
materials. Permanent
Historical Society Sign.
Bay State
Federal Savings Charitable Foundation underwrote the cost for a
permanent sign which was unveiled as part of the House and Garden
Tour in June. Bank official Susan Kelliher spoke of the Foundation's
commitment to the community, and to non-profit organizations such as
the Historical Society. The Society is most grateful for the
Foundation's generous grant making a permanent sign possible at the
Fisher School. An "Open Today" sign will be added soon. Memorial Gifts.
Giving a gift to
the Historical Society in memory of a loved one is a lasting way to
remember them. The Society is grateful for these special donations.
Those whose memory has been recently honored are Deidre Patrick,
Gordon "Skip" McLaren, Henry McLaren, Isabella Nelson,
Alta McLaren, and J. Worth Estes. Fall Appeal.
Happily the
Fisher School is complete except for a few finishing touches.
However, the Historical Society needs funds to maintain the building
and carry out school and community programs. When your letter
arrives, please be generous so that the Society can focus on
preserving the historical character of Westwood. If you did not
receive a letter, you may send your check to the Westwood Historical
Society, P.O. Box 2575, Westwood, MA 02090. Dunlay Prints
Available.
Limited edition
prints of Tom Dunlay’s oil painting of the Fisher School are
available from the Historical Society. In recognition of the opening
of the school, Tom Aaron, who owns the original oil painting, has
collaborated with Tom Dunlay to donate a limited number of colored
prints, which are available on an order basis. All proceeds benefit
the Westwood Historical Society. The color prints are signed by the
artist and come in two sizes. The large 11x14 framed (Limited
Edition) sells for $200; unframed for $75. The small 8x10 framed
sells for $125, unframed $50. Also available is a charming 18x8
mirror with the 5x7 print set in the top section. The framing of the
prints can be customized to suit your decor. To order contact Joy
Sudduth, Secretary of the Westwood Historical Society, at
781-769-9379, or email www.westwoodhistorical@hotmail.com Collectible
Fisher School Cup Plate.
Have you
considered giving a cup plate to your mother or wife as a gift? To
celebrate the opening of the Fisher School, the Society commissioned
Pairpoint Glass Factory in Sagamore to produce a commemorative cup
plate. The glass plate is in the popular cobalt blue color and
features Margaret Philbrick’s drawing of the schoolhouse.
Originally cup plates were used in the early 19th century when hot
tea was served in cups without handles and poured into deep saucers
to cool. The tea was sipped from the saucer after placing the
tea-cup on a cup plate to protect the linen and table. Today, the
pressed glass cup plates are collectible as decorative pieces.
Pairpoint crystal is internationally renowned for its high standards
of beauty, quality, and craftsmanship. The collectible
cup plate sells for $12 at The Perfect Present and Decor and More.
The proceeds benefit the Westwood Historical Society’s programs
and conservation projects. For delivery, call Lura Provost at
781-326-1543 or Jackie Tauber at 781-320-8953.
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