The FHC is pleased to announce that it has received a $5,000 grant from the Framingham Co-operative Charitable Foundation matching a previous donation of $5,000 from Foundation for Metrowest. Both of these donations will fund our Civil War in Framingham 2011 initiative. Last week a group of 30 volunteers convened at the Edgell Memorial Library to begin planning for the Civil War Sesquicentennial which kicks off in April of 2011. A museum education consultant will be hired with this grant funding to help volunteers and staff develop Civil War exhibitions and programs using the FHC collections, buildings, and stories as well as the town’s sites related to the era of this great conflict.
We recently had a couple of items restored and were happy to have them back.
The first was an ox yoke from the colonial period.This piece was really heavy but our crew which included our very hands-on Executive Director, Annie Murphy and Researcher, Kevin Swope helped finish the job. At one point there were 5 of us lifting and adjusting (I wish I set the camera on timer mode to capture that) but it’s up and hanging in its rightful spot at the Academy Building.
We also had a pair of benches restored that reside at the Edgell Memorial Library. If anyone has had the experience of sitting on one of these you might have had the feeling of being on a ship since they were in pretty rough shape.
These former church pews have slowly been deteriorating to the point we could no longer have people sit on them, but we’re happy to report that they are back and ready to provide rest for all those who seek it when visiting Edgell.
Thanks to Paul Reidl of Reidl Restorations Services in Framingham for doing such great work!
Michelle McElroy
Operations Manager
This past Sunday was our “Bank On It” program. Arthur Fitts came in to talk about Framingham Banks and the history of local currency. It was a great talk about how the National Bank issued its own currency and Arthur pulled a lot of Framingham bills out of his pocket for display. It was fascinating to learn how this evolved into the currency we use today. We displayed some items from our own collection as well as items form Arthur’s collection.
We also did some re-arranging and are happy to report that even with a full-house, everyone had a seat for the program.
Thanks to Arthur for taking the time to come in and share his knowledge and to everyone for joining us!
Michelle McElroy
Operations Manager
African American History Roundtable
Thursday, February 18th 6:00pm
Edgell Memorial Library
3 Oak Street, Framingham
Our African American History Roundtable discussion begins at 6:00 pm tomorrow evening at the Edgell Memorial Library. This will be an informal gathering of interested parties to discuss the full range of our local African American History. While we will review what we have in the FHC collection to illustrate known stories and people, there is more that needs to be collected, researched and shared. Bring your interest in or knowledge of Framingham’s African American community – past, present and future and join the discussion.
Bank On It!
Sunday, February 21st 3:00 – 4:30 pm
Edgell Memorial Library
3 Oak Street, Framingham
Come and learn about the history of banking in Framingham from coin and currency collector Arthur M. Fitts III. Fitts’ long-standing interest in Framingham history, especially memorabilia, will enrich this program featuring Framingham paper money through roughly the past 200 years. He will also cover early banks in Framingham and by association the evolution of banking nationally.
You will undoubtedly gain a greater perspective on current banking practices at a time when they seem to be dominating the headlines.
Free to FHC members and $5 for non-members. To purchase tickets click here.
On Sunday night, at the Danforth Museum, the START Partnership unveiled their economic impact statement with much fanfare. The MC for the evening was none other than our own Executive Director, Annie Murphy who spoke about how the six organizations in the partnership currently impact the local economy and their projected impact over the next 10 years. For example, last year 22,530 people from outside Middlesex County came to Framingham to support the various arts and cultural activities. That number is projected to grow to 264,396 over the next ten years.
The organizations who contributed data to this study were the Framingham History Center, the Danforth Museum, Amazing Things Art Center, Framingham Public Library, the New England Wildflower Society/Garden in the Woods, and Performing Arts Center of Metrowest. Staff and directors were at the event as well and many spoke or hosted presentations by their organizations. Speakers included a full slate of our local representative delegation with State Senator Karen Spilka, Representative Pam Richardson and Representative Tom Sannicandro and Greg Liakos from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
There were mini-performances by the Performing Arts Center, story tellers and musicians as well as a video presentation on how the START Partnership members contribute to the arts and culture of Framingham. It was a great way to see what Framingham has to offer and how it’s only getting better! If you are interested in receiving a copy of the Economic Impact Study, please email me at michelle@framinghamhistory.org
Once or twice a year we have a program called “Street Smarts”, where we focus on the history of a certain part of town. On Sunday we held a Street Smarts presentation about the neighborhood around the Women’s Reformatory.
You may not think “Women’s Reformatory” and “neighborhood” would go together but it actually was the case at one time. Framingham residents Ellen Walker and Martin Mulvey grew up on the prison grounds because their parents worked at the prison and they shared their surprisingly fond childhood memories.
Our fabulous volunteer, Ronnie Cronin, who clocked many hours of research and is also a childhood friend of Ellen Walker, started off the presentation with a brief history of how the The Sherborn Massachusetts Reformatory Prison for Women became the Framingham Women’s Reformatory (dropping “prison” from the title).
Ellen and Martin then spoke about what their childhood was like with acres of fields used by the reformatory for their own vegetable gardens and livestock. Martin remembered realizing why the fence was so much higher around the field with the bull in it (there to “service” the female cows) after he hopped over it. He also recalled playing in the giant bales of hay and eating all the strawberries he and his friends wanted while on the way to the apple orchards. Ellen told us about playing inside the prison with the superintendent’s niece and interacting with the inmates, who were never referred to as prisoners during their “temporary stay”. She was even in a play with the inmates and recalled how lovely and lady-like they all were. She never had a bad experience with anyone inside the reformatory. Below is a photo of Ellen in a prison production of an unknown play.
What I found most interesting was hearing about the Superintendent, Miriam Van Waters who sounded like a remarkable woman. She was a pioneer in criminal rehabilitation. She cared deeply about the inmates, the staff working at the Reformatory and their families.
Below is a photo of Miriam Van Waters and Eleanor Roosevelt during Mrs. Roosevelt’s visit to the Reformatory.
It was such an interesting program and I really felt enlightened by Ellen and Martin’s stories. A big thank you to them and everyone who attended and shared their memories as well.
Michelle McElroy
Operations Manager
As you may or may not know, there is a monthly History/Biography Book Group at Barnes and Noble which is organized by Dr. Mary Murphy, past President of the Framingham History Center. I didn’t even know these book groups went on until I started working here and when I saw the next few books in the line-up, I was excited to read them and attend the meetings.
So last night was my first book group and we were discussing “The Children’s Blizzard” by David Laskin. It’s about the devastating mid-west blizzard in 1888 which killed lots of children trying to get home from school that day. The discussion was lead by Ilene Hofrenning, a native of North Dakota and Director of Health Services at Framingham State College and her husband Chris.
Ilene is of almost pure Norwegian decent, like most of the people in the book and to have her describe what it’s like to live in North Dakota and the Norwegian culture helped me understand why people would want to live out there. After reading about the blizzard (and all winters out in the plains), lack of shelter and building materials, droughts in the summer, locust swarms the size of California (no joke!) which ate everything in their path and even just the solitude of being out in the middle of acres of field, it was rough living to say the least. It was really interesting to discuss this book and talk with Ilene, Mary did a great job of orchestrating the event.
I’m looking forward to the next one which will be discussing The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough on March 17th at 7:30pm at the Framingham Barnes and Noble. You can see other upcoming events on our events page.
Last night we had our monthly History Roundtable Discussion. This month’s topic was Sarah Clayes (also known as “Cloyce”) and the race to save her house which is located on Salem End Road.
Abandoned 10 years ago, the house is currently owned by a bank as part of a bundle mortgage which, as ridiculous as this sounds, is one of the major factors keeping anyone from being able to purchase the house. The cost to purchase the house is unknown but repairing the damage due to the elements and vandals will add a considerable amount to restoration (or even just to making the house livable) once it’s bought.
Some of you might be wondering “Who is Sarah Clayes, and why would anyone care about saving this house?” To sum up a tremendous story: Sarah and her two sisters (Rebecca Nurse and Mary Eastey) were accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trails. Both of Sarah’s sisters were hung and while she was jailed and awaiting her execution, Thomas Danforth (a judge in the Salem witch trials) felt sympathy for her and offered Sarah and her husband Peter refuge in Framingham. The home they built is the structure we discussed last night.
About 50 people came to discuss what they think should be done, possible next steps and just what having this home in Framingham means to them. Along with concerned Framingham residents, there was Glen Mairo (Danvers Historical Society Trustee), Elizabeth Hanahan (Towne Family Association President), Dianne Rappaport (author of The Naked Quaker: True Crimes and and Controversies from the Courts of Colonial New England), Ginger Esty (Framingham Selectwoman and married into the Eastey – now “Esty” – family) and Janice Thompson (Director of Institutional Advancement at the Boston Athenaeum) who has a clear vision of turning the house into a museum with a library for people to conduct historical research.
I was so impressed by the amount of people that not only knew about Sarah Clayes, but who cared so much about saving her home and the outpouring of community cooperation to do whatever they can to help with this effort. The Metrowest Daily News wrote a nice article about last night which you can read here. We will of course keep you posted on any developments with the Clayes house. Hopefully things will start to happen because the house doesn’t have much more time.
Michelle McElroy
Operations Manager
Jay Lander, Attorney for Ms. Harriet G. Ward, presents Executive Director Annie Murphy with check representing Ms. Ward’s bequest to the Framingham History Center.
This morning, Attorney Jay Lander presented me with a check representing a bequest from Ms. Harriet G. Ward to the Framingham History Center. Harriet was a member of the FHC, but I don’t think we ever met. Mr. Lander, who was Harriet’s attorney and knew her very well, described her as very interested in history, a silversmith, a collector, and a wonderful caregiver to her parents, aunts and extended family. With this gift, her care giving is extended to our community. It was totally unexpected and could not have come at a better time. While we have been gaining so much momentum around local preservation and programming, our annual fund has been hit by the economic downturn. It will allow us to continue our work uninterrupted while we also strive for sustainability.
According to Mr. Lander and others who knew her, Harriet was unassuming, liked to have a good time, and did not take herself too seriously — all traits I truly admire. I also admire her thinking of how important it is to give locally when considering planned gifts. The Framingham History Center depends on planned giving in addition to annual giving and I hope that you will consider this important community organization when you sit down with your estate planners or advisers. You can’t imagine how grateful we will be. If you have any questions about our Planned Giving Program, please call me at 508-626-9091 or email me at director@framinghamhistory.org.
- Annie Murphy
Executive Director
