Fall, 2001

New & Noteworthy	Ground Breaking Event is Truly Great	From the Field
A Sharon Thanksgiving		Sidney Anne Buchmann: A Tribute
Sharon Limekiln		Building Blocks

More than 230 supporters of the Society gathered under the Big Tent adjoining the Museum grounds on Friday evening June 29^th, for cocktails and a Super Silent Auction.

The highly successful Great Attic Ground Break benefit, raised $16,289 and formally launched the Museum’s ambitious expansion project.   Detailed architect’s plans and a scale model of the addition to the gay-Hoyt House drew enthusiastic comments from the guests.

A variety of auction items, including a 17 ft. sailing kayak, a heirloom Christening gown and an antique diamond ring stirred lively bidding. As with many previous Society fund raisers, the Sharon Day Care Center prepared and served the cocktails and delicious food.

The Society is most grateful to the donors of the wonderful array of articles for auction:

             

		President Ed Kirby and Director Liz Shapiro announce the successful groundbreaking
		Justin Vagliano	17 foot sailing kayak
		Dick & Fran Roberts	Christening Gown
		Hammertown Barn	Upholstered armchair
		The Elemental Garden	Bronze Palm Leaf
		Mrs. Betsy Smith	Chinese Screen
		John Spencer Antiques	Oil Painting
		Mrs. Thomas Trowbridge III	Diamond Ring
		Mr. C. Carter Smith	French Bicycle Poster
		Passports	Antique Chinese Hat Box
		Mr & Mrs. John R.H. Blum   & Mr. & Mrs. Robert Yoakum	Watercolor by Ethel Halsey Blum
		Scandinavian Antiques	Three Hand blown Glass Bowls
		Ellen Sykes	Iron Wine Rack
		Mrs. Wilmer J. Thomas, Jr.	Porcelain Figurines Silk Pillows Pair of botanical prints Porcelain tea caddy “Tenderness Figurine” Pair of Porcelain Vases Pair of floral botanical Prints
		Treasures & Trifles Antiques	Figurine of a Young Woman
		Mr. William Trowbridge	Iron Fireplace Tool Stand
		Zane Moss Antiques	Samson Porcelain Bowl Victorian Shell Mantle Art Pair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thankful recognition should also be made to the tireless members of the fundraising committee:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hoover Trowbridge drinks from the Dog Trough, which will be carefully removed and replaced when the renovation is completed.

Society President Ed Kirby, expressing his appreciation to all who made the event a success, said “It was an auspicious ‘ground breaking’ for this long -awaited expansion, and the Building Committee is particularly appreciative of the part architect Bob Hatch and Museum Director Liz Shapiro played in it.” 

A Sharon Thanksgiving

Introduction by Marge McAvoy

One of the most valuable and interesting items in our archives collection is a copy of a letter written by Julianna Smith, daughter of Cotton Mather Smith, an early and influential minister of Sharon, and sister of John Cotton Smith, governor of Connecticut from 1814-1817. In the letter, Julianna, writing to her cousin Betsy in 1779, gives us a first-hand account of how Thanksgiving was celebrated by wealthy Sharon families during the Revolutionary War. Of course, the story of Thanksgiving is one well known to all of us, but a few quick facts might help to bring the following letter into better historical perspective.
The Pilgrim's first winter in Plymouth was a bitter one which they barely survived. The following year, 1621, they were fortunate to have an incredibly bountiful harvest. A traditional English Havest celebration, complete with feast, was planned. It lasted three days! The native people were invited because they had been so kind to the newcomers during the previous bleak winter. Although no one knows whether turkey was actually served (apparently the Pilgrims used the term "turkey" loosely to mean any type of wild fowl) there was plenty of food including a great harvest from the sea - lobsters, clams and fish, venison, berries, and vegetables. There was no flour or dairy. In many ways, Julianna's family feast described below was fairly traditional.
1623 brought another year of severe drought and the Pilgrims suffered. They gathered and prayed for rain. Their prayers were anwswered, and Governor Bradford declared another day of Thanksgiving, this time for the rain. They ate what they had on hand, and eventually, the two concepts - giving thanks for a good harvest, but also for their good fortune in the previous year - merged.
In 1789, George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving Day a national holiday. Not everyone approved. Current discord among the colonies was rampant, and the declaration of a national holiday provided further fuel for the fire. Many opponents felt that the hardships of a few Pilgrims a long time ago did not warrant a national holiday, but Washington prevailed, no doubt reminding them that they had a lot to be thankful for themselves! Jefferson later scoffed at the idea of the holiday, but it continued despite the opinions of what became the minority. Americans had begun their yearly celebration and obviously enjoyed the new tradition. Julianna's grandmother may have been in doubt as to the appropriateness of the Smith family celebration (ten years before the holiday was nationalized) but it sounds as if it wasn't too difficult for her to give in and enjoy it! They made do with the best they had, just as the earlier Pilgrims had done. No raisins? Cherries will do!
Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday. If you are interested in learning more about the first Thanksgiving, pay a visit to the websites listed at the end of this article. With a little advance planning, you too can replicate a feast reminiscent of the first harvest celebration.

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Sharon CT, 1779

Dear Cousin Betsey:

     When Thanksgiving Day was approaching our dear Grandmother, who is sometimes a little desponding of spirit as you well know, did her best to persuade us that it would be better to make it a Day of Fasting & Prayer in view of the Wickedness of our Friends & the Vileness of our Enemies, I am sure you can hear grandmother say that and see her shake her cap border.  But indeed there was some occasion for her remarks, for our resistance to an unjust Authority has cost our beautiful Coast Towns very dear the last year & all of us have had much to suffer.  But my dear father brought her to a more proper frame of mind, so that by the time the Day came she was ready to enjoy it almost as well as Grandmother Worthington did, & she, you will remember, always sees the bright side. In the mean while we had all of us been working hard to get all things in readiness to do honour  to the Day.

     This year was Uncle Simeon’s turn to have the dinner at his house, but of course we all helped them as they help us when it is our turn, & there is always enough for all of us to do.  All the baking of pies & cakes was done at our house & we had the big oven heated and filled twice each for three days before it was all done. & everything was good, though we did have to do without some things that ought to be used. Neither Love nor (paper) Money could buy Raisins, but our good red cherries dried without the pits did almost as well & happily Uncle Simeon still had some spices in store. The tables were set in the Dining Hall and even that big room had no space to spare when we were all seated. The Servants had enough ado to get around the Tables & serve us all without oversetting things. There were our two Grandmothers side by side. They are always handsome old ladies, but now, many thought, they were handsomer than ever, & happy they were to look around upon so many of their descendants. Uncle & Aunt Simeon presided at one Table, & Father & Mother at the other. Besides us five boys & girls there were two of the Gales & three Elmers, besides James Browne & Ephraim Cowles. We had them at our table because they could be best supervised there.   Most of the students had gone to their own homes for the week, but Mr. Skiff & Mr. - (name illegible) - were too far away from their homes. They sat at Uncle Simeon’s table & so did Uncle Paul & his family, five of them in all, & Cousins Phin & Poll.  Then there were six of the Livingston family next door.  They had never seen a Thanksgiving Dinner before, having been used to keep Christmas Day instead, as is wont in New York Province. Then there were four old ladies who have no longer Homes or Children of their own and so came to us. They were invited by my Mother, but Uncle and Aunt Simeon wished it so.

     Of course we could have no Roast Beef this three years back as it all must go to the Army & too little they get, poor fellows. But Nayquittymaw’s  Hunters were able to get us fine red Deer, so that we had a good haunch of Venisson on each Table. These were balanced by the huge Chines of Roast Pork at the other end of the Tables. Then there was on one a big Roast Turkey & on the other a Goose, & two big Pigeon Pasties.  Then there was an abundance of good vegetables of all the old Sorts & one which I do not believe you have yet seen.  Uncle Simeon had imported the Seede from England just before the War began & only this Year was there enough for table use. It is called Sellery & you eat it without cooking. It is very good with meats. Next year Uncle Simeon says he will be able to …(illegible)…to be taken up, roots & all & buried in the earth in the cellar through the winter & only pulling up some when you want it to use.

     Our Mince Pies were good although  we had to use dried Cherries as I told you, & the meat was shoulder of Venisson, instead of Beef. The Pumpkin Pies, Apple Tarts & big Indian Puddings lacked for nothing save Appetite by the time we got around to them.

     Of course we had no Wine. Uncle Simeon still has a cask or two, but it must all be saved for the sick, & indeed, for those who are well, good Cider is a sufficient Substitute. There was no Plumb Pudding, but a boiled Suet Pudding, stirred thick with dried Plumbs & Cherries, was called by the old name & answered the purpose.  All the other spice had been used in the Mince Pies, so for this Pudding we used a jar of west India preserved Ginger which chanced to be left of the last shipment which Uncle Simeon had from there, we chopped the Ginger small and stirred it through with the Plumbs & Cherries. It was extraordinary good.  The day was bitter cold & when we got home from meeting, which Father did not keep over long by reason of the cold, we were glad eno’ of the fire in Uncle’s Dining Hall, but by the time dinner was one half over those of us who were on the fire side of one Table was forced to get up & carry our plates with us around to the far side of the other Table, while those who had sat there were as glad to bring their plates around to the fire side to get warm. All but the Old Ladies who had a screen put behind their chairs.

     Uncle Simeon was in his best mood, and you know how good that is! He kept both Tables in a roar of laughter with his droll stories of the days when he was studying medicine in Edinborough, & afterwards he & Father & Uncle Paul joined in singing Hymns & Ballads. You know how fine their voices go together. The we all sang a Hymn & afterwards my dear Father led us in Prayer, remembering all Absent Friends before the Throne of grace, & much I wished that  my dear Betsey was here as one of us, as she has been of yore.

     We did not rise from the Table until it was quite dark, & then when the dishes had been cleared away we all got round the fire as close as we could, & cracked nuts, & sang songs & told stories. At least some told & others listened. You know nobody can exceed the two Grandmothers at telling tales of all the things they have seen themselves, & repeating those of early years in New England, &  even some in the Old England, which they had heard in their youth from their Elders. My Father says it is a goodly custom to hand down all worthy deeds & traditions from Father to Son, as the Israelites were commanded to do about the Passover  & as the Indians here have always done, because the Word that is spoken is remembered longer than the one that is written…Brother Jack, who did not reach until late Wednesday though he had left College very early on Monday Morning & rode with all due diligence considering the snow, brought an orange to each of the Grandmothers, but Alas! They were frozen in his saddle bags.  We soaked the frost out in cold water, but I guess they wasn’t as good as they should have been.

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WEBSITES OF INTEREST FOR HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ON THANKSGIVING OR TO HELP YOU PLAN A MORE AUTHENTIC FEAST:

SYDNEY-ANNE BUCHMANN:  A  TRIBUTE                                               

     When Sydney-Anne Buchmann died on May 20, 2001,  the Sharon Historical Society lost a valuable volunteer.  Sydney-Anne was Co-Curator of Textiles with me for over ten years. My expertise is in handweaving and natural fibers but Sydney-Anne was steeped in all aspects of the manufacturing of textiles of all kinds. So often Sydney-Anne would look at the fabric of a garment or fabric of some other item and immediately name the kind of weave - a twill, broadcloth, fine lawn, damask, etc.!

     After graduating from The Women’s College of North Carolina, and service as a lieutenant in the Navy during World War II, Sydney-Anne went on to North Carolina State School of Textiles, graduating with a degree in textile design. She had experience working as a designer for Dan River Mills in Danville, VA. Here she acquired the practical knowledge from the power looms, overseeing the weaving process through to the finished fabric!  Then on to the designing. Later she worked as a textile designer at J. P. Stevens in their New York office, putting customers’ requirements and ideas onto paper with all the information needed by the mill to weave the desired fabric.

     With our work, Sydney-Anne often could date a garment’s age because the fabric had to be more recent than a certain year because the kind of loom needed to weave that fabric had not been invented till a date she knew!  Sydney-Anne had a wonderful memory! She could remember some particular item we had written up months or even years earlier, very handy when we wanted to set up an exhibit or refer to it for some reason.

     We made a good team and we enjoyed working together.  Needless to say, I miss Sydney-Anne as a person and as my most helpful Co-Curator of Textiles at the Gay-Hoyt House / Sharon Historical Society.

Francoise Kelz

Sidney Anne Buchman, left, and Francoise Kelz, Co-Curators of Textiles, examine one of the antique dresses in the Society's collection [January, 1997]

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UPS AND DOWNS IN PROGRESS AT THE SHARON VALLEY LIME KILN PROJECT
Work now scheduled to start Friday, September 28, 2001

Ed Kirby

Those who have driven past the lime kiln in Sharon Valley recently have been treated to a view of the structure not seen for over forty years. With the brush and treesremoved from the site, the last monument to Sharon's industrial period stands much more clearly along Sharon Station Road.
Constructed by Chauncey W. Morehouse around 1881, the kiln has been the property of the Town of Sharon since 1941. Today, despite the ravages of time, the kiln stands as the only remaining monument to Sharon's one hundred seventy-six years of industrial history. When Morehouse began the operation of the kiln, the Sharon Valley Iron Company blast furnace was still in operation on the east side of Webutuck Creek and the malleable iron works was in production in the south end of the Valley.
Preliminary work by industrial archaeologist Victor Rolando began in May. After a general review of the kiln and associated sites east of Webutuck Creek, digs were concentrated on the east and south sides of the structure. At the south opening, large rocks were removed with a tractor and one stump was cut out by the Monroe Tree Company. During the same period, Steve Sopko, engineer with Zarembo-Sopko Associates of Troy, New York, met with Victor Rolando and project manager Ed Kirby at the site to gather data for the development of structural drawings and specifications. On June 25, a meeting was held at the kiln to review the preliminary plans. As a result of findings during the preliminary archaeological study, changes were made on the drawings of the interior. The revised plans were completed on June 29.
On Tuesday, July 9, Sopko, Rolando and Kirby met with prospective contractors at which time plans and specs were passed out and reviewed. The same day, Victor Rolando completed the preliminary archaeological study on the west opening. His archaeological work will resume when the excavation begins around the kiln.
When bids were received on July 20, they were above the proposed budget. Though a restoration contractor studied the kiln and proposed an approximate cost in 1999, even adding 20% to the figures for the interim period, we remain far below the bid submissions. Of the three restoration contractors, Ganem Contracting of Clifton Park, New York, presented the lowest price for the stablization and preservation of the kiln stack.

The margin between the budget and bids appears to be attributed to three factors:

• a greater increase in the cost of materials and labor than 20% over a three year period
• the failure of restoration costs to be affected by the current economic slowdown
  
• the fact that restoration contractors have more large projects, often funded by corporations or government funded structures such as Connecticut's Heublein Tower and Gillette Castle. As a result, these contractors currently are bidding much higher than previously on small "fillers" to pick up slack time.
• the uncertainty concerning the condition of the collapsed interior of the kiln and the cost of raising the top to original height.