HARBINGER
NE WS L E T T E R OF T HE WE S T P OR T HI S T OR I C AL S OC I E T Y www.wpthistory.org
po box n188, westport, ma 02790-1203, westporthistory@westporthistory.net
Fall 2012, vol.45, no.3 Letter from the Director
I am delighted to announce that, after many months of planning, Phase I of
stabilization work has commenced at the Handy House. This phase will address issues
of foundations, sills, re-shingling, and window repair. I anticipate that this work will
reveal more about the 300-year history of the house and I hope to be able to share
these discoveries with you during the next few months. It has been wonderful to
see our vision for the Handy House begin to take shape this summer and to welcome
traditional craftspeople and the community to the property. Archaeology at the
Handy House continues to uncover some fascinating features, and to provide some
extraordinary hands-on learning experiences for some budding or would-be archaeol-
ogists in the community. We are especially grateful to Historic New England for a
grant to support archaeology at the Handy House.
Over the summer many of you were able to visit our exhibition Room to Learn:
Westports One-Room School houses, which certainly provoked some interesting
reminiscences. The exhibition is ongoing and is open Monday and Wednesday 10 to 4.
Please look out for our annual appeal letter. Our annual appeal has particular urgency
this year, and our goal to raise $20,000 is both realistic and necessary to meet our
operating budget. The annual operating budget of the Society has grown with our
increased responsibilities and the continued expansion of our role in the community
including Second Saturdays at the Handy House, public archaeology days,
education programs and caring for our growing collection. As with all non-profits,
funds for operations must be raised largely from memberships and from our Annual
Appeal. Thank you in advance for your support!
Jenny ONeill
1
THE
opening doorways
Dr. Handys
Fundraising
Update
GOAL 1.8 MILLION
RECEIVED AND
PLEDGED $980,000
A grant from Historic New England was a much welcome boost for our Handy House
preservation project. The grant has supported the ongoing archaeology at the property.
Historic New England provides grants to small to mid-sized heritage organization
in each of the six New England states. The Community Preservation grants allow
Historic New England to work with organizations on preservation projects that
benefit the entire region.
WE ARE DEEPLY
GRATEFUL
FOR THE MANY
GENEROUS
CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE HANDY
HOUSE PROJECT.
PLEASE CONSIDER
MAKING A DONATION
OR PLEDGE TO HELP
US OPEN THE HANDY
HOUSE TO THE COMMUNITY!
One of the features identified during the
archeological survey is a lye leaching
stone or soap making stone. The irregular
shaped stone measured 4.2 feet by 3.4
feet. This was the second largest stone
used in the historic walkway north of the
house. Since a lye leaching stone would
need to be placed on a pile of rocks, this
stone had been moved from its original
location and placed in the walkway.
A lye leaching stone, or soap making
stone, is a large, flat stone with a small
circular groove cut into it. This circular
groove varied in size and had a small
channel cut into it. Often misidentified
(or possibly unidentified) lye leaching
stones were an important part of the
soap making process during the historic
period. The first step in the soap making
process is the making of wood ash lye.
This was done by placing a barrel with
its bottom removed on top of the circular
groove. The lye leaching stone itself was
placed on a small pile of rock. The stone
would be placed at a slight angle, with the
groove facing downward. A layer of straw
and twigs was placed inside the barrel,
which was then filled with potash. Water
was slowly added to the barrel, poured on
top of the ashes, until a brownish liquid
leaked out. This liquid was caught by the
circular grove, ran out the channel, and
fell into a collection vessel. This was the
first in the long and sometimes difficult
process of making soap.
(Extract from An Archaeological Inten-
sive Survey, Cadman-White-Handy
House by Tom Mailhot and Barbara
Donohue)
HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION GRANT
Lye Leaching Stone
LOCAL HISTORY
The Westport Historical Society is supported by donations from individuals, foundations
and businesses who care about preserving the special heritage of Westport. In addition
to joining the Historical Society as a member, please consider these other ways you can
support our mission:
CONTRIBUTIONS IN HONOR OR MEMORIAL GIFTS
Honor a friend or relative, commemorate a special anniversary or mark the passing
of a loved one with a contribution.
BEQUESTS
Leave a lasting legacy for the future by naming the Historical Society as a beneficiary
in your will.
CORPORATE MATCHING GIFTS
Please check with your employer to see if they offer a matching gift program.
BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS
The Historical Society offers local businesses many different levels of sponsorship
and recognition.
. TO THE FOLLOWING LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR THEIR SUPPORT
Tims Lawn Care
Country Woolens
Comfort of Touch
Sisters of Solace
Bradshaw Insurance
Lees Market
7
NEW ACQUISITIONS
The following are some highlights
of recent acquisitions. We are very
grateful to all who have entrusted
us with these gifts.
2012.026 DONATED BY NORMA JUDSON
Letters of Lydia Macomber, daughter
of John Macomber. Lydia was deaf,
and her letters recount her life in
Westport during the 1830s and her
education at the Connecticut Asylum
(at Hartford) for the Education
and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb
Persons, now known as the American
School for the Deaf.
2012.029 DONATED BY SUSANNE AND
RICHARD PECK
Planet Jr. wheel hoe
2012.034 DONATED BY MIKE AND
AMY CLARKE
Chautauqua teaching method desk
(shown below), butter churn
2013.002 DONATED BY JAN PELLETIER
Record book North Westport Parent
Teachers Association 1950-1962
2013.003 ANONYMOUS
Diary of Grace Babcock, 1891
LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY
THE CHARLOTTE FITCH BEQUEST
Charlotte Fitch and her family were
regular visitors to Westport since she
was a baby. She eventually lived to be
over 100 years old and spent her later
years entirely at Westport Point.
Charlotte was an actress and taught
at Smith College. Her booming voice
and theatrical style and fashionable hats
were her trademarks. There are several
interviews with her in the WHS DVD
files. Charlotte kindly remembered the
Historical Society in her will. We hope
that Charlottes example will encourage
others who like her wanted to see the
Societys work flourish into the future.
Jacks Landscaping and Lawn Service
Even Keel Realty
Grays Daily Grind and Grays Gristmill
Geraldine Millham Design
Partners Village Store
This Hillandale milk bottle was found near
the Head of Westport. Can anyone provide
information about this Westport dairy?
w e s t p o r t h i s t o r i c a l s o c i e t y
2 5 d r i f t r o a d , p o b o x n 1 8 8 , w e s t p o r t , m a 0 2 7 9 0
N o n - P r o f i t
U . S . P o s t a g e
P A I D
W e s t p o r t M A
P e r m i t N o . 2 3
membership levels
!"INDIVIDUAL $20
!"FAMILY $35
!"CONTRIBUTING $70
!"SUSTAINING $200
!"SPECIAL GIFT $
Please make check payable to and mail to:
westport historical society
25 drift road, po box n188
westport, ma 02790
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY STATE ZIP
PHONE
EMAIL
.
Handy House opening doorways DONATI ON FORM
Donation $
Please use my/our gift where it is most needed !, or for the following project:
CONTACT INFORMATION
DONOR NAME EMAIL
CONTACT PERSON (IF DONOR IS AN ORGANIZATION) EMAIL
STREET/PO BOX PHONE
CITY STATE ZIP
CHECK ENCLOSED !"(please make checks payable to Westport Historical Society)
OR CHARGE MY !"Visa !"Mastercard !"Amex
CARD NUMBER
EXPIRATION DATE
PRINT NAME OF CARD HOLDER
SIGNATURE
To donate securities or stocks or to make a pledge, please contact Jenny ONeill
at the Westport Historical Society at 508-636-6011.
Please list donation in publications as a gift from:
MAIL TO: Westport Historical Society, PO Box N188, Westport MA 02790
R E T U R N S E R V I C E R E Q U E S T E D
#