No winter blahs here!

Visitation at the museum drops down in the winter but our parking lot is always full. Instead of showing guests around, our volunteers spend this time working their various pet projects. We have one person that is gathering all kinds of information from personal property books tracing ownership of the many hotels and business (and getting juicy tidbits of historical happenings); another is researching the Civil War soldiers in Hampton in preparation for our 375th celebration in 2013; while another is going through old records and bill heads from the Lane Store in Hampton Center. All this is happening while we “regulars” work on the cataloging of the collection and the day-to-day operation. With email and cell phones we don’t even let our vacationing volunteers off the hook. There is just nowhere to hide anymore.

We are wrapping up a project for the 401 Tavern on Lafayette Road- when finished almost 100 photos from the late 1800s – early 1900s will be on permanent display. Covering both town and beach activities; they are of the people, places and things that make Hampton so unique. They show vacationers enjoying the beach, the trolley that took these thousands of sightseers there, and images that capture life in a small town village. Most of these photos have not been seen by the general public.  A number of us worked on this project and we all had our favorites. It is well worth a visit to the 401 to see these unique photos (and have a great meal at the same time).

Last summer, Joshua Silveria, a high school history teacher, stopped into the museum. As a hobby he makes documentaries (award-winning ones I might add). Joshua became interested in the salt marshes that dominate our NH coastal area and decided to make that the focus his next project. We have enjoyed working with him throughout the process, finding old photos, interviewees and historical resources.  We will be hosting a “premier” showing of his work for the public on Wednesday, March 21 at 6:30 PM at the Lane Library. I have had a sneak peek and it is very impressive.

Wait until you see what the spring brings….

Whittier in Hampton

The volunteers at the Tuck Museum never cease to amaze me!

Such is the case with one of our newest volunteers, Elly Becotte. Knowing that she had volunteered for years at the John Greenleaf Whittier Home in Amesbury, MA, I asked her if she would be willing to collect Whittier’s poetry from the Hampton/seacoast area and assemble it in one place. She did that and more! Elly created a 66 page booklet of his poetry called “John Greenleaf Whittier in Hampton: Poems from a Place of Beautiful Pines.” With each poem, Elly set the stage for understanding the context of the piece and  illustrated it with charming sketches.

The booklet is now available for sale at the museum and through our website for $8 (plus postage). A book signing is in the works.

A Page Out of History Wins AHSNH Award

In case you missed it on the evening news, our book/exhibit/program “A Page Out of History: A Hampton Woman in the Needletrades, 1859-1869″ won an award for public programming from the Association of Historical Societies of New Hampshire. A few weeks ago we trekked to the Association’s annual meeting at the Mt. Kearsage Indian Museum in Warner, NH, to collect the award. It’s now sitting nicely in its new home in the research room at the museum. 

~cheryL

P.S. The book makes a great Christmas gift, and you can order it online in the museum store! All proceeds benefit the museum.

Moulton House paintings on exhibit, real and virtual

Just finished updating the blog with some fresh pictures and information on the museum exhibit entitled “A House of History, Mystery, Legend, and Lore,” about Hampton’s most famous General and his most famous house. The General is long gone, but his house lives on, in part due to special deed restrictions that mandate its upkeep, and in part due to dedicated owners.

Please check out the online exhibit, and if you have some time, stop by the museum to see the real thing (the exhibit, not the house – which can be seen by driving south from Hampton on Lafayette Road. It’s still in its usual spot on the “haunted house curve”!)

~cheryL

Hampton Artwalk, Oct 6-7

This doesn’t have a whole lot to do with the Tuck Museum, but we just wanted to let our readers know about the great Artwalk happening in downtown Hampton on October 6 and 7, 4 -8 p.m. both nights. Besides great art for viewing and sale by the Hampton Arts Network artists and artisans, there is an Edible Art Contest for non-professionals on October 6 (Thursday night) and a Pro Chef Pumpkin Challenge on October 7 (Friday night), featuring chefs from area restaurants. This is the second year the Hampton Arts Network has organized an artwalk in the downtown business district, and it promises to be a doozie.

Not to be missed – the James House Association reenactors will be on hand and in costume to entertain the walkers with songs and stories from Hampton’s colorful past.

A Special Treat for the 10th Annual Pig Roast

To help celebrate this important milestone in Pig Roast history, we’re bringing in a very special musical guest for the day, Boston-based singer/songwriter/guitarist Danielle Miraglia.

Danielle Miraglia

A strong steady thumb on an old Gibson guitar is the driving force behind Danielle Miraglia’s acoustic blues guitar style. Add a raw, powerful, whiskey tinged voice and one might be tempted to label her a blues artist. But while Miraglia’s style pays homage to these blues traditions, her classic rock verve, catchy melodies and eclectic array of song subjects that range from deeply personal to socially relevant give it an original twist that is all her own. A fresh sound along with a sharp wit and a captivating stage presence is gaining her fans all over the map. “It won’t be long before the rest of the country takes notice.” - Performing Songwriter.

Please come out on September 3 to support the Hampton Historical Society and enjoy Danielle’s wonderful music. You can visit her site at daniellem.com and order her latest CD, A Box of Troubles.

Charles Henry Turner Room Coming Soon

The staff is busy refashioning the Tuck Museum’s 19th century parlor into the new home for our collection of Charles Henry Turner’s Hampton paintings and personal effects, including several antique chests and a beautiful 18th century Hampton-built armoire. Once completed, this new space – and the research and exhibits it will inspire – will allow visitors to connect in a meaningful and memorable way to Turner, his life, and his body of work.

~cheryL