History Quester

Discovering History Everywhere

Category: Central Massachusetts

What Would You Do With an Old Barn?

March 16, 2020 / / 0 Comments

The Harvard Historical Society’s Barn Tour

When was the last time you saw a rotting barn? If you live in New England, chances are it wasn’t very long ago. Last September, I had the chance to step inside six unique barns in Harvard, Massachusetts. But none of them were rotting. In fact, they were all great examples of barns that have been preserved, reused, and repurposed over the years.

The Harvard Historical Society partnered with six owners throughout the town who were willing to open their barns to the public. Planned out well, the tour was self-led, with reenactors, local businesses and artists stationed at each barn. We received a map and an information booklet in the center of town, which directed us to the various barn locations. The day was sunny and warm, perfect for walking around outside from site to site.

Atherton Barn

The Atherton Barn was a beautiful barn and contained a lot of eclectic antiques. However, for some reason, I neglected to capture a photo of the barn’s exterior.

Most of the barn that stands today was built in 1792 to replace an earlier barn. The barn was first used by the Atherton Tavern and Inn as a carriage house. Later on, it switched hands to the Congregational Church, and became the parsonage for the town minister.

Its current owner totally rebuilt the right side of the barn, adding in heat and A/C. An incredible woven staircase leads to the second floor, complete with a “coffin corner” for carrying large items upstairs.

The Woven Staircase

On the second floor is a vintage hang-out room, and a room used for the Underground Railroad! The barn houses many antiques and vintage memorabilia, including the Harvard Historical Society’s apple sorter.

For the event, Westward Orchards offered donuts and apples, and a wonderful ukulele band strummed outside.

Deacon Isaac Stone Barn

(House is in the Foreground, the Barn is Sporting Solar Panels)

“Make sure you take a look at the toilet!” That was the advice we received upon arrival at this barn. As you may have guessed from his name, former barn owner Isaac Stone was a stonecutter. Built sometime in the mid- to late- 1700s, the barn has an English structure, mainly characterized by the large doors opening on the long side. Out of its four stories, we were only able to explore two.

The main floor split into several spaces that were partitioned off. One of these was the noteworthy “two holer” toilet. The current owner is proud of the curiosity, as he has restored it over the years.

  • The Two Holer
  • The Workshop Foundation
  • Modern Stonecutter
  • Through the Hole

Through the duel openings, you have a view to the basement, and the gravestone that lies beneath (slightly sacrilegious? 😛 ). Cracked into multiple pieces, the headstone belongs to Jerome Farnsworth, who died at the age of nineteen years, nine months, and nine days. A replacement gravestone was probably made after this one cracked, and that is why this one was left in the basement.

The craftsman behind the engraving was likely Isaac Stone. Behind the barn, you can still see the foundation of Stone’s workshop. In fact, the workshop itself was still standing up until the 1950s. To commemorate the former owner’s trade, the event planners had a modern day stonecutter working in the yard. With his electric tools, he carved a piece of art over the course of the day for an auction that night.

The Great Elms Barn

This is a million dollar story – in more ways than one. Unique and expensive, the Great Elms Barn was completely disassembled from its original location and then reassembled piece by piece into its present form. And it’s huge!

For this barn, we had already had a backstory: the Harvard Historical Society had previously hosted a presentation by the owner detailing the laborious process of barn deconstruction and re-raising. Will Stevenson showed photos of the barn which had been left to deteriorate, and was now slated for demolition.

Determined to fulfill his dream of owning an old barn, Stevenson bought the barn. He and a team worked to meticulously disassemble the entire barn, labeling every piece as they went.

Once they had built a foundation on their own property, they transported the wood across town and began the process of rebuilding. To the original parts, they added a new roof and siding, along with a second cupola for ventilation. In all, the project took a full year.

Now friends and neighbors take advantage of the space in the winter to store any and every sort of recreational vehicle and equipment. The barn’s ample space can handle it all. But the darkened, vast beams, and multiple sets of coded numbering remind you that the barn has seen many other uses for a long time back.

The Turner Barn

The Front of the Turner Barn

The Turner Barn was built for cows. In 1849, Rebecca Turner recorded in her diary the dates of the barn construction and raising. She and her husband, Oliver, had purchased the farm the year prior. Their new barn reused some beams from a barn across the street, and was lined with cattle stalls.

In the photo’s bottom left, you can just see the lower-level entrance where the cows could enter the barn. Here, the stone steps are well-worn from all the traffic they received.

A benefit of the Turner’s location, for them and their cattle, was water. Underground springs flowed down Prospect Hill, where the Turners tapped into them, funneling water through the barn’s basement.

To the south, a spring house piped more water back to the house, where it was stored in copper vats and a cistern. The Turners had running water inside, and flushing toilets upstairs.

Inside, the barn was more divided than the others we saw that day, so the middle hallway was narrower. But in the separate sections, there was a woodworker, a maple sugarer, an artist, and a reenactor. So there was a lot to see, talk about, and taste. 🙂

The Sawyer Barn

I really liked how the Sawyer barn looked; its exterior was particularly picturesque, especially with its flourishing garden out back. Built in 1850, likely by Jabez Sawyer, the barn has three floors. Its unique main door has rollers on the bottom instead of the top, which was traditional.

Set on a small hill, a stone ramp – now covered in grass – leads up to the barn’s main doors. The basement lies open to the outside on the lower left side. Here, a staircase to nowhere was the barn’s claim to fame. Also back and to the right, a garden is planted, where a local beekeeper was stationed with his honey and herbs. A 1700s Sawyer farmhouse stands to its left.

  • The Basement
  • The Garden

Like the Turner Barn, this barn had a narrower middle hall, bordered by partitions. However, it was the only barn to currently house a horse, Dexter, and his stall was apparent along one wall. Long logs made up the beams, along with two that were joined together with only a dovetail. Intricate metalworked pieces by Babacool Arts hung in the hallway, and a reenactor related stories from her childhood.

The Reedich Barn

The Reedich Barn, Entrance to Upper Floor is on the Side

The Reedich Barn was given as an impressive example of what a completely modern barn can look like, and the functions it can serve in a non-agrarian society. Originally intended to store recreational vehicles, upon completion the barn was deemed too nice for that purpose. So the family opted to add in a few more homey features to create a barn-style, luxury hang-out space and work area.

The top floor included a loft, tiny kitchen, and living room. Downstairs had more of a garage feeling, with its expansive doors and workshop. An atypical garage feature, however, was the large home-brewing set-up in the corner. Also, I thought it was pretty cool that there was a hidden driveway under the grass (no more sinking into the muddy grass I guess).

The Harvard Barn-to-Barn Tour was great! Getting to see inside what would otherwise be private barns was special and interesting. The Harvard Historical Society did an excellent job involving the community in its production: gathering local artists, craftsmen, farmers, and businesses to decorate and advocate at each barn. It really felt like a community affair. The only thing that would complete the feeling of an inclusive community, would be a lower ticket price. That way, a better representation of the surrounding community can enjoy the tour. If they have it again next year, I hope you can go!

Harvard Historical Society

The Harvard Historical Society, located at 215 Still River Road, is committed to preserving Harvard’s past for Harvard’s future and to helping you discover your town through educational and cultural programming that connects to our history. We are a private, not-for-profit organization that relies on membership and donations to maintain our buildings and our collections…

For even more pictures, go to the Harvard Historical Society’s website.

Barn To Barn Tour Pics!

Thanks to the 260 tour-goers, 30 volunteers, 11 artisans, 11 food vendors, 14 performers and, 12 barn owners, the Barn To Barn Tour was a fantastic success. Here are a few pictures of the great day…

Main Street: Bolton

June 19, 2019 / / 2 Comments
Watch This Video to See Bolton Now and Then

Have you toured through your own town? There’s a surprising amount of history hidden behind the short stretch of road deemed downtown Bolton. Every year, the Bolton Historical Society gives a Main Street tour to the 3rd grade class. Not only do they desire for the next generation to learn about their home town, but they want the kids to find a connection and feel a positive association with their town center.

This year, I was bestowed with the honor of wrangling 20 or so 3rd graders on a walk around town. I studied up on the script and strove to make it informative yet interesting. Some seemed to really take it to heart; they knew their stuff. But the fact remains: I learned just as much myself reading and rereading the material :). I will impart that knowledge to you too.

I’m positive Bolton is certainly not the only town with a faithful historical society and a captivating history. So here’s your plug to pay a visit to your local historical society. With that, let us proceed to our tour.

Ironically, I forgot to snag some photos, so I will have to add those later.

  • Bolton’s Main Street existed way before the town itself
  • One general store operated for 150 years
  • Dr. Everett was a doctor, photographer, post master, and phone operator.

The Great Road and Pond Park

Route 117, Main Street, the Great Road, they’re all names for the same river of pavement that flows through downtown Bolton. As with most things though, it has changed quite a bit over the years–and there have been many.

Contrary to what you might think, the very early European colonists did not bush wack their way through the wilderness. Using common sense, they traveled along the paths that they Native Americans had already established.

This particular trail was called the Bay Path because the inland natives would use it to travel out to the bay for trade and fishing. When the colonists began to use it, the path was widened and extended. As the Great Road, it served many purposes. Animals of all sorts trod down it: cows, geese, turkeys. On April 19th, 1775, about 700 soldiers marched along its length on their way to Concord.

The road broadened again with the advent of stagecoaches. A local innkeeper, Amory Holman, owned a stagecoach company, bringing visitors and commerce to Bolton.

Another area of commerce for Bolton was its mill district. Present-day Pond Park marks the location of several mills, all powered by the Great Brook. After multiple buildings burned, the Village Improvement Society came together to fund a park. One of those members was Emerson.

Emerson also donated land and money for the town to build a single, larger school for its children. Prior to the Emerson School, Bolton educated its children in several one-room, district schoolhouses that were relocated depended on the number of students in an area. Finally, the town decided to establish three of these district schools on the present location of Emerson School, requiring children to come to them instead of the other way around.

One former student later recalled the duty of hauling buckets of water. Still visible today is the ring forming the well’s lip.

First Meetinghouse and the Old Brick Store

As we walk down the road, strung out along the thin sidewalks, we pass several old homes. Coated in salmon hues, the oldest dates from the 1760’s; its builder served in the American Revolution. At the intersection with Wattaquodock Road sit a Wheeler house. Caleb and Dolly Wheeler moved in soon after their wedding in ____. Later on, they commissioned famed stenciler Moses Eaton to decorate their walls. You can still see his patriotic eagles, pine trees, and flowers.

We crossed the street to stand before what the kids thought was a gravestone. However, the marker actually commemorates the approximate location of the first meetinghouse. -1st mtghouse and its various locations and burnings

Up the road you can just see a red sign advertising for an insurance company. This is the site of Amory Holman’s tavern: the man with the stagecoach company. Several of the houses nearby were converted from harness buildings, a blacksmith shop, and other components of his business.

Backtracking to the intersection, I point out the long red building facing the Great Road. This was the Crackerbarrel, or the Old Brick Store. Featuring all kinds of mercantile, from bottles and brushes, to food and cloth, the store saw over 150 years of business. If they didn’t have what you wanted, it could be ordered from Boston or Worcester, arriving in as little as two days.

Baptist Meetinghouse and Town Pound

How many times can you recycle a building? The First Baptist Meetinghouse has certainly seen quite a few uses. Though it was first constructed as the Baptist meetinghouse, the congregation outgrew it and moved down the street. Its other lives included a schoolhouse, storage for the town hearse, then Bolton quickstep (an early version of a fire engine), and Cemetery Commission. Now, Parks and Recreation uses the building for storage.

For the actual 3rd grader walk, we didn’t go to see it, but I motioned in the direction of the town pound remnants. Made for the purpose of corralling stray animals, a decrepit ring of stones remains. If someone’s pig or cow got loose, the animal would be put in the town pound so that no damage to crops or gardens would be caused. Upon the owner’s arrival, they would be fined to discourage further escapees.

Dr. Everett’s House, Barn, and Store

On the left is the house of Doctor Oliver Everett, a very versatile man. Though a doctor by training, Bolton’s small population wasn’t ill quite enough to make ends meet. So he became the local postmaster. His store (on the far right), boasted his doctor’s office upstairs and the post office downstairs.

Fun fact: a trap door was set in the floor over the Great Brook, which ran under the barn. To keep cleaning easy, the rakings from the barn floor were swept out into the stream.

One of Everett’s passions was photography. His photos are an amazing resource for the historical society today. Back then, Everett sold postcards with his images in the store.

Of great interest to the kids is Dr. Everett’s soda fountain, installed when the drink first became wildly popular. Everett’s store also boasted the first phone in town.

Wrong-Way House and the Church

Take note as you walk along the road and you might notice a house that appears to have two fronts. Dubbed wrong-way houses, there are several in Bolton. This particular one was originally situated to face the Town House Road and the First Parish Church. Once Route 117 became the main byway, the owners wanted their fancy front visible to all. So the first entrance is now mostly overgrown.

Sitting atop the hill is the First Parish Church, formerly the Federated Church. When multiple congregations in Bolton became too small to necessitate their own structures, they combined into the Federated Church.

We tromped upstairs to each be allowed a chance to ring the large bell hanging in the church tower. Feeling the ease and tug of the rope, and listening the outside clanging was very satisfying. I think the 3rd graders would agree.

Our tour continuing with a crawl up into the clock tower. Careful not to bump our heads, we emerged into a small area with high ceilings. A clock movement was mounted inside, and our specialty tour guide demonstrated some of its workings. Though currently out of use, there are plans to restore it in the future.

As they left, some 3rd graders stopped to ask questions, wondering where they could find more of this. Happily, we informed them that they were welcome to visit the historical society anytime. The walk is a splendid way to teach kids about their community; it gives them the stories and the significance behind what they see everyday.

Learning the history behind a landscape – human or natural – can completely change the way you view it. If we want the kids of today to care about what happens to history in the future, we need to plant the seeds now. The Bolton Historical Society is doing their part 🙂

The Sudbury Minutemen March

May 25, 2019 / / 0 Comments

Okay, okay, just one more post about Patriot’s Day. Then we can move on to something new. There are just so many interesting things that happened because of Patriot’s Day.

  • Minutemen companies marched long distances to reach Concord
  • Some reeenactors commemorate those marches each year

Last summer, I had the idea to walk along the British Regular’s route from Charlestown to Concord. First of all, my grandma was incredulous: you can’t just up and walk 18 miles she said. However, the weekend we planned to do it didn’t work out, and I was left thinking to do it sometime in the future. I did ask around if anyone already did that, and the answer seemed to be no.

But I did find the Sudbury Minutemen, who march every April 19th along the route that a Sudbury company took as a commemoration. The public is welcome to join them, although there ended up being only one other person in “civilian clothing.”

Sudbury Center at 6 am

As I said, this is a march of the Sudbury Minutemen, and there is a difference between minutemen and militia. Participation in the militia was required, being a minuteman was voluntary. Minutemen were called to be ready at “a moment’s notice,” more like half an hour, but still faster than the militia.

All in all, the march from Sudbury center to the North Bridge is approximately 10 miles. The way we perceive distances now is not the same way they did then. In a car, getting from one place to another is no great hurdle. You hop in, and might arrive 15-25 minutes later, fresh as a daisy. Or at least as fresh as you started.

In contrast, a 10 mile trip was a commitment. We left Sudbury at 6:15 in the morning. Some folks had already walked from Wayland (previously part of Sudbury) starting at 4 am.

  • Salute in a Cemetary
  • Town Line of Concord

A few of the reenactors have been marching annually for over 50 years. One of them introduced himself to us. Bob was 90 years old! Though he didn’t walk the whole route this year, let’s just say there were a lot of people who didn’t walk it at all.

Along the way, militiamen loaded and shot their muskets willy-nilly. However, there are different blackpowder rules in Sudbury and Concord. So when we reached the Sudbury town line, the men lined up to use up the rest of their gunpowder: Concord doesn’t allow random musket shooting.

Spectators waited along our route to hail the minutemen as we passed by. When marching in step, it really was a thrilling sight. Fifers and drummers played the entire time, lending the whole thing an official air. A couple kids stood at their driveway banging on their own drums while we marched past.

  • Break at Barrett’s Farm
  • Waiting for the Train

Quick fun fact: our hired police escort closed down the Route 2 rotary in Concord for us to cross! Those in Massachusetts know this is no easy feat, and at rush hour, no less.

After 5 hours of walking, I didn’t exactly feel at my peak physical ability. Though the minutemen were likely in better shape, I can’t imagine they were feeling spritely upon arrival either. I’m sure they were fueled by adrenaline as they anticipated meeting the Regulars, which surely helped. Can you imagine how long the march would’ve seemed? Not knowing what awaited you at the end? Walking in their footsteps (literally!) gave me a new insight into what that day was like for the colonists.

I must also comment on the friendliness of the group: we were the “new recruits.” Multiple people told us we were welcome to share in their food at the rest stops. Reenactors had us step into line with them, and we were encouraged to come back next year.

If you have the chance, by all means march with the Sudbury Minutemen next year. What an experience! Dress up only if you can/want to. The pace is steady; I was never out of breath, and there are cars to hop in if you need a break. Mark your calendars for April 19th (they stick with the actual date, not the state holiday). But whatever you do, don’t march behind the musicians 😉

Sudbury Companies of Militia & Minute – Colonial Reenactors

The Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute preserve American heritage and educate the public through reenactments, performances, speaker events, a monthly muster, a Colonial Faire, parades, and other educational, fun events.

Event! Bolton’s Road to Revolution: A Play

May 11, 2019 / / 0 Comments

Hey everyone! I know this is different from what I usually post, but I wanted to let you all know about an upcoming event.

My very own Bolton Historical Society is putting on a small play next Sunday, May 19th, at 3pm. The play covers the 10 years leading up to the Revolutionary War, even using direct quotes from the people of Bolton.

As part of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area’s Hidden Treasures program, we can be found in their brochure and website as well.

We’ll be holding the event in the barn, but the house will be open for visitors, and there will be refreshments afterwards.

I hope to see you there, and please enjoy other Hidden Treasures programs too!

Bolton Historical Society – Home

Historical Society of Bolton MA

The Willard House and Clock Museum

March 26, 2019 / / 0 Comments
The Museum Entrance, Note the Original Saltbox on Left

Time is something I often take for granted. I think of it frequently, mostly in the context of how much I’ve spent and how much I have left. Whenever I’m curious, I have time at my fingertips: my watch, or my phone, the wall clock, oven, microwave or even toaster. Everywhere we look, there are items listing the time, but like many things, it wasn’t always that easy.

  • Thomas Jefferson signed Simon Willard’s clock patent
  • Clockmaking spanned 3 generations and 104 years of Willards
  • About 22 people worked to complete one clock
  • A Lighthouse Clock

Sundials, water clocks, and hourglasses have all been utilized for their ability to measure time. When mechanical, tall, clocks were invented, they held the place of honor for hundreds of years. However, a man named Simon Willard completely changed that.

Continue reading

The West Cemetery, Est. 1822

March 21, 2019 / / 0 Comments

Hi everyone! Have you ever spent time in an old graveyard? Perhaps you’ve gone on a tour where you were instructed to notice the famous historical figures buried there. Or maybe you’ve played a game of hide and seek between the stones? (I was little, okay?) Or have you tactfully given the graveyard a wide berth when passing by on a dark night?

Whatever your feelings on the subject, I find myself to be fascinated with graveyards. A morbid interest, yes. However, picturing all the stories of the people whose names cover the headstones is humbling in a way.

Here are all these people, who lived lives just like you and me, and now they are gone. I read a name, and start wondering about what life was like for them. Sometimes you see that they lived to the ripe old age of 83, while others died before the age of 2.

In this particular graveyard, I trod for hours, snapping pictures and jotting down notes. The purpose of this finger-numbing exercise was to allow anyone to access the headstones online. For those who are researching their family history, sites such a findagrave.com and billiongraves.com offer thousands of graveyard files as resources. Volunteers input the information.

Sometimes the stones are well-worn, and require a lot of painstaking deciphering. Others look as if they were hewn yesterday, even though they’ve stood there for almost 200 years.

I realized that when you spend a lot of time in one graveyard, the names become familiar. Stories would come up at the Bolton Historical Society, mentioning one of the occupants, and I began to feel like I knew these people in a way. So let me tell you about a few of them.

  • The Nourse family left Salem because of a hanging
  • Be on the lookout for poems
  • Not all headstones are made of stone

The Nourse Family

  • They couldn’t decide on a name: Nurse, Nurss, Nourse?
  • Rebecca Towne Nurse was hung for witchcraft
  • After the Salem Witch Trials, the family left town

Most everyone has heard of the Salem Witch Trials, but have you ever thought about the aftermath? Even though her family believed Rebecca Nurse to be wrongly executed, the association with someone hung for witchcraft still followed them. Wishing for a fresh start, they moved to Bolton, Massachusetts, and tried changing their name. After several variations, they finally settled on Nourse.

In the West Cemetery, there are headstones with relatives bearing both the name Nurse, and Nourse.

  • Sarah Nourse
  • A Row of Nourse and Nurse Graves
  • David Nourse

The Grassie Monument

I love when poetry is inscribed on a gravestone. On this tall, brownstone monument is a lengthy poem describing George Grassie’s life. Born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Grassie immigrated to Nova Scotia in 1813. There, he married his wife, Elizabeth. When his father died, he moved back to Scotland for a few years, then came back to North America in 1843. He lived the rest of his life in Bolton, dying at the age of 87.

Grassie’s distinctive commemoration stands out, towering above all but a few other stones. The poetry’s artful rhythm lends emotion to the dead man’s life.

All That’s Grey isn’t Stone

If you scan the headstones of the West Cemetery, you might notice that one memorial differs from all the others in its color. The pale grey is marvelously legible, and appears as though it has stood there only a few years. Look closely: what sort of stone could it be made of? The answer is – none! Metal (zinc carbonate) was a novel gravestone material, produced from about the 1870’s to the 1910’s.

The durability of the metal through time is impressive. Also, the center panel containing the names is removable. That way, if more family members wished to be added upon their passing, the metal plate could be updated and replaced.

Family genealogy is increasingly popular these days, and there are many resources to aid you in your search. Take a look at these two below, they’re free, and it doesn’t take long to type in a name or two. If you want to check out more of the headstones I talked about, just type in Nourse, in Bolton, Massachusetts. The West Cemetery will pop right up.

BillionGraves

BillionGraves is the world′s largest resource for cemetery data. Our goal is to document every burial in every cemetery throughout the world before these precious records disappear.

Find A Grave – Millions of Cemetery Records

Find A Grave is a free resource for finding the final resting places of famous folks, friends and family members. With millions of names, it is an invaluable tool for genealogist and history buffs.

The Russian Icon Museum

February 11, 2019 / / 0 Comments

The Russian Icon Museum

Possibly the least likely spot for a Russian Icon museum is the tiny town of Clinton, Massachusetts. This unassuming town actually boasts the largest collection of Russian icons outside of Russia! Perhaps unsurprisingly, the museum is also the only one in the United States dedicated completely to icons.

Some fast facts:

  • Icons are not Objects of Worship
  • The Museum has icons from the 15th Century to the 21st Century
  • Writing icons is a detailed process, requiring a lot of skill

In the Orthodox church, icons are not viewed as idols, or as something to be worshipped. They are depictions of people and meaningful events. They serve as reminders of those who have gone before, and as a glimpse into heaven. Different people will have varying answers, but the base line is clear: they are not idols. This is part of the issue that divided the Eastern and Western Churches in 1054 AD.

  • Inset from Adjacent Photo

The Collection

Ranging from the 1400’s to the present day, the museum’s collection is impressive. To think that you are standing before a piece of art created in a remote monastery in the 17th century is incredible. On some of the icons, you can see the painting falling away, revealing the thick layer of canvas and gesso beneath. Some contain hundreds of detailed figures; magnifying glasses hang nearby so you can view the tiny faces.

For those who wish to earn a small prize, there are scavenger hunt pages. Items on the list include a unicorn, dragon, and other oddities within the icons.

Downstairs, an exhibit filled with modern Russian art shows the disparity and similarities between the eras.

Also downstairs is the tea room, where you can purchase Russian tea packets and sweets. There is a machine to brew the tea there, along with small tables.

Throughout the museum, there are many video stations with audio handsets nearby. Topics include traditional embroidery, a trip across Russia, icon writing, and matryoshka dolls (the last is a temporary exhibit).

Writing an Icon

The process of creating an icon is mesmerizing. Typically, the artist starts with a block of wood that is carved out in the middle to provide a raised frame. The wood is then covered with canvas and gesso. Outlines for the image are cut into the board. Many layers of color are daubed onto the surface, going from dark to light.

You may have noticed that the proper term for making an icon is writing, not painting. In brief, it is to distinguish the art of iconography from others.

The Different Stages of an Icon

The video below is a perfect example of icon writing!

SKINIYA. CREATING AN ICON. ANTON & EKATERINA DAINEKO

short but very informative film about creating an icon We are happy to invite you to our class in Charleston SC January 2018 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/anton-and-ekaterina-daineko-icon-painting-master-class-charleston-sc-tickets-36964835819 in Texas February 2018 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/master-iconography-class-of-anton-and-ekaterina-daineko-in-texas-tickets-35463562470 10 days icon-painting workshop in Michigan June 2018 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/antonekaterina-daineko-master-class-icon-painting-and-gilding-michigan-tickets-36474927490 all information you can get on our website WWW.IKONA-SKINIYA.COM or by email PTAHMINSK@gmail.com

The Russian Icon Museum is a surprising gem inside Clinton. High-quality galleries, lighting, and displays present the artifacts in an appealing, engaging way. For anyone interested in Russia or art this is a must-see!

VISIT

WELCOME! The Museum of Russian Icons inspires the appreciation and study of Russian culture by collecting and exhibiting one of the world’s largest collections of Russian icons – sacred paintings used for veneration in the Orthodox tradition.

Hidden Industries of Bolton

February 11, 2019 / / 1 Comment

Sometimes history is right around the corner, just under your nose. You can travel to big museums, and be amazed and immersed. However, there’s a certain thrill to unearthing something special nearby that frequently goes unnoticed. And that’s just what happened to me.

At the Bolton Historical Society, I had been told that there was an old pump log mill, lime quarry, and kiln off of one of the local trails. The kiln had been partially rebuilt, there were a few remains of the mill, they said, and don’t go one way or you might get lost.

So I finally decided to go see for myself what was left. I made sure to take the more straightforward route to avoid getting lost.

I drove past it the first time. There is a small, dirt parking lot off the side of the road with a sign behind it. Fortunately, Bolton Spring Farms is nearby, and I was able to turn around with minimal time lost. A board stands at the trailhead, with a map that you’re welcome to borrow. I recommend snapping a photo of the metal sign: numbered posts that are along the trail are labeled there.

The Pump Log Mill

  • Pump logs were wooden pipes
  • Hollowing out a log was a hard, tedious process
  • Black locust wood was the best choice for durability

Just down the Bob Horton Memorial trail is a slightly precarious-looking bridge. You can go straight at this point for a longer walk, but I crossed the bridge -which held firm- to get to the kiln and quarry faster.

The bridge is actually built over the remains of the dam used for the pump mill. In the information booklet, it says to look closely for floor boards near the stream. I think I found one! I also really appreciated the booklets found by each landmark, which gave pictures, diagrams, and descriptions of the historical significance of the sites.

These pump logs, wooden pipes, were actually buried underground when finished. Holes were bored through the center using extremely long augers. Often, the wood shavings would build up, and the auger would have to be removed, cleaned, and reinserted.

The Lime Kiln and Quarry

  • Limestone is superheated to be used for plaster and other things
  • The limestone deposit in Bolton was the second one found in New England
  • In the 1800’s, the Whitcomb Quarry filled with water so quickly that the oxen were drowned

Tucked away in one of Bolton’s conservation lands, there are the remnants of a once-bustling industry. Large, uneven craters filled with water pock the forest. Trees enclose the rocky faces of the quarries, and grass and dirt are built up around the kiln.

The History

Partial view of the large Whitcomb Quarry

The two smaller quarries are the original ones. John Whitcomb, the third generation to own the land, was the first to mine the stone. Colonists used the limestone derivatives to plaster their homes. As only the second lime quarry in New England, Whitcomb’s products were in high demand for use by the burgeoning population.

At his death in 1785, Whitcomb bequeathed the business to two of his sons. One son died at the age of 40, and his share was divided among the family. When the surviving son died, the company was sold off. Shortly afterwards, an underground water source was struck by mistake.

The water poured in with such force that men were running for their lives. Some even said that the oxen who powered the machine used to lift limestone were drowned. However, the story remained untested until the quarry was pumped dry in 1937 and metal ox shoes were discovered.

The reason the pit was pumped out was to allow another company to take a stab at excavation. A business from Somerville leased the land, hoping to glean limestone to produce agricultural lime. Constant pumping was required to keep the quarry dry. When equipment was soon damaged by the Bolton limestone’s uncommon hardness, the company left.

No commercial purpose has rallied people to the quarry since.

The Process

View from the top of the Lime Kiln

In order to convert limestone into the much desired quicklime, the rock must be fired. Kilns were constructed out of the very rock that was excavated from the site. But this stone didn’t burn, as the soaring temperatures formed a protective glaze around them. This effectively sealed in all heat.

When loading the cylindrical kiln, larger pieces of limestone were placed in an arch at the bottom. Smaller pieces were filled in above. The arch allowed space for a fire to be built beneath. Once the fire was lit, and the entire kiln was hot, the heat was maintained for three to four days.

Along with the sinking of the kiln’s contents, the amount of effort used to pass a metal rod through the lime determined whether the process was complete or not.

Once the firing was finished, the new, caustic substance of quicklime was removed. With the addition of water and sand, the quicklime would eventually convert back to limestone when exposed to carbon dioxide. Now the colonists had a sturdy resource to use for mortar and plaster in their homes.

Surprisingly, only one or two firings per year could provide the annual lime required for a small community.

Every place has history; but it’s not always obvious. Knowing the stories behind our cities, states, and countries gives us special connections to our home. Explore your surroundings! You might just discover something exciting and new.

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