quiltersmuse.com Blog

Sandra LeBeau, Ph.D. presented the topic, “The Mills of Manchester, NH and Manchester, England,” at a meeting on September 21, 2009, hosted by the Campton Historical Society, Campton, NH, in conjunction with the New Hampshire Humanities Council. The speaker, self-described as a “labor historian,” revealed similarities about old mills in both cities called “Manchester.” She came to know much about those particular mills, as a result of living near them.

Mill Girl Statue in Manchester, NH at the site of the former Amoskeag Mills. With the “mill girls,” this operation would not have prospered. photo by James Cummings

Her talk compares the pre-Industrial era to the Age of Industrialization that was based on the model set forth by England. She briefly alluded to the name “Slater.” To further clarify her reference, Samuel Slater is called “The Father of the Industrial Revolution.” He left England for America, with the plans for making textile machinery, held only in his memory bank. If written plans were found on his person, he could have been tried for industrial espionage, imprisoned or worse.

Slater set up a mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island to spin cotton. As spinning a fiber is just one of the preliminary steps to making cloth, his mill led to the creation of weaving mills in Massachusetts. The Slater Mill Museum and Gift Shop are wonderful to visit.

There is so much information related to Mill History, I am absolutely certain that it is impossible to include all of the details in one talk, or one article, or even one book. The speaker did a great job of staying on topic. In passing, she mentioned other mills such as those of Lowell, MA and Harrisville, NH.

Canal at the Harrisville Mill complex, Harrisville, NH, where woolen textiles were manufactures. photo by James Cummings

Even though I have read a lot about the mills of New England, and have visited many of them, have seen their videos and exhibits, and have learned about their workers, the joy for me last night was in hearing another historian speak about a familiar subject. The audience, including me, added a lot of comments, observations, and questions, and everyone seemed very enthusiastic about this presentation.

Of burning interest are the factors that led to the demise of the New England mills, actually a combination of factors. Many thanks to Sandra LeBeau. I am sure that this talk only whetted folks’ interest to learn more or brought the subject to mind for others.

For additional online reading, there are files on our website about the mills in Lowell and Pawtucket, and the Amoskeag, Cocheco, and Harrisville Mills of New Hampshire. Just go to the Index page, scroll down to the Site Navigation Information, and key in one of those words, after placing your cursor in the search box.

Patricia Cummings

photo of John Perrault by James Cummings, Quilter’s Muse Publications

What a treat it was to hear the many old ballads that John Perrault sang tonight, accompanied by his guitar, which he plays proficiently. His love of history and the history of ballads was apparent, as he wove historical threads into the program, “The Ballad Lives!” His words connected us to certain countries of origin for the songs he sang, and to stories behind them. He revealed how and where these songs were collected and preserved and the names of certain individual folklorists who assisted in that quest.

Perrault gave a mention of the permutations that ballads undergo as they are passed from person to person, and generation to generation. Often, ballads are based on an historical event, but later become a blend of both myth and history. He states, “Many ballads focus on love, death, and tragedy – things universal in the human heart.”

We were treated to renditions of the familiar “Barbara Allen,” or “Barbry Allen,” as some singers pronounce the name. The presenter went on to describe and sing songs about murder, “Little Sadie,” (known by three other names); “Pretty Polly,” and “Cruel Mother” … adding anecdotes, commentaries, and of course, additional songs.

The song that most impressed me is called “The Ballad of Louis Wagner,” that recalls the murder of two women on the Isles of Shoals, off the coast of New Hampshire and Maine, on March 5-6, 1873. Louis Wagner was convicted for the crimes and was the last man to be hanged in Maine in 1875. John Perrault wrote an amazing and long poem and set it to music, delivering the ballad with a passion for the history it invokes and with parts of it presented in the first person, by “Louis” himself. The song states that the murderer wore a silver chain and had a silver Judas heart. I love the imagery. Apparently, the motive for the murders was to find and steal silver.

Overall, this was an amazing performance, and yet another cultural program brought to the public, at no charge, by a New Hampshire Humanities Council grant. John Perrault has taught high school, and has worked in law. He was the poet laureate of Portsmouth, NH from 2003-2005. We were very pleased with this program and we encourage others to visit John’s website, and to attend or book any of his future presentations. He has other programs available. His latest book, Jefferson’s Dream, is currently for sale.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications – The one ballad that I recorded for Quilter’s Muse Publications and Virtual Museum is a song called “Mary Hamilton,” a long English narrative about a woman who killed her babe, and whose fate was the gallows.

A second long Irish ballad that I sing is “Mrs. McGrath.”

Richard A. Hesse, Emeritus Professor of Law at Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, New Hampshire, presented a talk titled, “Free Speech in a Free Society,” at Folsom Tavern on the grounds of the American Independence Museum in Exeter, New Hampshire, on September 17, 2009. The information was organized and presented in a flawless manner, reflecting the many years that this individual has taught classes in Law.

In greeting the public, in the small, intimate quarters of an upstairs meeting room that was filled to capacity, the speaker mentioned that the topic of free speech is very appropriate because 1) It is “Constitution Day,” and 2) There are two drafts of the Constitution in the museum, complete with “cross-outs, annotations, and doodling” in the margins. We always realized that the American Independence Museum is a very special landmark in our state, and this is something else to its credit!

The talk was extremely compelling. Practical examples were set forth that described how law might be applied across a large array of potential situations. The one example that looms large, in coming away from the talk, is that free speech is necessary in society in order to create a “marketplace of ideas.” When all ideas are not heard, someone’s personal expression is limited, which can be frustrating to an individual, and the situation can create social disharmony. The person who is not allowed to have his say (at a town meeting, or elsewhere) may choose more destructive means of expression (like making a Molotov cocktail in his basement).

I think we’ve all seen in the news the results of what can happen to those whose ideas are not considered. They may be the ones who suddenly “go postal.” (This is my statement, not that of Dr. Hesse).

I loved this presentation! The meaning of the First Amendment (”Government can make no law …”) was explained, as well as the concepts that surround free speech in our society. The lecture was just one of many in a series endowed by grants from the New Hampshire Humanities Council, a group that plans to host Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses, and other books, as the keynote speaker this coming month, (October 13, at a dinner, by pre-registration).

The professor spoke for 50 minutes and then took questions. My intent is not to give away his whole talk, but just to tell you enough so that you will want to attend yourself, if and when he presents the topic again. As always, we are so grateful for these marvelous lectures that are so informative. I feel that I have a much better understanding of this topic now, thanks to Dr. Hesse. We have attended perhaps 11 of these lectures this season and each one has added so much to our appreciation of many facets of Humanities, from Music to Poetry to Symbology of Gravestones, and so much more! Thank you!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

This morning, I wanted to show you two quilt blocks that were constructed, on paper, by a beautiful person. First, I will show you this person who was outwardly beautiful.

Ellen Webster, as a young person

Ellen Webster was someone who loved history and that included the history of her town and of her family. The following quilt block that she pasted up with fabrics on a paper background is certainly artistically-rendered, and very beautiful.

Original design by Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster

I wondered why the leaf on the left edge was lopped off, and I found the answer to that in her diary!

Hardy family genealogy block constructed by Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster

During my research, I discovered a quilt block from New Hampshire that is very similar to Ellen’s, as if made by the same person. That is discussed in my 355 page e-book with 340 photos that plays on any computer, using Adobe Reader. (Hint: Don’t try to open the file with any other kind of reader). Adobe Reader is FREE to download.

In just these two quilt blocks I have shown you, it is easy to see the care and precision that Ellen brought to her creative work. She was very artistic, as is readily apparent, but moreover, she wanted to preserve the work of other New England women (and beyond) whose antique quilts she had seen at various meetings and quilt shows that she judged. Ellen was highly respected, in her time, as a teacher of Bible studies, a writer, lecturer, pianist/organist, bird lover, and other roles she took, in life.

Her story is a classic one of a farm born girl of the mid-nineteenth century, who married a dentist and traveled the world. The 162 quilt charts were given to a museum. The spirit of her work lives on in the colorful and detailed CD produced by James and Patricia Cummings and exclusively available for $24.95 plus $3.95 shipping, ($28.90). The detailed information included in this work will amaze you!

This would make a wonderful holiday gift or Christmas present! The CD even shows a photo of the Hardy family all gathered together for Christmas in 1892.

Viewing the details of the life of Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster and considering the many good works of her hands and mind is a thrill. I only wish I’d met her.

Patricia Cummings – pat@quiltersmuse.com
Quilter’s Muse Publications

Charles E. Clark, Ph.D. asked himself, “What Makes People Laugh?” and then launched into a review of periodicals to find jokes and humorous stories published in early New England during the 1790s and beyond.

His talk, “What New Hampshire Thought Funny Two Hundred Years Ago,” is a program sponsored by the New Hampshire Humanities Council. We heard this lecture at the Libby Museum in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire on August 11, 2009. All talks in this series repeat in various New Hampshire locations.

Libby Museum, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

The lecturer explored recurrent themes that were the basis for laughter. Early New Hampshire settlers made fun of the clergy, lawyers, doctors, sex, or ethnicity, particularly, the Irish. Jokes often centered on a contrast of the sophisticated, educated person with the country bumpkin.

Additionally, people enjoy laughing at themselves, or their situations, for the sake of comic relief. An audience member mentioned the television series, “Mash,” as a modern day example; and another person recalled the movie, “Glory,” to illustrate that same point.

Professor Clark read quite a few examples of early, published humor, especially notable quotes from “NH Farmer’s Journal and the Farmer’s Weekly Museum,” (a name that changed a few times), based in Walpole, New Hampshire, and primarily written by Harvard-trained lawyers who wrote many “lawyer jokes,” thereby making fun of themselves. “The Walpole Wits,” as they were called, succeeded in producing a publication with an extraordinary circulation for their time.

Citing another source, the presenter shared the story of a man who wanted to steal a pound of butter from a Vermont country store. He put it under his hat and tried to slip out the door. The storekeeper realized what was happening and invited the man to sit down next to a hot fireplace and cordially provided him with a hot toddies, which made him very “hot.” Butter soon began to drip down the man’s clothes and when he was thoroughly saturated, the storekeeper thanked him for providing so much amusement, and said that the price of a pound of butter had been worth it all.

When the audience was asked to share something that they found humorous, I mentioned the Irish song about a sweet old dearie, retiring for the night. The verse goes: “She was pullin’ ‘em up, and pullin’ ‘em down, and forgot to pull down the shade.”

Click on this link to see an overview of the program and to learn more about Dr. Clark.

We have attended ten nightly educational events of this kind this summer and have to say that we have thoroughly enjoyed them. From Dr. Martin Fox’s “History of Photography,” to Edie Clark’s discussion of regional cooking, to three memorable musical programs, and many other worthwhile programs, I believe I’ve probably mentioned all of these events on this blog. So, scroll backwards to other pages to see those comments. Many thanks to Dr. Clark for this most recent, delightful program!

View of Lake Winnipesaukee, at sunset, across from the Libby Museum

One presenter, Steve Blunt, who reenacts the character of “John Hutchinson” of The Hutchinson Family Singers, is a consummate showman who dresses in period costume. He tells me that he will be performing at Eastern States Exposition on September 25, 2009, in the morning, with the gal who sometimes accompanies him. We enjoyed seeing him at the Hancock Public Library. I can’t say enough about the NH Humanities Council’s dedication to providing excellent speakers and presenters!

By the way, the Libby Museum offers many interesting artifacts including an early schoolgirl Sampler, a piece of Tapa cloth from Hawaii, and a coin from Pres. Harrison’s campaign, just a few of their many treasures. In 1912, Dr. Henry Forest Libby started the museum as one to focus on natural history. Since then, many additional items have been added. We hope to visit there again soon!

Ever a learner!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications