American Independence Museum's
Harvest Day 2007
by Patricia Cummings
photos by James Cummings
On Saturday, October 13, 2007, the American Independence Museum in Exeter, New Hampshire gathered a crowd by planning a "Harvest Day" celebration. This article will tell the story, primarily in photos.
"Sarah Josepha Buell Hale" and "President Abraham Lincoln" were honored guests of the day. Here they are seen meeting with members of the 5th NH Volunteers. A few times during the day, re-enactors "Hale" and "Lincoln" delighted visitors with a short program recounting how the President happened to approve Thanksgiving as a national holiday because of Mrs. Hale's efforts. photo by James Cummings
Note: The "President" and "Mrs. Hale" hail from Claremont, New Hampshire, just one town over from where the original Mrs. Hale lived, in Newport.
Sheep wait for food or caresses, whichever come first.
Family Event
Many families were in attendance and the children enjoyed a petting zoo, set up especially for them. The animals brought in for the day included sheep, llamas, ducks, and donkeys.
Ducks share food and water.
White llama is "all ears."
Folsom Tavern
The museum has a newly-renovated building known as the Folsom Tavern. Inside the tavern today, the special feature was "New England Hand Hooked & Sewn Rugs." Two individuals were seated in different rooms, demonstrating how to do rug hooking. One of the ladies had created a large and sumptuously-colored penny rug. The two women seem to be both prolific and proficient at their craft. The three volunteer rug hookers who shared their work were Pamela Bartlett, Rose Ann Hunter, and Lynda Hadlock.
Beautiful hooked rugs are seen in this decorated sitting room at the Folsom Tavern.
Floral arrangements for the day were the handiwork of Dot's Flower Shop, Exeter Flower Shop, and in the Ladd-Gilman House, Jardin Botanica and Polly's Flower Shoppe.
The gorgeous red and white bedhangings, so typical of the period that this museum represents, are an exquisite addition and a focal point to this light, airy bedroom with honey-color floors, adorned by hooked rugs. photo by James Cummings
The Firing of the Muskets
One of the highlights of the day were seeing and speaking with the uniformed Civil War re-enactors who were on hand.
Soldiers getting ready for action.
Soldiers preparing to fire.
Fire!
In the area in back of the museum, vendors sold handmade notecards, leather goods, and other items. One lady set up an educational food display to show how food was preserved in the nineteenth century.
The museum has a most tantalizing gift shop, including probably the only two remaining, hard cover copies of my out-of-print book, Straight Talk About Quilt Care. Visiting the shop was a chance to do a little Christmas shopping.
Fun For All Age Groups
Downtown Exeter was crowded today, as this was a town-wide celebration, with food carts set up, wagon rides by a team of large, draft horses, and students selling bottles of cider and other items to raise money for a scholarship fund.
Jim and I had a most delightful day today, but would recommend that you visit the American Independence Museum, in person, if ever you have that opportunity. If you are too far away to go there, then please do read our online article that was previously published in UnRavel the Gavel, an award-winning newspaper for those who love antiques.
Click on the link to see the two hooked rugs in my collection.
©Copyright 2007. Patricia and James Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH. All Rights Reserved. For any questions or comments, please write to us at: pat@quiltersmuse.com