March 28, 2024

Carpenter Museum News

Posted

First Sundays at the Carpenter Museum

May Baskets & Maypole Dancing, Sun. May 1, 2pm

Celebrate May Day by creating your own May basket. Then learn how to Maypole dance (creating a patterned weave with alternating ribbons around a tall wooden pole). Kara Evans, a local re-enactor dressed in costume, will teach the dance and play tunes on her fife. $5 fee covers materials. To register, contact the Museum: 508-252-3031, carpentermuseum@gmail.com, carpentermuseum.org.

Summer Fun at the Carpenter Museum!

Strawberry Country Festival, Sun. June 5, 1-5pm

It’s everything you love in one summer festival: hands-on activities focusing on what it was like growing up during early times, plus yummy strawberries! Try woodworking and peg making from colonial times. Experience open hearth fireplace cooking. Try butter making and candle making. Learn about spinning and weaving. Practice archery. Learn about leather making and make your own leather bracelet. And of course, enjoy homemade strawberry shortcake, delicious lemonade and more! Activities indoors and out. Rain or shine. Admission FREE. For more information: Carpenter Museum, 4 Locust Ave., Rehoboth, 508-252-3031, carpentermuseum@gmail.com, carpentermuseum.org.

A Summer Exhibit at the Carpenter Museum: Celebrate Art, Rehoboth!

For the first time, the Rehoboth Cultural Council is hosting an art exhibition featuring the selected works of professional artists living in Rehoboth, as well as an exhibit of work by local students. Come visit! Opening reception: June 26, 1-4pm. Exhibit will be open June 26 to July 24 during regular Museum hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-4pm, Sundays 2-4pm.

A Glimpse into Rehoboth Schools, 1848

Over 160 Years Ago, Chairman of the Rehoboth School Committee Writes Punishing Words to Parents

By Otis Dyer Sr.

“There is hardly a man of you who would trust his pigs for even two or three months to a stranger without looking in to see how they were taken care of.” –Lemuel Morse, Esq., 1848

The following was written by Lemuel Morse, Esquire (1795-1869), chairman of the school committee in 1848. Morse, a prominent man in town, lived on a farm between the sharp turn in Old Reynolds Avenue and the corner of Glebe Street. As a Justice of the Peace and/or the equivalent of today's Notary Public, he often prepared and notarized signatures on deeds, probates, pension affidavits for military service in the Revolution, and other legal documents.

The report was copied in longhand by Doris Johnson, who gave me a copy many years ago. Mrs. Johnson, now deceased, lived on Old Anawan Street and was the fourth grade teacher and later principal at the North Rehoboth Elementary School. I don't know where she got the report, but she may have been related to Morse or perhaps had just admired him, as she sometimes spoke admiringly of him to me.

Here is the 1848 report as Doris Johnson copied it. The accompanying photos are from the school books my ancestors had used at the Peck School, corner of Anawan Street and Fairview Avenue, and kept, as they owned the books. School children at that time had to buy their own books.

First Written Report on Record of the Rehoboth School Committee by Lemuel Morse, Chairman

The committee on public schools beg leave to report that during the past year they have visited each of the summer and winter schools once and most of them twice. And while they have been much gratified with the evidence of improvement exhibited in most of the schools, they are never the less forced to the conclusion that our schools are not what they should or might be. And your committee asks your indulgence while they point out some of the causes producible [sic] to the interests of our common schools.

Want of a suitable and convenient house is a serious obstacle to improvement in the condition and character of the schools. The subject of school house has attracted a large share of public attention within a few years past, and a more enlightened and liberal outlay in this particular has been made in most towns. In this town, however, a great improvement needs to be made in this respect. There is no reason why our school houses be the most unattractive objects in the whole landscape around them.

The exterior of our schools should be made pleasing and attractive and the interior constructed with reference for the convenience and comfort of the pupils. Instead of which, too many of the school houses are not only repulsive in their external appearances but so arranged internally that one can hardly escape the conviction that the great object in their construction was to render them as uncomfortable as possible. Could the parents in some of our school districts be prevailed upon to visit their schools and sit a few hours in the ill constructed seats their children are doomed to pass so many hours of uneasiness and discomfort, to think they would be feeling admonished by their aching backs to make an effort to remedy this crying evil. 

Want of order is another serious evil in our schools. Although your committee were much pleased with the stillness and regularity in some schools, there was a lamentable want of order that cannot be otherwise detrimental to the best interest of the schools. "That order is Heaven's first law" is no less the language of truth than poetry. Want of order in the school room besides being injurious to the best interests of education, must exert a pernicious influence upon the future character of the children. If irregularity and insubordination reign in the school room, the pupils will be but ill prepared by its discipline to be quiet and orderly members of society. Parents may do much to remedy this evil, and the interests of education, and the wellbeing of society, call loudly for their earnest endeavors for this purpose.

Want of uniformity in school books is another serious detriment to the improvement of our schools. The law gives the committee the power of prescribing what books shall be used, but they have preferred to recommend; but it is hoped that parents will second the efforts of the committee and purchase only such books as they recommend and in this way a uniformity of books will soon exist throughout the town.

Want of parental cooperation with the teachers is another difficulty which parents should not suffer longer to exist. The education of their children is second in importance to no interest which claims their attention, and yet how few ever take the time to visit the school room. Do you say you do not have time? How do you find time to do everything else you deem of importance? You look closely after every other interest. There is hardly a man of you who would trust his pigs for even two or three months to a stranger without looking in to see how they were taken care of.

Your presence in the schoolroom will much good by showing both teacher and pupils that you take a friendly interest in their proceedings. Speak well of the teacher in the presence of your children.

Let your children see by your manner towards him that you respect and esteem him, and they will the more readily yield to him reverence and obedience. And your teacher too when he sees his labors are appreciated, will be stimulated to higher exertions to secure the continuance of your regard and esteem.

Speak frequently to you children about their school - inquire about their studies and progress.
Show them you feel an interest in their labors and studies. In these and various other ways you may do much to making the school [prosper].

In conclusion your committee commends the cause of mental and moral improvement to every parent and to every citizen, firmly believing that if the proper interest for moral and mental cultivation were felt that the future generation of inhabitants in this town will be more virtuous, more happy, and more intelligent than any proceeding one.

All which is respectfully submitted,
April 3, 1848 [written in the hand of Lemuel Morse, Chairman, as per Doris Johnson]

We Dig Dennis Mello!

If you’ve noticed that the parking field used by the Carpenter Museum has been expanded, it’s thanks to Dennis Mello. He just showed up one day with his tractor, and dug up all those pesky brambles along the perimeter of the field. What a huge job. What a nice thing to do! Thanks, Dennis.

Attention Students: Still a Chance to Apply for the 2016 RAS Scholarship

The Rehoboth Antiquarian Society (RAS) will award a scholarship to one or more students accepted by or enrolled in a post-secondary program related to history, museum studies, or library sciences. Applicants from the greater Rehoboth area may apply. Deadline: June 15. For more information, go to carpentermuseum.org or call the Carpenter Museum: 508-252-3031.

Special Thanks to Sue Withers, Long-Time Volunteer

Sue Withers has served on our trustee board for over 20 years. But she has done much more than sit at our once-a-month meetings. Sue regularly volunteers to help at our programs and events, and many others in town. In fact, pictured here is Sue wearing a dress for Rehoboth’s 325th Anniversary Celebration back in 1968.

Her commitment to our community expands to other areas as well. Sue was Town Clerk of Rehoboth from 1972 to 1998. She also serves on the Personnel Board, served six years on the School Committee, and served a term on the Board of Selectmen. She still substitute teaches at Beckwith Middle School, which she has done for the past 10 years.

Sue’s interest in all things Rehoboth, her passion for local history, and her knowledge of town “goings on” have made her a valuable asset as an RAS Trustee. We thank Sue for her enthusiasm, hard work, and long-time commitment.

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