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CHS Newsletter November 2016 Here are some scenes from previous years’ Christmas Open House. Please read information about this year’s holiday events inside this newsletter. Photos by Mary Mierka Photographs by Our next meeting will be on Nov.15th at 7 pm in the Sprague Mansion. It will feature our annual new members welcome and the awarding of the Volunteer of the Year. The speaker will be Mark Dunkleman, historical artist. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Katy Cabral Stepney (Social Media) OFFICERS Martha Cornell (Gift Shop) Frank DelSanto (Program) Sandra Moyer Steven Frias (Finance) President David Griswold (Publicity) James Hall (Curator) Tom Worthington Fred Joslyn (Ways and Means) Vice President John Lonardo (Hospitality) Gregg Mierka (Property Management) Mary Mierka Secretary Mary Mierka (Events and Rentals) Sandra Moyer (Endowment) Tristan Poirier John O'Leary (Nominations) Treasurer Lydia Rapoza (Joy Homestead) Herbert Zakrison (Buildings and Grounds) Directors at Large Ed Garcia Eleanor Sasso The Cranston Historical Society's mission is to protect, document, interpret and expand understanding of Cranston history. 1351 Cranston Street Cranston, RI 02920 (401) 944-9226 www.cranstonhistoricalsociety.org email: [email protected] facebook: www.facebook.com/cranstonhistoricalsociety President's Note By Sandra Moyer It’s hard to believe that the Cranston Historical Society’s year is nearly over and that this will be last newsletter of 2016. The theme for this newsletter is winter and our articles on historical aspects of the ice business, milk sleds, cold weather clothing and cooking reflect this. Even our biography of Amasa Sprague centers on the most well- known aspect of his life – his murder- which happened on a winter day in 1843. November 15th will be our last general membership meeting. As is our tradition, this meeting will welcome our new members and honor our Volunteer of the Year. This year the Board of Directors has chosen Katy Stepney. Katy is a member of our board of directors and also assists Mary at many of our events. Most importantly, she is the tech savy person who created our new website last year and has maintained it with new photos and event announcements ever since. The November meeting will also have a speaker. Mark Dunkleman, president of the Rhode Island Civil War Round Table, will speak on the Gettysburg Battlefield mural he researched, designed and painted along with RISD artist Johan Bjorkmann. It is an 80 foot mural of the first day of fighting in Gettysburg. Mr. Dunkleman is a scholar, artist and musician. He has written several books about the Civil War. Although our meetings are finished for the year, we still have our holiday events culminating in our annual Christmas Open House at both the Sprague Mansion and the Joy Homestead from 1 to 4 pm on December 4th. At the mansion, the entertainment will again be provided by Sharon Albert and her group of wind instruments. The decorations will be created by the Western Cranston Garden Club and the Edgewood Garden Club. Speaking of Christmas, one holiday gift came early this year. You will remember that Talbot’s store in Garden City offered to host an event on Sept. 16 in which 10% of the store’s receipts for that afternoon and night would be donated to the Cranston Historical Society. We have been told that we will be receiving a check for over $540. I would like to extend our sincere thanks to the store and its manager, Ellen Fay and commend them on their generosity and civic mindedness. The last mailing of the year will arrive in your homes in a few weeks. It will be our annual fund appeal. We like to send it at the end of the year since many people want to get the tax deduction for this year. These funds also come at a good time of the year for us since rentals fall off during the winter, but cold weather brings increased heating and snow removal costs. Membership By Mary Mierka Membership Dues If you have not sent in your dues yet, please forward it to us soon. Welcome New Members Robert/Ruth Riccitelli, No. Providence Tajuana Littlejohn, Coventry Elizabeth McKenna, Providence A Cordial Thank You: A Team Tree: For free work in August a-teamtree.com Home Depot-Johnston: Providing 4 impressive Antique-looking black Mansion front entrance urns Scituate Rotary of RI Inc.: Donation for Mansion fireplace restoration Herb and Sandy Zakrison: Generous donation to fix air conditioning system Please support our Other Business Supporters and Donors: All The Answers, Inc.,-Warwick, Mailing & Printing Services alltheanswersinc.com Climate Controlled Systems Inc.-Cranston, A/C & Heating Services climateri.com CWS Gases Co. (Cranston Welding Supply)-Cranston Since 1946 cranstonwelding.com EMC (Energy Management & Control Services)-Cranston, providers of building control/ energy & integrated facility management systems emccontrols.net Forest Hills Nurseries Inc.-Cranston, Retail/Wholesale plants/nursery foresthillsnurseries.com North-Eastern Tree Services-Cranston northeasterntree.com Parmelee Poirier & Associates, CPA parmeleepoirier.com Rhode Island Civil War Round Table-RIs premier Civil War discussion group ricwrt.com Rhode Island Dental Arts-Cranston, All dentals services ridentists.com Stiller Distributors-Cranston, Distributor of commercial/residential flooring stillerdistributors.com TreePro Services-Coventry treeprori.com Calendar Meetings & Events November 15 Tuesday 7:00 pm in the Sprague Mansion General Membership Meeting – There will be a reception for the new members and the Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented to Katy Stepney, our webmaster and a member of the Board of Directors. Our speaker will be Mark Dunkleman who will speak on the large mural of the Battle of Gettysburg that he painted. November 25 Friday 3:00 – 5:00 pm in the Sprague Mansion We ask our members to join us in decorating the Christmas tree. If you wish, bring a signed ornament to add to our collection. December 3 Saturday 1:00 to 3:00 pm Sprague Mansion We would appreciate donations of any holiday refreshments to be served at our open house. Please bring them to the mansion. December 4 Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 pm Sprague Mansion & Joy Homestead The annual Christmas Open House will feature holiday music, decorations and refreshments in both of our historic properties. Lifestyles The Muff as a Winter Accessory By Mary Elizabeth Corrigan As winter approaches, many of us begin to unpack cold weather clothing. One piece of cold-weather clothing that has fallen out of use is the muff: a cylindrical tube of fabric used by men and women to warm their hands. Muffs were padded with wool batting or down feathers and closed at each end with a drawstring to create a pouch large enough to keep the wearer's hands warm. Earliest illustrations of muffs as a cold weather fashion accessory date to the late sixteenth century. Although gloves, mittens, and mitts were also worn, a muff made from exotic fur was a conspicuous way to stay warm and show wealth. By the 19th century, muffs had become more of a feminine accessory and were rarely used by men. The Cranston Historical Society's collection includes several examples. The pictured example is made of Karakul Lamb, also called “Persian Lamb.” It is made from the soft, dark, dense fur of newborn lambs. Wealthy women would have worn it as it is a luxury material, expensive to obtain. Karakul Lamb was traditionally used for men’s hats in Central Asia where the Karakul sheep are raised, but during the 19th century it was a popular choice for muffs as well as for fur collars for both men and women. This muff is padded with wool batting and lined with dark brown silk satin. Brown silk cords cinch both ends of the muff for an adjustable fit. Karakul lamb muff and box Gift of Mr. & Mrs. James Lovegreen While muffs made of Karakul, Sealskin or Mink could be quite expensive, silk or wool fabric muffs were a less expensive option and could be extravagantly trimmed with ribbons and embroidery. Muffs were not only used to keep hands warm – they could be used as a sort of purse. People might carry letters, handkerchiefs, or coins inside for easy access on a winter's walk or shopping trip. Of Long Ago About Autumn & Winter Meals By Mary Mierka It’s the fall -- harvest of vegetables and fruits were abundant in the Victorian times, including artichokes, asparagus, beans, cabbage, carrots, lettuces, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, turnips, beetroot, apples, black and white bull aces (plums), figs, grapes, quinces. Many households preserved items in Mason jars for the winter. Autumn/winter meals usually included hearty soups and stews. Meal planning for mid to upper class were planned for the week. Usually breakfast was served between 8-9 a.m. Dinner was the main meal of the day, served between noon and 3 p.m. Tea and variety of cakes/finger sandwiches’ served between 3-6 p.m. and ‘supper’, generally served between 7-9 p.m. In Kate and William Sprague’s time, inviting guests to dine was an opportunity to display their wealth through fancy and rich foods, finest china and cutlery. The Winter Bill of Fare below is a sample of fall offerings as listed in the “Cookery As It Should Be: A New Manual of the Dining Room and Kitchen”, by A Practical Housekeeper and Pupil of Mrs. Goodfellow [Philadelphia:Willis P. Hazard] 1853. Monday. Breakfast. Corn bread, cold bread, stew, boiled eggs. Dinner. Soup, cold joint, calves' head, vegetables. Dessert. Puddings, & Tea. Cold bread, milk toast, stewed fruit. Tuesday. Breakast. Hot cakes, cold bread, sausages, fried potatoes. Dinner. Soup, roast turkey, cranberry sauce, boiled ham, vegetables.