On Saturday, December 7th, The Black Tavern Historical Society joined with the Friends of the Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library to provide horse-drawn carriage rides at the Christmas Open House. It The Society utilizes the was a wonderful event and we following media to publicize our appreciate your voluntary support, meetings and programs: The donations, and the beautiful Patriot, Webster Times, ornaments that were hung on our Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Blessed with ideal weather, Christmas tree at the Tavern. two early evening summer concerts Dudley Public Access Cable TV, were held in 2002. June 27th, the posting on the front door of The very popular HERITAGE STRING Black Tavern and at local BAND made a return visit; July 11th, businesses. the HEFFERNAN/SABATINI JAZZ In January 2002, Ed QUINTET made their first visit to Hubbard presented the history of The Tavern. Though the quintet was not from the area, ironically, one the Johnson-Foskett house in member, Jim Heffernan, spent the Dudley. This program drew a very first 4 years of his life on Dudley large audience who listened Hill while his father taught intently to Ed‟s well-prepared economics at Nichols College. The discussion of the area. The Open House guests boarding the Black Tavern Historical Society is program was well received. horse drawn carriage again grateful to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which, in During February we held our infamous Dudley recalls cooperation with the Dudley Cultural program. The list of speakers Co uncil, helped to make these two included a group of local folks: very successful concerts possible. Tony DiDonato, Bob Ducharme, We have scheduled one Joe Antos, Chet Kulisa, Janet summer concert on June 26, 2003. Masler and Ed Patenaude. They From 6:00 p.m. to dusk, TARA‟S enjoyed sharing some great old- time stories of how “it used to be” THISTLE (consisting of two Celtic in the Webster-Dudley area. folk singers with a variety of Singing Carols in the Tavern instruments), will perform for the first time on the lawn of The Black The 2002 Annual Business st Tavern. Meeting was held on May 21 at which time The Black Tavern By- Laws were updated and revised. Peg Pedersen The Annual Business Meeting will be held this year on rd The 3 Grade students Thursday, May 15, 2003. This from Dudley Elementary School meeting will include planning the came to visit The Black Tavern on agenda of programs for the coming th Wednesday, May 29 . A special year. Anyone interested in becoming note of thanks goes out to the an active member within our Massachusetts Cultural Council, historical community should plan to who in cooperation with the attend this meeting. Dudley Cultural Council, assisted with funding for the buses to If you would like more transport the 3rd Grade children information about The Black Tavern to and from the school. or becoming a member of The Black Volunteers are “always” needed at Tavern Historical Society, please The Black Tavern for this daylong, contact Joy Glynn @ 508-943-9611. “A “1861 Trip Revisited” Around the educational event. Period 2 2Hill” costumes are available for anyone who can participate. Please Support project As the result of generosity of Dick and Betty Nevers of The Barn Webster and Fort Pierce, Florida, As it appears today - The Black Tavern has a new United States flag. As frequent attendants Excerpt taken from the final page of of The Tavern‟s outdoor summer Black Tavern Tales, written by Dr. concerts, the Nevers saw the need Charles Goodell. for a new flag. It will be flown on the rear lawn flagpole. The Black “HANDS ACROSS THE YEARS” Tavern Historical Society is most “Sit with me by the Homestead hearth grateful for this gift. And stretch the hands of memory forth To warm them at the wood-fire‟s blaze.” Snow Bound- Whittier Peg Pedersen As it was in the late 1800‟s - Strong hands! how eagerly they came To drag the yule-log to the flame, While showers of sparks went flying up Bread Pudding Recipe The chimney to its smokey top. Served at the Black Tavern Trained hands! that filled the oven there With all the housewife‟s thoughtful care, ¼ cup butter or margarine Lest any one of all her brood 1 cup dark brown sugar Should miss his meed of daily food. 3 slices bread (buttered) To the left is the old Methodist ½ cup raisins (or berries) Deft hands! that wrought the wool and flax Church which is no longer there. In fitting garments for the backs 3 eggs Of man and maid and careless child, 2 cups milk And wrought with boundless love beguiled. 1/8 tspn. Salt As part of the fund raising Soft hands! that bathed the baby‟s face 1 tspn. Vanilla And felt the thrill of tender grace, effort for The Black Tavern Barn Which only Mothers understand, Restoration Project, the Board of Melt butter in the bottom of baking Who giver their all at love‟s demand. Directors voted to reprint the book, dish; Black Tavern Tales, Stories of Old Sprinkle sugar over butter. Sweet hands! that made their “pat-a-cake,” New England The book, which was And laugh and crowed for Mother‟s sake. Butter bread and put over the sugar; written in 1932 by Dr. Charles L. Then fell asleep on Mother‟s breast; Goodell, is printed on acid-free As sleeps the birdling in its nest. Add raisins. paper, bound with a quality hard cover and comes complete with a Boy‟s hands! with racket, bat and ball, Beat eggs, milk, salt & vanilla; dust jacket. Black Tavern Tales is Impatient for the answering call Pour over bread (do not stir). Of mates, who hasten to the game available for $30/each at The Black To find their place and win their fame. Place baking dish over simmering Tavern or we can mail a copy for water @ 350 degrees for one hour. $35/each ($5 additional charge is to Pale hands! once stout and passing fair, cover the cost of shipping and All emptied now of fretting care. handling). Please contact Peg They kiss their old worn wedding ring, Serve warm with fresh cream, Pedersen @ 508-943-8391 if you And sweetly smile, and softly sing. whipped cream or ice cream. Enjoy! are interested in purchasing a copy of the Black Tavern Tales. So, “Memory‟s hands,” they come and go In fading firelight‟s fitful glow. They gleam, and fade, and pass away, Joe Antos & Joy Glynn But pass to live in endless day! views prior to the twentieth century And look at that barn! Who evolutions and influences from many built that?” (He never saw it in his lands and sources. Tracing the lifetime, as he passed away in 1817, changes and family histories is and the barn wasn‟t built until the beyond the casual inquirer of general mid 1800‟s) This print has a meaning to historic curiosity but is deeply felt Good chance “The Old Darnman”, in The Black Tavern story far deeper by those with involved connections. his endless and desperate than the surface value as primitive wanderings, trying to find his bride, art work of antiquity. It is the Charles Moseley crawled up to the hayloft for a good foundation of the story of Dudley night‟s rest. And what a playground Hill and its interrelated people who for the kids after attending class at founded and developed it. It is Becca‟s Stone Schoolhouse on typical of the family memorial Tanyard Road. tablets of the era. There is a A special word of thanks to weeping willow symbol, pictures of Bob Ducharme for the “Barn the surviving family members, and a During the past year, a lot Restoration” sign, an eye catcher, tablet memorial statement. These all of time and energy was spent by the and for a new “Black Tavern” sign relate to a quote from Whittier over board on acquisition of the “Annex”, over the entrance of the Tavern the large fireplace, to Whittier‟s the old, future “Barn”. It has been a itself. Also a special thanks to “The works such as “Telling it to the long and drawn-out process that Iceman from Center Road”, from way Bees” relevant to close family would not have been crowned with back then, Raymond Wieloch of activities. Whittier was a frequent success without the unrelenting “Wieloch Pond” fame, for donating visitor to this area and lived close to efforts and legal assistance of Jim his heavy, heavy-duty ice harvesting the Maudsley Park developed by Whitney. A very special word of tools to the Tavern, 5 in all. It took descendants of the Quinebaug thanks and appreciation to Jim who a strong man to work those tools! Valley. volunteered a lot of his time, and Wow! We will safeguard them, and if The family of the print built had to deal with a lot of frustration Mass Electric ever goes out of the Tavern in 1804 and members while pushing the process forward. business, well, Ray‟s son Paul will be were residing on the hill for 100 Big thanks again, Jim.!! more than welcome to pick up the old years before the Tavern was built. I have been asked many trade. One never knows! Thanks, Ray! While Nichols College has its own times: “Why does the Tavern want One more item of very story, the land earlier was developed that old building?” Fair question, historic importance. Thanks to by the descendants of the Tavern until I explained the consequences Charles and Marion Moseley, a copy antecedents.