D ECEMBER Books And Arts - Ruf us POrter, Yankee Pioneer, -1h Pot--^ua/sP~ 4 )Zc Ado , oVt0aL ew Book About Forgotten Artist >>.<a^ too aoi ^'oQgjiQ.S. SS CA OLx*OL -,,I YN 0%-' 3 NEW YORK (AP) - Through trip to the Northwest and Ha- "Scientific American," and had a new book and an art exhibit, a waii, he eventually turned to a part in several other scientific forgotten paintet of the Ameri- portrait work. In his later years journals. can primitive school, who also he decorated scores of houses But all through his long ca- > 0' 1? was an inventor and idea man and inns in New England, many reer of idea-making, Porter re- caLr well ahead of his time, has been of which no longer survive, lied mainly. on portraits and brought back from virtual obliv- As an inventor he was no wall paintings for his bread and ! 4.ova c. o~uj)Yt~o4 ea. 0 ; ioL slouch. He patented many de-butter. This man was Rufus Porter. vices, but others he sold off for As Mrs. Lipman reports in Bbrn in 1792. Deceased 1884- cash. One was a revolving rifle her book, "had he not so inade-I long life filled with creative and which later became the famous quately promoted his innova-' germinal ideas. series of Colt weapons. That tions and so casually disposed of Y. 0e ore As an artist he was no Leon- idea he sold to Samuel Colt for them he would surely have gone down in history as one of the ardo da Vinci. He was self- $100. o "CojCoy- taught; his portraits were As early as 1834 he proposed greatest American inventors. specialty, an airship of the type which Instead, he became a kind of crude. His eventual 0 Co-vv&.ora V1 0% rba4V mural painting, was too naive to many years later would be mechanical Johnny Appleseed, attract attention from serious called a dirigible. He tried for sowing the seeds of new and in- students of American art. But years to promote the idea; he genious ideas as he traveled his like Leonardo, he was full of built a small model that actual- way through New England and ^ aLo^ t P%4ZUA ideas for the future-even flying ly flew. In 1849 (the year of the scattering them abroad through machines. California gold rush) he pro- his journals." pas- As an artist, Porter must be As both artist and inventor, he posed a venture to carry are never held a candle to such a sengers from East Coast to judged as an interesting exam- celebrated contemporary as West Coast in three days. His ple of those primitive painters Samuel F. B. Morse-a leading ideas also included a horseless who gave American art of the painter of the day, and inventor carriage, elevated railroad, 19th century a vigorous, of the telegraph. Porter was portable and prefabricated indigenous flavor. With this re-! a o ]aP. Acre's' a Jo^ e or4 - and various agricultural discovery of his contribution to ae5 44 doomed to obscurity, largely be- houses P -V.- cex cause he never was able to car- implements. this field, it may still be possi- ry his ideas to fruittion. He also was a pioneering jour- ble to save some of the New ft-^ o^ a rks of .Porter's unusual story is con- nalist. He founded, and very England buildings that contain 0 tamed in "Rufus Porter, Yan- briefly was the first editor of, his works. v o.e L@a - wed)0 o Kee rioneer, vy Jean iipman, the art editor, researcher and CL ts dlithority on primitive Ameri- ticle, can art, who spent many years it will appear in the warrant, to be acted on at the digging out the story of the man OVERNMENTOENMEN ASAs town meeting. and his works. The book has TOWN G been published by Clarkson N. To have an article included ED IN GROTOK inthe warrant, the petitioner Potter Inc., at $12.50, with 22 must color plates and 102 black and PRACTIC obtain a minimum of ten, white illustrations. By Mrs. Marie Vlistaconafacdonald - -(preferably more) qualified im- February 7, 1969 - 12 noon- signatures on a properly Concurrently, there is a small The following list of im- Final day exhibit at the and hour for ac- worded petition. The Town Whitney Museum portant dates ha,s been com- f American Art of a set of 10 cepting application for absen- Clerk must verify the signa- piled by Town Clerk Richard tee ballot. tures, which must match wall paintings Porter did for a M. Bissell, as a guide to house in Westwood, Mass., February 18, 1969 - 10 p. names as they appear on the which were rescued when the voters and town officials as m. - Final day and hour for voting list or they will be dis- .house was demolished. well as potenti al candidates registering to vote or chan- qualified. The petition is then Porter was a wanderer. In his for public offic:e in Groton: ges in registration. (Persons submitted to the selectmen, youth he was an itinernant January 27 1969 - 5 p.m. married, who have not re- who go over it with the Town jack-of-all-trades. In his -adult day and hour for fil- registered under new name - Counsel to be sure it is leg- years he was an itinerant por- - Final ing with the Tow'n Clerk, writ- please note). Check the posted ally, or technically correct. trait painter and mural painter, the ar- always sparing part of his time ten notice of intent by pres- Voting Lists. J The order in-which ent incumbent to seek re- March 10, 1969 - 7 a.m. - ticles appear in the warrant to dream up new inventions. Town Meeting - Election. i e -In the beginning, opportunisti- election. men by the seleclof the cally, he did nearly everything. January 31, 1I)69 - 5 p.m. March 17, 1969 - 8 p.m. - aftermined gApprentice shoemaker, fife - Final day and hour for ob- Business Meeting. articles and meeting with de- taining blank noimination pap- January 20, 1969 - Reques- partment heads and repre- player, fiddler, teacher, painter ted that all Articles to appear sentatives of the -of houses and signs, olerator of, ers. various bran- a dancing school, trader on a February 3, 1969 - 5 p.m. n the arrant be submitted ches of the town government. - Final day and hour for sub- by this date. If a large number of articles mitting nominatiion papers to December2, 1968- Reques- have been submitted, those the Board of R.egistrars for ted that all department bud- ihaving to do with the opera- 5 y' Vn t 5 o -a certification of names. gets be submitted to the Town tion of the town appear first, February 10, 1969 - 5 p.m. Accountant by this date. followed by other articles - Final day and hour for fil- An important attribute of the grouped together in their pro- papers with town meeting form of govern- per relationship to bring con- ing nomination the proceedings at tA 0 rk * j- 4 the Town Cler k (This date ment is that any citizen may tinuity to not important in Groton - submit an article concerning the town meeting. superceded b:y February any issue. he believes worthy A copy of the list of im- 3 date). of consideration by the towns- portant dates is posted in the February 11, 1969 - 5 p.m. people. If all of the necessary lobby of the Town Hall, and - Final day and hour for with- requirements have been met articles will appear in the drawals and obje>ctions. in the preparation of the ar- newspaper well in advance of f }of4a et l 4 ,I, .. each deadline to give voters / e&e l / h or t-i time to take any necessary ac- I tion relative to each date..