Category: Seven Hearths

Tours of Seven Hearths Available by Appointment

Posted on by Logan Wheeler

Tours of Seven Hearths Available by Appointment

The Kent Historical Society is offering tours of its Seven Hearths Museum by appointment.

Our ongoing restoration of the museum continues. It is something that has been underway since our 1978 inheritance of “Seven Hearths,” a large pre-Revolutionary house in the Flanders Historic District of Kent. The structure dates back to 1751, when it was constructed by the Beebe family.

Seven Hearths was bequeathed to the Society by its long-time owner, noted New York artist, George Laurence Nelson. He had bought the house in 1919, and invested a great deal of time in “fixing it up.” Fortunately for posterity, Nelson respected the ancient bones of the house and documented his process in an essay entitled New Life for Old Timber. He noted where he had removed walls, converted rooms, and even where he had covered up the names of fur pelts chalked on some beams upstairs.

Anyone wishing to visit is asked to make an appointment by phoning the office, 860-927-4587 or by emailing.

Guests Enjoy Seven Hearths Revealed Party

Guests Enjoy Seven Hearths Revealed Party

Posted on by Logan Wheeler

Guests Enjoy Seven Hearths Revealed Party

Over 40 people visited Seven Hearths April 21 for the Seven Hearths Revealed Party to help support our ongoing efforts to highlight the history of Kent. The cocktail party drew a supportive crowd, with a great mix of people who had visited previously along with some who'd never been inside our historic house museum.

Trustees Jeffrey Morgan and Roger Gonzales led a group of people through the museum on a tour, highlighting recent additions as well as the conservation work underway on the building.

We would also like to recognize the organizing committee for the party that was chaired by Trustees Deb Chabrian and Jeffrey Morgan. Others volunteered their time to make it a success, including Austi Brown and Trustees Lynn Worthington and Kent Freeman, as well as volunteers Adriana Martinez and Ed Martinez . Acting Director Patrice Galterio and Curator Marge Smith also spent considerable time planning and welcomed guests to the event.

KHS thanks the following for their help with the party: TEPOZ Tequila,
Kent Wine & Spirit.

One of the highlights of the evening was viewing the artwork offered through a silent auction to support the George Laurence Nelson Scholarship. Six artists contributed paintings and prints they created during a Paint Out on April 12-13 in George Laurence Nelson’s former studio in the Seven Hearths Museum. Proceeds from the auction will fund the scholarship that will aid college students studying art and art history.

 

 

Donors

We are especially grateful to those who supported this event and the Society with their generous contributions.

Underwriter

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kissinger
Ms. Agnes Gund
Mrs. Anne Bass

Supporter

Ms. Nina Henderson and Mr. Roger Branson
Mr. Jeffrey Morgan and Mr. Robert Couturier
Mr. and Mrs. Greg Randall
Mr. Guy Peterson

Friend

Mr. and Mrs. Ned Babbitt
Mr. and Mrs. Ely Britton
Ms. Austi Brown
Dr. Ben Cohen and Dr. Barbara Lukash
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony DiPentima
Mr.  David Freeman and Adriana Martinez
Mr. Michael Hallows and Ms. Lynn Perry
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hicks
Mr. Clinton Kelly
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Klein
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lenz
Dr. Martin Levine and Dr. Israel Cruz
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Melton
Mr. and Mrs. John Noneman
Mr. Stephen Shapiro and Dr. Amy Attas
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tobin
Mr. and Mrs. John Youngblood
Mr. Anthony Zunino

 

2017 Summer Art Enrichment: another success!

Posted on by Logan Wheeler

2017 Summer Art Enrichment: another success!

The Society enjoyed another successful Summer Art Enrichment program educating youngsters in June and July with a variety of professional artists as instructors.

The organizers expanded the program to a full four weeks this year and several new instructors contributed their talents, including Sam Alford, an illustrator and animation artist, Albert Coffill, retired Kent Center School art teacher, and Gabriella Martinez, an art student at the Hartford Art School.  We also welcomed back Andy Richards, who is the head of the Visual Arts Department at The Gunnery school.

Some comments from parents: “The instructor was great and the projects were so creative.” “She enjoyed the group creation of comics. The creative interaction was fun for her.” “She enjoyed the chance to immerse herself in painting.”

There were a total of six different weekly sessions of instruction and 53 participants were involved. Many of the sessions also got a tour of the Seven Hearths Museum thanks to Curator Marge Smith.

At the end of each week, there was an art show presenting each child’s work and parents, grandparents and friends enjoyed seeing all the work on display.

“We continue to be awed by the high quality of art instruction that the Summer Art Enrichment students are receiving through this program,” said Melissa Roth Cherniske, one of the trustees that helped organize the program. 

“It was so nice to see the Art Barn buzzing with artistic activity. We started this to pay homage to George Laurence Nelson. I’m sure that he and Helen would be so happy and proud to see the program we have developed ” said trustee Lynn Mellis Worthington, one of the volunteers who helped organize the program.

The Society is thrilled to have the Art Barn in use to allow children to develop their artistic skills.  George Laurence Nelson gave art lessons in various forms over the years and so we believe our art instruction continues his legacy.

For a full description of the sessions, go here.

Interested in Summer Art Enrichment in 2018? Contact the Society’s organizers.

Images from the 2017 sessions:

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Seven Hearths in Bloom Delights Guests

Posted on by Logan Wheeler


The Society celebrated the arrival of spring with a fundraiser, “Seven Hearths in Bloom,” Saturday, April 29 and this was a terrific opportunity to show supporters how great our house museum can look.

Floral displays were featured in each of the rooms and each was created and donated by Kent Greenhouse and Gardens. Our thanks also to TEPOZ Tequila donation for our specialty cocktail “Tequila Thyme Lemon-Lime Spritzer,” Kent Wine & Spirit and J.P. Gifford’s for their assistance with the party.

Trustee Jeffrey Morgan led a group of people through the museum on a tour, where he elaborated on the conservation work underway on the building. He noted how he has carefully removed the layers of paint to reveal the original colors at the bottom.

Curator Marge Smith said that the process of discovery has been interesting as the house reveals itself and its story of past residents.

“One of the fun things is to try to figure out why they chose the paint colors they did,” Smith said in the family parlor, that has also been called the dining room over the years. “We don’t know why they liked orange black,” she said, referring to the orange patches in the corner that have been uncovered.

Morgan said that there was a lot of change in the way the rooms were set up.

“Furniture was a very movable thing,” he explained, noting that many items are worn down on the front legs because they’ve been dragged around.

Smith also noted that the Beebe family was clearly very wealthy and wanted others to know that.

“By the time they built this house, they wanted to show they had money,” she said. The high ceilings and the color on the walls all indicate this to historians.

Smith encouraged all those attending to return to Seven Hearths this summer to view the exhibit on The Founders of Kent.

“It’s a fascinating story and you’ve got to come back,” she told the guests.

Almost 70 came and helped support our ongoing efforts to highlight the history of Kent.

The cocktail party drew a supportive crowd, with a great mix of old and young. When KHS President Mike Everett listed some of our recently completed capital projects, the new siding on Seven Hearths drew spontaneous applause. He highlighted several accomplishments of the Society.

“One of the most important things was we found a way to store all of Mr. Nelson’s paintings,” he said. An Art and Archives Storage area has been created in the lowest level of Tallman House, where the office is located.

Everett also recognizes the organizing committee for the party that was chaired by Trustees Deb Chabrian and Jeffrey Morgan. Other valuable members included Trustee Kate Vick, along with Bruce Whipple, Melissa Cherniske and Lynn Worthington.

One of the highlights of the evening was the silent auction to support the George Laurence Nelson Scholarship.

Seven artists contributed paintings and prints they created during a Paint Out on April 18 and 19 in George Laurence Nelson’s former studio in the Seven Hearths Museum. Proceeds from the auction will fund the scholarship that will aid college students studying art and art history.

Donors

We are especially grateful to those who supported this event and the Society with their generous contributions.

Underwriters

  • Mrs. Anne Bass
  • David and Allison Blitzer
  • Ms. Annette de la Renta
  • Dr. and Mrs. Henry Kissinger
  • Hilda and Arnold Neis
  • Todd and Leslie Powell

 

Supporter

  • James D. Barron and Jeannette Montgomery Barron
  • Ms. Austi Brown
  • Ms. Agnes Gund
  • Michael Hallows and Lynn Perry
  • Ann Lozman and Jay Harris
  • Alice and Jim Hicks
  • Megg and Ted Hoffman
  • Jeffrey Morgan and Robert Couturier
  • Jean Morrison and Lawford Anderson
  • Judy and Jim Perkins
  • Mr. and Mrs. F. Anthony Zunino
  • Nicholas/Tobin Insurance Co.

 

Friend

  • Susan and Victor Fink
  • Kent Freeman and Adriana Martinez
  • Thomas Gibbs and Robert Lindgren
  • Nina Henderson and Roger Branson
  • Jim Hoge and Kathy Lacey
  • Charles and Jane Klein Family Fund
  • Bob and Carol Lenz
  • Carol L. Hoffman Matzke
  • Patricia and John Noneman
  • Sharon and Jim Norton
  • Jerry and Gail Tobin
  • Kate and James Vick
  • Bruce Whipple and Michael Ward
  • Wyrick Associates, Architect
  • Gabriel and Jane Zatlin

2018 Paint Out raises funds for GLN scholarship

Posted on by Logan Wheeler

2018 Paint Out raises funds for GLN scholarship

Six local artists contributed paintings they created during a Paint Out April 12-13 in the Seven Hearths Museum. The artistic works will be auctioned during a silent auction April 21 during the Seven Hearths Revealed cocktail party in the historic house museum. Proceeds from the auction are helping fund the George Laurence Nelson Scholarship.

Here is a video of the Paint Out in progress.

The organizer of the Paint Out was Trustee Deborah Chabrian, who is also co-chairing the party.

The six artists who participated are Chabrian, Ed Martinez, Bob Lenz, Susan Grisell, Richard Stalter and Mike Everett. They all created interior views in keeping with the theme of the party.

More information is available here about the George Laurence Nelson Scholarship.

 

Seven Hearths Curators’ Tours Offered

Posted on by Logan Wheeler

Reading an Old House: Tours of Seven Hearths Offered

The challenge – a person acquires an ancient house and wants to really get to know it underneath its modern layers. A title search in the land records will reveal who owned the house when, but that’s about it. What else can a curious homeowner do?

This summer, the Kent Historical Society will illustrate how a careful historical examination of a house can be done. They will be showcasing the long journey they’ve been on since the 1978 inheritance of “Seven Hearths,” a large pre-Revolutionary house in the Flanders Historic District of Kent. Seven Hearths was bequeathed to the Society by its long-time owner, noted New York artist, George Laurence Nelson. He had bought the house in 1919, and invested a great deal of time in “fixing it up.” Fortunately for posterity, Nelson respected the ancient bones of the house and documented his process in an essay entitled New Life for Old Timber. He noted where he had removed walls, converted rooms, and even where he had covered up the names of fur pelts chalked on some beams upstairs.

Kent Historical Society board member Jeffrey Morgan is an expert whose passion and profession is restoring ancient houses. He is currently juggling several aspects of discovery in Seven Hearths. He is carefully removing layers of paint in each room, documenting the age of the paint and the stories that each layer can tell him. With help of fellow board member Roger Gonzales and another old house expert Mark Peterson, Morgan has uncovered the original kitchen floor, found the location of the original attic stair, determined the configuration of the original windows and door on the west wall, and more. Mysterious marks on the old walls upstairs, initials carved in the ancient wood, a curious board by the fireplace in the studio – there are clues throughout the house that can answer questions about previous inhabitants, and even clues that leave us scratching our collective educated heads.

In the meantime, he and Curator Marge Smith have been researching the house’s occupants. Going through census and probate records, reading old diaries, tracking down descendants and talking to town old timers, they are uncovering a trove of information about the lives lived in Seven Hearths Museum. The quest to tell the whole story continues, and you will be a part of it when you take the tour.  Perhaps YOU will have an answer to one of the mysteries!

Tours of Seven Hearths, led by Morgan and Smith, will illustrate this process in depth. The tours will be held at 10AM on July 16 (TOUR FULL), August 20, September 17 (TOUR FULL), and October 15, or by appointment. Please register using the form BELOW.

There is a limit of 10 people per tour.

Curators’ Tour & Talk recap

Posted on by Logan Wheeler

Curators’ Tour and Talk on “Camps of Kent: Memories of Summer”

The curators of the Kent Historical Society’s 2015 Exhibit, “Camps of Kent: Memories of Summer,” gave a special tour and talk about this popular show on September 19, at Seven Hearths.

In a nostalgic, varied exhibit that closed September 27, the Kent Historical Society explored the town’s camping past. During camping’s peak in the 1950s and 1960s, a surprising number of camps were tucked into the hills and hollows of Kent. Exhibit curators Marge Smith (the curator of the Kent Historical Society) and board member Melissa Cherniske gathered the material for the exhibit.

Co-exhibit curator Melissa Cherniske said, “Working on the ‘Camps of Kent’ show was a gratifying experience for all of us. It was such a pleasure to be able to bring a piece of the past alive for everyone.”

Many of Kent’s camps may be gone, but they often have alumni networks that help former campers and counselors stay connected. Through various social media outlets, the Kent Historical Society has been in touch with the alumni associations for Camp Francis, Geer Mountain Camp, Camp Kent, Kenico, Camp Po-Ne-Mah and Leonard/Leonore. This has proved crucial for the exhibit, because many past campers provided the artifacts and memorabilia that are on display. Many Kent camp alumni associations held reunions and attended camp-themed hikes over the summer, and the Kent Historical Society dovetailed its programming with these warm, heartfelt gatherings.

Curator Marge Smith said, “This exhibit succeeded because of the tremendous response we received from former campers, counselors, and camp owners, who shared their artifacts and memories with us. One of the most rewarding aspects has been hearing former campers express such depth of emotion about their camp experience and their time in Kent, and its lasting importance in their lives.”

The Society is grateful to the Exhibition Sponsors: Kent School, The Marvelwood School, South Kent School, Victor Fink in memory of Camp Leonard-Leonore, Nicholas/Tobin Insurance, Union Savings Bank, Bain Real Estate, Ira Goldspiel and William Pitt/Sotheby’s International Realty, and Barry Labendz & David Birnbaum of Kent Falls Brewing Company.

Camps exhibit elicited memories

Posted on by Logan Wheeler

Camps Exhibit Elicited Memories

Visitors enjoyed show

Memories of summer camp are forged in the relationships made between campers and the Kent Historical Society realizes the importance of those bonds and celebrated summer with its 2015 exhibit, “Camps of Kent: Memories of Summer.” The exhibit was honored with an Award of Merit from the Connecticut League of History Organizations.

Many of those visiting that summer left comments in our guest book. Here is a sampling of the comments shared by various people:

“Wow; Fabulous; Wonderful; Loved it! Great Exhibit; Neat! Very evocative! Great Show; Unique and special place; Splendid work; Fabulous restoration! Terrific! Lovely presentation; Enjoyed all so much; Very interesting, well done; Great job! This was the best!”

“An incredible exhibit about the history of camping. The values of summer camp from long ago still ring true today!”

Some of our volunteer docents even get shout outs: “Linda was great!”

“Wow; Fabulous; Wonderful; Loved it! Great Exhibit; Neat! Very evocative! Great Show; Unique and special place; Splendid work; Fabulous restoration! Terrific! Lovely presentation; Enjoyed all so much; Very interesting, well done; Great job! This was the best!”

When you visit the Seven Hearths Museum, please take the time to sign the guest book and please leave a comment. It helps us when we are applying for grants and we like to know what appeals to people in the various exhibits.

We welcomed upper level members June 6 for a party to preview the exhibit. Victor Fink, former owner of Club Getaway and Camp Leonard-Leonore, shared some of his experiences and his thoughts about the importance of camp to so many children.

“For so many adults, their camp experience in Kent was a peak-like experience. It is where they learned to live away from home and they learned sportsmanship and athletics,” Fink said. He added that many don’t realize how many camps operated here. “Kent was kind of the camp capital.”

Images of some of our first guests enjoying the exhibit

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We also hosted 75 alumni campers from Camp Kent and Camp Kenico June 13 to celebrate camp reunions and the public opening of the exhibit.

Dari Silverman was one of the organizers of the Camp Kent reunion. She was very pleased to be a part of the society’s exhibit.

“The exhibit was fantastic. It was well thought out and insightfully displayed,” Silverman said. “For me being there and seeing some old friends that I hadn’t seen in over 50 years was the highlight of the day. We fell back into the friendships that we had established all of those years ago in seconds.”

The exhibit covers the entire range of Kent’s camps from children’s residential camps to adult retreats. Some were for relief workers, such as Near East Camps in Kent Hollow. Three camps are still active and the independent schools regularly host camps for portions of the summer.

Other camps have hosted reunions this summer and made a visit to the exhibit part of the festivities. Camp Francis welcomed former campers and staff July 25 with a reunion at Seven Hearths and a gathering and a walk at the camp. Geer Mountain Camp alumni visited July 26 and sang camp songs in the museum. Camp Po-ne-mah has plans for Aug. 14-16.

This look into Kent’s camping legacy provides a vivid picture of the changing meaning of childhood and recreation, and will resonate with everyone who sojourned in Kent. However, even those who didn’t camp here will recognize many familiar items that were common to the camp experience.

For some of these campers, summer camp proved to be among the warmest and most significant of their lives. In fact, time spent camping in Kent’s woods has led many people to seek out Kent as adults. A number of current residents came to Kent because they remembered the enchanted place where they spent their summer.

At the same time, many longtime Kent residents had little direct experience of the camps in their midst, and one goal of the exhibit is to help them appreciate what actually went on there.

One of the exhibit rooms features the influential adults who were so important to the operations of these camps. Ky Anderson, who taught horseback riding at several camps, is profiled, along with Eugene “Rusty” O’Meara who operated Camp Po-ne-mah after Billie Williams, and Lloyd Albin, who owned and operated Kenmont-Kenwood for many years. All three have been able to see the exhibit and were touched by the displays in their honor.

The Society is grateful to the Exhibition Sponsors: Kent School, The Marvelwood School, South Kent School, Victor Fink in memory of Camp Leonard-Leonore, Nicholas/Tobin Insurance, Union Savings Bank, Bain Real Estate, Ira Goldspiel and William Pitt/Sotheby’s International Realty, as well as Barry Labendz and David Birnbaum of Kent Falls Brewing Company.

Objects sought for exhibit

Posted on by Logan Wheeler

The following are objects sought for the Camps of Kent Exhibit, which will be shown in the Seven Hearths Museum in the summer of 2015. Please bring items to the office at Tallman House during regular office hours or email info@kenthistoricalsociety.org.

  • Black velvet riding helmet
  • Life jacket
  • Volleyball
  • Dated bathing suits (vintage)
  • Tetherball
  • Soccer ball
  • Canoe paddle
  • Backpack (vintage)
  • Suitcases
  • Army duffle bag
  • Mess kit
  • Archery bow/target
  • Badminton racket and shuttle cocks
  • Old flashlights
  • Trumpet/bugle
  • Jacks and ball
  • Fishing pole
  • Sling shot
  • Canteen
  • Water skiis
  • Compass
  • Croquet
  • Jump rope
  • Cot and a mattress

Double Birthday Celebration: A Great Success

Posted on by Logan Wheeler

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Double Birthday Celebration Called Great Success

Making use of the rain date, the town of Kent and the Kent Historical Society held a double birthday celebration on the beautiful Sunday afternoon of October 5.  The occasion was the 275th anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Kent, which coincided with the 60th birthday of the Historical Society.  The day’s delay allowed the rain to clear, and over 100 celebrants enjoyed the crisp fall weather at the Seven Hearths Museum just north of Kent.

After a brief annual meeting, KHS President Lynn Mellis Worthington summarized the Historical Society’s recent accomplishments and introduced the new KHS Executive Director, Brian Thomas. Thomas expressed excitement over his new post, and said he was looking forward to working with Marge Smith in her role as Curator.

Beth Dooley, who is one of the longest serving members of the Board of Trustees, thanked Marge Smith for her years of service as Executive Director and presented an espaliered pear tree as a gift from the Historical Society. Smith spoke and reflected on the legacy of Emily Hopson, the organization’s late president and benefactor, and how the Historical Society has grown steadily in the past decade and a half.

The Berkshire Hills Trio livened up an interlude of socializing. Many visitors ventured inside Seven Hearths to see “Iron, Wood and Water: Essential Elements in the Evolution of Kent.” This exhibit will be open this Saturday through Monday (Oct. 11, 12 and 13) – the last official weekend, then by appointment through the end of October.

An old school bell summoned everyone for a town photo in front of the Seven Hearths Museum. Photographer Randy O’Rourke was lifted above the crowd using the Kent Volunteer Fire Department’s aerial truck.

The photo was followed by a presentation from State Sen. Clark Chapin (R-30th District) and State Rep. Roberta Willis (D-64th District), who read the proclamation that sent congratulations to Kent and the Kent Historical Society from the entire State Assembly.  The festivities climaxed with Thomas presenting a Time Capsule to the Town of Kent, explaining that it contained contributions from Kent citizens, businesses, organizations, and government. There are a variety of items that were donated to represent a slice of life in 2014. Items included the Kent Cub Scouts, who listed their favorite books, local restaurants supplied menus, and Kent organizations gave photographs.  It will leave a detailed, valuable record for when the capsule is opened in 2039, the 300th anniversary of the town’s incorporation.

Thomas noted that the capsule was initially going to be buried on the grounds of the Seven Hearths Museum, but KHS board agreed that the proposed Town Green (or Town Hall) would be a more fitting site.

In accepting the Time Capsule, First Selectman Bruce Adams admitted that he wouldn’t have focused on this year as the town’s anniversary, if he hadn’t been approached by the Kent Historical Society. “Zanne Charity came to me and later the Board of Selectmen with a great presentation explaining the event.”

Then a birthday cake lit with sparklers appeared and the double birthdays were toasted with champagne. It was a festive end to a warm-hearted community event.