Happy autumn to all:

The docents at the Ruggles House, Jenene Schneider, Ellen Tenan and others who fill in upon occasion, report a very good season. Visitations and donations have been encouraging BUT the little gift cabinet has more than doubled past revenue. Guests have bought hand made dolls, postcards, both note cards and Christmas cards designed from images of Lizzie & Emily Ruggles, granddaughters of Thomas Ruggles. As funds become available the interior committee frames the original drawings and tastefully displays them around the house. Another item soon available is the second collectible featuring the House but this image shows the new ell or some may like to think of it as the original house. See the Museum Shop page on the web site . Items may also be purchased by calling the House, 207-483-4637 in season (June 1 through October 15), or 207-546-7903 off-season.

Last July before people arrived to enjoy the annual ice cream social, a couple of officers were admiring how attractive the House looked when one director mentioned that during the renovation a workman wanted to know why we go to great expense to preserve Ruggles House. In fact he suggested that we just tear down the old house. As this had happened a year prior, it was obviously a comment which bothered. The first reaction is that to know where one is going, one must know where you've been. That was too broad a statement to make sense, so off to research. For many years Ruggles House has had the privilege of knowing and working with Dr. William J. Murtagh, former first Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places. He is presently on the Ruggles House advisory board and has written "Keeping Time - The history and Theory of Preservation in America." Bill points out that historic houses are three dimensional teaching tools. One might see the architectural fabric of the house; see, feel and sometimes touch items belonging to former residents. If the interpretation of the space is accurate, the house becomes a home, a place where 200 years ago real people lived. Guests at Ruggles House marvel at the "rubble of brick in the basement" when they understand that in 1818 the cooking area of the house was in the basement. It seems appropriate to never forget the forward thinking of Mary Ruggles Chandler, great granddaughter of Thomas Ruggles who spearheaded the preservation of this House. She was a woman ahead of her time, being a pharmacist as well as a preservationist. Presently there is a display "in the works" commemorating her life and we hope to have it ready for our second annual Christmas Tea.

The Society has received grant money from the Cultural Resources Information Center of the Maine State Archives, for the purpose of organizing the archives room on the second floor of the newly built wing. Thanks to Ellen Tenan who applied for this grant, we have received $372.50 to which we must add matching funds. In addition to the large collection of Ruggles Family papers, we have received much of Gloria Hayward's extensive collection of historical material from Columbia Falls and surrounding towns. Mrs. Hayward is a Columbia Falls native and has spent most of her life accumulating this material. Ruggles House is delighted to be favored with this material. Mrs. Hayward has been a docent at the House and is presently on the Advisory Committee. Now having the aforementioned grant, the Society will purchase shelving and cabinets to assist in organizing the collection. This should in years to come serve many people in the community wishing to do Washington County research. As there is no historical society in Columbia Falls itself, this should be a valuable asset to the community for historic preservation and we thank Gloria for this collection, called the Hayward Collection.

Other donors of items to the House include Jeanne Drechsel of Farmington and Richard Grant of Columbia Falls. It's worth mentioning that Jeanne's grandfather had a large lumber mill in Columbia Falls on the Pleasant River. Dick Grant in "cleaning his house" has come up with interesting items, amongst which is an advertising book of nursery rhymes from "Aunt May's" drug store. This will be included in the new exhibit on Mary Ruggles Chandler and of course, Dick being a longtime resident of Columbia Falls, knew Aunt May and vividly remembers the chocolates sold in her pharmacy.

Martha Bucknam Brogan of Freeport, Maine, has donated her great-aunt Emma's wedding dress. Mary Emma Bucknam was born in Columbia Falls, the daughter of Gilbert and Susanna Bucknam, great-granddaughter of John and Mary Bucknam. She married Henry Staples on December 20, 1892. Emma was second cousin to Lizzie Ruggles, last of the family to live in this House. At the time of her wedding, Lizzie and her mother, Carolyn were both living in the House and undoubtedly attended the wedding. Carolyn Bucknam Ruggles was a first cousin to Emma's father, Gilbert Bucknam. Emma's wedding dress is a soft cinnamon brown with fitted bodice, leg-of-mutton sleeves, long skirt with a short train and of course essentially handmade. Except for the disintegrating lace around the neckline, the dress is in excellent condition. We are presently seeking expert help in advising us how to stabilize this lace and looking for a dress form to use to display the dress. Our collection does not include much apparel so we welcome this garment. We also hope that a family member might have a photograph of Mary Emma Bucknam and might notify us if such a photo is available. Our gratitude to Mrs. Brogan and others for their generous gifts.

The following comes under the heading of "Something to make you smile". Nancy Herr, Ruggles House vice president and publicity committee chairman, was browsing in an antiques shop in Cherryfield recently. She overheard the proprietor in conversation with customers obviously from away and one of the two asked for an explanation of "down east". It was explained that in the age of sail when ships traveled from Boston to Maine, the wind was at their back, so they were traveling down wind and east, hence "down east". Today it is generally agreed that down east is from Ellsworth to the Canadian border. The other customer then asked if there was an "up east" !

At the June director's meeting again and many times in the past eight or so years, there was discussion as to how the exceptional gifts to the Ruggles House could be honored. We had in the past thought of an engraved plaque for instance but nothing had been right. This time one suggested that we plant something living and so acknowledge the donor with a tree or flowering bush. This seemed to be right and soon there will be a few plantings in gratitude.

We're hardly into fall when we're about to tell you of winter plans. Bill Brundage a director from Cherryfield, has volunteered to work on the collection of artifacts from the archaeological digs pre building of the ell. Pam Crane the archaeologist will be a part of this project and by the time you visit the House in 2007, we may have an interesting display ready.

Last winter we started to update the long range plan and did accomplish a great deal. Yet there is more to do. Since the disasters due to hurricanes in 2005, it has been suggested that we also add a disaster plan. We already have discussed an emergency plan but never even thought about hurricane or other natural disaster planning.

Already we have started to identify postcards with local people and places. These will go into an album. For one who is just learning about Columbia Falls, I find the activities of yesterday so interesting. Dick Grant tells me that Columbia Falls was where horses would be changed on trips from Bangor to Lubec. There were hay scales in front of the Columbia Falls House (hotel) across from the Ruggles House. And as with most towns, the sidewalks were wooden. Once we get into Mrs. Hayward's collection, there's no telling what pearls of wisdom we'll relate in the spring.

Again we are planning on having the second annual Christmas Tea at Ruggles House. We are talking about Sunday afternoon, December 3 rd., from 1 to 4 PM. Please come for some Christmas good will.

Thanks for your interest in the Ruggles House and we'll be in touch in 2007.

New Museum Shop Item…
Christmas Card Sets - 12 cards, 4 of each design shown below, with envelopes. $17.00 with Shipping/Handling

Outside Message: Happy Holidays Inside Message: Best Wishes for the Holiday Season.
Note Cards and Christmas Cards created from the artwork of Emily & Elizabeth Ruggles, granddaughters of Thomas Ruggles ©RHS 2006

Contact us or order cards at 207-546-7903 (Off season #)