Greetings are sent this fall to all our friends and supporters.
Our Annual Meeting in July saw a great change in the officers of the Ruggles House Society. Our president of many years, Linda Long, asked to be allowed to retired from the duties of president but to remain on the Board. Larry Smith of Winter Harbor agreed to assume the role as head of our organization. His previous role as vice-president was accepted by Rod Harrington. Our treasurer of many years, Jenene Schneider, had to leave and return to Florida because of a family illness. Her treasurer's post was assumed by a vice-president, Nancy Herr. That vice-president's position was accepted by Patricia Iley. The clerk's position had been filled this last year by Eric Columber, but was vacated this year. It is being filled on a temporary basis by Linda Long, who graciously agreed to do so. The only one remaining in a continuing position was Ellen Tenan as Secretary/Historian. These folks have all been serving on the Ruggles House Board of Directors.
We owe a deep gratitude to Linda and Jenene for their many years of service to the Society in many ways. These duties do not often get the thanks that they deserve, so we now extend it to both of them. We are so very glad that they will remain on the Board and will be available from time to time as we need their advice and counsel, to say nothing of a pair of working hands.
Welcome to the new officers as we move forward into a new year and may we continue to prosper as a museum. We have seen a downturn in visitation this summer as we expected that we would. The economics of our times did prove to make a slower tourist year, although our gift shop sales are ahead of last year. Many people donate things to be sold and we thank them for their efforts.
We welcomed new directors at our July meeting. They are Elizabeth Denise, Cathy Chandler, Arlene Hutnik and Leslie McSorley. We now have three direct descendants of Thomas and Ruth Ruggles on our Board, Cathy Chandler, Bertha Mary Kelley and Robert Brown.
When Jenene Schneider left, we filled her role as docent at the House with Leslie McSorley, Arlene Hutnik and Patricia Iley. They joined Ellen Tenan as staff to show the museum. They have filled the position admirably.
William Georgitis of Orono brought to the House a hat box with two hats in it that came from the John Harland Crandon house (now owned by the Hammonds). His wife, Mary Helen Georgitis, was descended from Lucy and John Harland Crandon and received the hats when the house was sold after the death of her aunts, Annie and Grace Crandon. The gentleman's dress hat of black felt with natty brim was owned by Gowen Wilson Jr. and the deep navy blue velvet lady's dress hat, trimmed with ribbon, ruching and a feather, was owned by his wife, Eliza. They are in immaculate condition and are circa 1850's. The Wilsons ran a tavern in that house for many years. Their daughter, Lucy, inherited the tavern. She and her husband, John H. Crandon, then ran the tavern for some time. While the Wilsons were not related to the Ruggles family, John Harland Crandon was a grandson through the Ruggles' daughter Ruth, who married Joseph Crandon Sr. We are glad to see the hats stay in Columbia Falls. They will be displayed at the Ruggles House in the Archives Room. We thank Bill Georgitis for his gift. Do you have old hat stands? We could use them.
Speaking of the Archives Room, Gloria Hayward, Pat Iley and Ellen Tenan have been busy one day a week for all summer cataloging, indexing and sorting in the archives. We have a treasure trove of area information which we hope to share with interested persons in the coming years. Our organizing is going very well and we can actually find information now. Shelving, bookcases and file cabinets have been purchased. They are getting filled. We welcome any old photos (identified), family genealogies, diaries, account books, veterans records and pictures, old post cards, old Columbia Falls High School pictures and invitations, etc. that anyone wishes to donate or we could copy items as we have a copier. We would like anything that pertains to early local history of shipbuilding, lumbering, merchant shipping and the local blueberry industry. Items could be journals, letters, store ads, handbills of local plays and travel accounts. Please keep it in the Columbia Falls area.
The archives could use a newer dictionary and a set of encyclopedias that are not too outdated. We do not need books of fiction but any reference books are welcome. The older electric auxiliary heater that we used for extra heat in this room has died so a donation of one would be welcomed, as well.
We are still seeking old utensils and dishes, etc. for our kitchen area. The basement is painted and it will be used for displaying our archaeology artifacts, wash room items, old fireplace pots, pans and such, and especially tools from the lumbering, shipbuilding, farming, blueberry and local industries. Any items of this type are welcomed. Please help with any of the above. Contact persons are Ellen Tenan at 546-7903 or Gloria Hayward at 546-3391. The Ruggles House number is 486-4637 but the House closes on Oct. 15th so contact Gloria or Ellen after that.
We are still working on education programs and hope to work with the EDGE program this next summer.
We are looking ahead to the plant sale next spring in the Ruggles House parking lot. The ragosa rose bushes that surround the fencing at the back of that parking lot are very overgrown. We hope to prune them back to their original size so we should have many of them to sell in May. If you have a desire to own one, please notify us; we could set one aside at that time.
We will have the House open and decorated for our annual Christmas Tea on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 7th. Please join us at One O'Clock. There will be a small admission charge of $3.00. The fine English teas from "Teas of Cherryfield" with Kathy and Peter, plus mulled cider and many goodies will be worth the price. We also have Ruggles House Christmas cards, reproduced from three of Lizzie Ruggles' winter scene charcoal drawings, on sale for $15.00 for a set of 12. They may be ordered by calling Nancy Herr at 483-9767 or Ellen Tenan 546-7903.
We found in the attic, left from early attempts to furnish the House when it was first opened, three bedroom chairs from 1900's area. One is in good condition, one needs gluing and the other needs some repair; all need the seats recaned. They have their original finish. We would like to dispose of them. Are there any takers?
We still have many of the Ruggles' ladies' drawings to frame. Gifts of antique, large picture frames could be used. Also antique glass, to replace any cracked window glass that needs to be repaired, would be appreciated. We can store it for future use.
The History of Machias, Maine by George Drisko was given to the House by Gloria Hayward and reveals some interesting insight into the character of our early residents. Early in the season of 1781, the Penobscot River Valley including Castine had been controlled by the British for two years. The people in the area between the Penobscot and Narraguagus Rivers were in great need and it is understandable that they had to co-operate to keep their families alive and fed. Some of those people, including a few Tories, made an appeal to the eastern residents of what is now the Washington County area to be strictly neutral while the hostilities between the British and the Colonies were in progress. "The patriots of the Machias area were not of the stuff to be thus tampered with" stated Mr. Drisko. There is a record of a full meeting on the 26th day of March, 1781. A letter received by Stephen Jones, Esq. from a party in Gouldsborough was read at the meeting. Those in attendance resolved by vote to respond to the effect that they felt "utmost abhorrence" at the thought and they were ever ready to defend the rights and liberties of the United States of America against Great Britain, or any other enemy to the freedom and Independence of the States, whether internal or external and we despise a neutrality in the present contest----holding it as the indisputable Truth that, those who are not for us are against us. A letter stating thus was sent to other settlements along the coast and to Governor Hancock (Massachusetts, of course) to make their feelings clearly known. What they had to defend themselves with was very little, including gun powder. Those early settlers were made of strong stuff for sure.
You may contact the Ruggles House at www.ruggleshouse.org or email etenan@ruggleshouse.org or mail at P. O. Box 116, Columbia Falls, Maine 04623. . The House closes October 15th and reopens on June 1st. The entire Ruggles House Board of Directors wishes a Happy Holiday Season to one and all and a brighter and fruitful new year.
