Hello Ruggles House supporters:

As springs go, even in this little corner of the planet, this has been a tolerable one. The volunteers, guides and workers are maintaining and cleaning Ruggles House, looking forward to again welcoming visitors beginning June 1st. If we are to believe our records, this is the 190th year since construction began on Thomas Ruggles' home.

It hardly seems appropriate to reflect back on December, 2007 but again we need to say THANK YOU to so many supporters who heard our request for China cups and saucers. On the first Sunday of December, for 3 years, we have re-opened the House for a celebration of the season. The outdoors is brought in with boughs and cones decorating the rooms. This past year looked more festive than ever with the dining room table laden with so many colorful cups for the tea. Some donors have mentioned stories behind the teacups; others offered reminiscences of the China which make them more special. We have enough for our purposes and are touch by your generosity.

Speaking of teacups, a tea set on a candle stand in the parlor seems to generate much conversation. It is of pink lusterware and is delicately beautiful. Twice in the recent past I have read of lusterware ("Early American Life", April 2001 and "Country Living" May 2008) and shall share my observations. Apparently this type of hand decoration was used in the 1800's in England, Wales and probably in other pottery making locales. Pink lusterware was a sign of elegance. Our set was not owned by the Ruggles family but was donated by a generous supporter who felt it in keeping the house.

I learned from the two articles that Lusterware was developed in the Middle East centuries ago, possibly in Egypt in the 7th or 8th century. The technique gained popularity in the late 18th century with Staffordshire potters applying the technique of dissolving metals in liquid which was then applied via glazes to certain earthenware forms. These overglazes were given a second, low heat second firing resulting in an iridescent finish. The metals commonly used in combination were copper,.gold and silver resulting in those colors as well as pink and purple. Whiteware and earthenware pieces were hand decorated resulting in this shimmery finish by such well-known potteries as Wedgewood and Spode. The Sunderland area of England has a pink product, quite dissimilar to the Ruggles House pieces, however. Being a mining and shipbuilding area, their forms were jugs and chamberpots, decorated to appeal to the bawdy and the bold of the maritime trade, not necessarily for export. Apparently pitchers and bowls were the earliest English forms with later pieces of more delicate creamers and cups.

Ever since the new ell has been in use, a group of volunteers has planned a space on the lower level for display purposes. On the main floor, you will remember that there is a viewing window looking below to what is thought to have been the Ruggles family masonry fireplace and cook area. The area near this remaining artifact is the space that is being developed. The committee has painted the walls, making it clean and attractive. Presently they are working on a door to seal this room from the cellar beneath the main house. Soon there will be displays of farming implements, domestic tools and appliances, shipbuilding and logging articles, blueberry harvesting and artifacts from the various archaeological digs on the premise. Little by little the space is taking shape and will be an additional area of enjoyment.

For about two years the leadership of Ruggles House has joined six other museums to determine a co-operative vision for us all. Our mission statement reads: "The Mission of Historic Eastern Maine, an alliance of historic sites and museums in Washington and Hancock Counties, is to increase the awareness of and appreciation for historical and cultural qualities of the eastern coast of Maine, to strengthen member organizations through professional training opportunities and to nurture collaborative efforts (marketing, programming, and funding) among its member organizations." The member organizations, at this time, are limited to key, strategically located museums along the eastern coast in the two aforementioned counties plus Campobello in New Brunswick. These museums shall be collecting institutions with significant artifacts and open to the public on a regular schedule during peak tourist season. You will find our first brochure, a rack card, enclosed. We invite you to visit each museum actually or virtually at www.historiccoast.net

Members of the Ruggles House Society Board of Directors frequently attend various seminars and workshops to further educate ourselves to be more responsible museum caretakers. The Maine Association of Nonprofits held such a seminar at the University of Maine at Machias on March 31st and April 1st. The capacity building programs were designed to meet the organizational and leadership needs of participating organizations. They covered strategic planning, governance, financial management, fundraising, communications and marketing. Participants were required to take MANP's Principles and Practices online assessment, after registration and before the seminar. The meetings were all day sessions. The Ruggles House was represented by Secretary/Historian Ellen Tenan. The event was very well run and the knowledge gained will hopefully be used to better our programs at Ruggles House. There was no charge for this seminar and we thank MANP for scheduling an event in Washington County so that many of our local organizations could easily attend. About twenty persons took advantage of the chance to improve themselves and their nonprofit associations. It was especially nice to have the contact with other nonprofits and exchange ideas and problems. The Facilitator was Ron Beard of the U. of M. Cooperative Extension, who created a very pleasant atmosphere for those in attendance.

The Education Committee Chairman was invited to meet with the director of the EDGE Program of the Maine Sea Coast Mission at their center in Cherryfield. The Ruggles House is always interested in working on education programs that use the museum. EDGE has established after school and summer programs for our local school children. Their programs have been very successful and well received by parents, students and schools in SAD 37 and Steuben. We feel the Ruggles House has much to offer to expose our young people to local history and fine arts programs. We look forward to visits of many more of the younger generation to Ruggles House and grounds.

SCHEDULE of EVENTS 2008

May 17, Directors meeting in Columbia Falls
May 24, Plant sale at Ruggles House 9AM to sell-out
June 1, Ruggles House opens for tours regular hours
July 6, Annual Ice Cream Social at Ruggles House
July 17, Annual meeting of Ruggles House Society at the Community Center
Oct. 4, Fall Directors Meeting at the Community Center

You may contact the Ruggles House at www.ruggleshouse.org or email to etenan@ruggleshouse.org or mail at P. O. Box 16, Columbia Falls, Maine 04622. For family genealogy information, your contact is Ellen Tenan, Secretary, at the museum phone, 207-483-4637 or home phone at 207-546-7903. The House is open all summer and fall until October 15th, every day, but only afternoons on Sunday. Please come visit with us and hear some interesting Downeast history as you view our gorgeous "flying" staircase and see the intricately detailed architectural decorations.

From all of the Board of Directors, have a pleasant summer.