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March 15, 2010

The House of the Seven Gables to host The Preservation Movement Then and Now Exhibit and Lecture

Exactly one hundred years ago this year, The House of the Seven Gables was saved, restored and opened to be enjoyed by multiple generations of visitors. While we are thankful to have this 17th century treasure and the literary masterpiece it inspired, this favorable outcome is not always the fate of historic buildings. To celebrate the centennial anniversaries of both organizations, The House of the Seven Gables and Historic New England present The Preservation Movement Then and Now Exhibit at The House of the Seven Gables free of charge from March 21st to April 15th, 2010.

This panel exhibit examines the 1863 battle to save the Hancock House in Boston. Although the building was ultimately lost, its demolition served as a call to action to save countless other threatened architectural marvels nationwide. The exhibit also highlights one of the first preservationists, William Sumner Appleton, whose concern over how quickly historic buildings were disappearing throughout New England resulted in his founding the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (now Historic New England). In the last century, the preservation movement has evolved to include not only saving buildings, but conserving land and shorelines, downtown revitalization and the preservation of entire neighborhoods. Included in the exhibit are artifacts and photos from The House of the Seven Gables’ collection illustrating Gables’ founder Caroline Emmerton’s efforts to save this nationally recognized historic landmark.

A lecture will accompany the exhibit at The Gables on Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 2:00pm. This lecture, the first in the Seven Lectures at Seven Gables series scheduled during this centennial year, is titled The Life and Legacy of William Sumner Appleton. Historic Preservation Team Leader Wendy Price from Historic New England will use materials from Historic New England’s collection to explore in greater detail the impact of Appleton’s early preservation work. Ms. Price will also address Caroline Emmerton’s role with the then Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities both as a board member and to move two threatened buildings to the grounds of The Gables: The 1682 Hooper-Hathaway House and the 1655 Retire Beckett House. The exhibit is free of charge in the visitor center at The House of the Seven Gables from March 21st – April 15th, 2010. Tickets for the March 28th lecture The Life and Legacy of William Sumner Appleton are $10 for non-members, $5 for members of The House of the Seven Gables, Historic New England and The Salem Athenaeum. For tickets to the lecture, please call The House of the Seven Gables at 978-744-0991 ext. 104.

March 6, 2010

The House of the Seven Gables is seeking alumni for an exciting oral history project in March

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association. In 1910, Salem philanthropist Caroline Emmerton opened The House of the Seven Gables to the public after an extensive two year renovation to restore the 17th century mansion. Emmerton’s ultimate goals were to preserve the historic home that inspired author Nathaniel Hawthorne’s gothic novel The House of the Seven Gables, and to use proceeds from tours to fund a Settlement House aimed at educating and integrating Eastern European immigrants. A century later, Emmerton’s mission of preservation and community service remain the cornerstone of the organization she founded. In 2010, The Gables will offer special programming to celebrate its history and accomplishments of the last century beginning with an Oral History Project in March.

Saturdays in March The House of the Seven Gables, partnering with Historic New England, is hosting four days of oral history interviews to collect stories from Gables alumni centered on the history of the historic site. Participants will be electronically recorded for archival preservation, and scanners will be available so alumni can bring pictures and other memorabilia to better illustrate their own experience at The Gables. The goal of the oral history project is to fold individual community members’ experiences at the historic site into the history of The Gables, document past events at the museum, and record the memories of Settlement alumni and employees. The Oral History Collection days will take place at The House of the Seven Gables Saturdays March 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 1:00 – 4:00pm. Anyone with ties to The Gables is encouraged to come and tell us your own “Gables Story”. To Schedule an appointment, please call Kate Burgess at 978-744-0991 ext. 118 or email KBurgess@7gables.org.

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