Mill Town Messenger | May 2009

Overview

The newsletter presents recent activities and developments of the Newport Historical Society, highlighting the NHS Museum reopening, new exhibits, fundraising for a building fund, and acquisitions that enrich the town’s historical collections. Practical details include museum hours, volunteer thanks, product offerings, and membership and donation information.

Feature articles recount local history: Charles Emerson’s 1852–1853 diary of a clipper voyage to San Francisco and an illustrated review of the village mill pond’s industrial past, tracing early mills, manufacturers, and surviving millscape features for community engagement and preservation.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

This quarterly newsletter is generally published in January, April, July and October.

Main Points

• NHS Museum Reopening: The Newport Historical Society Museum reopened to the public in June 2009, with new exhibits and improved facilities, open Fridays and Saturdays from June through October.
• Community Involvement: The museum encourages the community to donate historical items and participate in preserving Newport’s history, especially after the closure of the local newspaper.
• Featured Exhibits: New displays include paintings by Sid Bickford, a mariner’s desk by William Lowell, and an early colonial lantern, with a variety of Newport-themed items available in the gift shop.
• Historical Artifacts: The museum’s collection features hand-painted ornaments, a Newport Town Crock, and items commemorating notable locals such as Sarah Josepha Hale.
• Charles Emerson Diary: The diary of Charles Emerson documents his 1852 voyage from Boston to San Francisco around Cape Horn, detailing hardships at sea, sights in California, and the lawless nature of San Francisco in the 1850s.
• Mill Pond History: Newport’s development was driven by the Sugar River and its mill pond, with grist mills, saw mills, and various manufactories supporting the town’s growth from the late 18th century through the 19th century.
• Furniture Manufacturing: William Lowell and Willard Harris were leading cabinetmakers in Newport from 1820 to the mid-1830s, operating large rival shops near the mill pond.
• Fundraising Efforts: The Society established a building fund to address space and accessibility limitations, with all product sales and donations supporting the goal of a new museum facility.

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