Mill Town Messenger | Sep 2012

Overview

The Newport Historical Society Mill Town Messenger presents community news, upcoming events, and museum updates centered on local heritage and volunteer engagement. It highlights a Charter Day birthday celebration, lecture schedule, membership drive, and a call for oral histories and museum volunteers.

The newsletter documents recent donations, exhibit changes, artifact identification (a soprano bugle), and fundraising merchandise like ornaments and note cards. It also profiles local figure Austin Corbin and provides contact details and a membership form for support and involvement.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

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

Main Points

• Newport Nickname: Newport’s nickname “The Sunshine Town” was coined in the early 1900s by Billy B. Van, a vaudeville entertainer who moved from New York City and promoted the phrase “The sun always shines on both sides of Newport’s Main Street.”
• Historical Celebrations: Newport commemorates its founding with events such as “Charter Day” to celebrate the 250th and 251st anniversaries of the town’s charter, featuring community festivities and museum tours.
• Austin Corbin Lineage: Several notable individuals named Austin Corbin have lived in Newport, with the original born in 1791, and his descendants playing significant roles in the town’s history.
• Civic Contributions: Austin Corbin (1791–1876) served as Town Selectman, State Representative, and State Senator, advocating for Civil War veterans and contributing to local journalism and governance.
• Museum and Oral Histories: The Newport Historical Society actively collects oral histories and artifacts, seeking contributions from residents, especially older generations, to preserve community memories.
• Volunteer Opportunities: The Society relies on volunteers for museum staffing, oral history projects, and various other roles, offering training and encouraging community involvement.
• Fundraising and Membership: The Society’s funding comes from membership dues, donations, and the sale of Newport-themed memorabilia, including ornaments and note cards.
• Community Engagement: Regular programs, changing museum exhibits, and themed merchandise support ongoing community engagement and historical preservation efforts.

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Check out our Events Calendar to keep informed of upcoming events!