Mill Town Messenger | July 2022

Overview

The Newport Historical Society newsletter presents community programs, museum updates, and local heritage features, centered on the new “Magical History Tour” bus experience and upcoming society meeting and museum hours. Practical details for booking tours, meeting dates, board members, and membership information are included to facilitate community participation.

Long-form articles profile Sarah Josepha Hale’s broad civic influence—editorial leadership, fundraising for monuments and preservation, support for women’s education and medical work—and the town’s preserved artifacts like the Dexter hand pumper. The newsletter also highlights new museum acquisitions, a recommended local history book, and guidance for preserving family diaries.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

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

Main Points

• Magical History Tour: Newport Historical Society offers a free, narrated bus tour using tablets with historic images, allowing participants to compare past and present views of Newport, with high praise from attendees and ongoing opportunities to join future tours.
• Sarah Josepha Hale: Notable Newport native, author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” influential editor, advocate for women’s education, property rights, and social causes, and a key figure in establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday.
• Women’s Advancement: Hale promoted women’s education, teaching, and professional roles, founding and supporting societies and campaigns for widows, orphans, and female professionals, including in medicine and higher education.
• Fundraising and Innovation: Hale pioneered large-scale fundraising (notably for the Bunker Hill Monument and Mount Vernon), introduced new domestic technologies, and encouraged women to adopt labor-saving devices.
• Cultural Influence: Through her editorial work, Hale popularized traditions like the Christmas tree in America and advocated for practical, modest women’s fashion and domestic science courses.
• Historical Artifacts: The Dexter, Newport’s first fire pumper built by Hunneman, is preserved as a local artifact, with additional historical fire engines acquired over time.
• Local History Resources: The Newport Historical Society Museum offers a comprehensive local history book and unique diary transcriptions that provide context and genealogy for Newport families.
• Community Engagement: The Historical Society encourages public involvement via museum visits, membership, artifact donations, and participation in history tours and discussions.

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