I found a mouse at the museum

By Dean Stetson

A few weeks ago, during a wind storm, Arnie and Lee, Archivists at the Nettleton House Museum were working on cataloging items in the office when they kept hearing a banging noise from outside the door. The wind had blown the door of our “Information Kiosk” at the entrance of the Museum open and eventually Mother Nature took advantage of the aged construction. Pieces lay on the ground and front deck. Obviously, something had to be done to repair or better yet replace the wooden box.

Assessing how to remove the box from the brick wall to make repairs, the first step was to remove the old cork-board screwed to the back of the box. This would allow me to access the fasteners that held the well-constructed frame of the box to the brick masonry.

Whereas at one time the current Nettleton House Museum of the Newport Historical Society had the name of “The Sargent Museum”, a Puzzle piece was revealed to tie a bit of our local history together.

This building known as the Nettleton House has seen many occupants. In 1977 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. From a 2010 report by James L. Garvin, previous occupants included The Economic Corporation of Newport (ECON).

Prior to that and between 1999 and 2001, the building was adapted from a dwelling to the Newport headquarters of the Sargent Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. The official opening of the museum with limited exhibits was on August 15, 2000. Lacking paid staff and volunteers, the exhibits and the Sargent Museum closed by April 2001.

Pencil sketches and the following is an excerpt from “Wild Goose Waters from Above” compiled by Ron Garceau:

“In 1951, Babe Sargent enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and was shipped out to Hawaii, where he served for 2 years. Sargent’s Cottages continued, expanding the business with a gift shop and ice cream counter, 17 cottage units, a bait & tackle shop, and a marina selling and renting boats. Eventually, Babe and Priscilla Sargent took over the family business, which they continued until 1999.

In the slower months of the year, Babe worked on his art. He painted signs, did art for advertising and brochures, and continued his love of art with his paintings of the area and especially the depiction of scenes from the steamboat era on Lake Sunapee.”

Babe had a brother Howard. Howard was an archaeologist and vice-president at one time of the New Hampshire Archaeological Society. Howard Sargent was credited with establishing scientific methodology that at the time contrasted with casual searches for signs of Indian life before the white men settled around Georges Mills.

Howard actually started a small museum in one of Sargent’s Cabins in Georges Mills where he would catalog and classify objects such as arrow heads and cooking utensils from his excavations. Later on, Howard would participate in numerous explorations and digs providing evidence of Indian habitation in areas of Georges Mills and other areas around New England.

Now it seems understandable why there is a connection between the Sargent Museum and with Babe and why he may have been involved with the construction of the box.

Seeing Babe’s autograph…and the mouse…casts a common thread through much of Babe’s work.  It’s kind of a trademark, a fanciful way to weave continuity throughout his work and his life. 

The little character of a mouse shows up in almost every drawing as an independent observer to the situation. 

Whether the scene is in tranquility or in calamity the mouse appears on the sideline capturing the moment. 

The signatures remain underneath and undisturbed for the next person to find. As for the mouse, well who knows where that little critter will show up again.

Now, who was Leo?

“Did anyone know Babe?” or “Does anyone know why Babe had a mouse in many of his drawings?” If you do, please leave a comment below

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This blog post was contributed by Dean Stetson