P.O. Box 563Portsmouth, NH 03802-0563
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2017 Calendar of Events Wentworth-Gardner Tobias Lear HousesAssociation
Board of Directors 2017
Open May 26 through October 9, 2017Daily 11 a.m - 4 p.m. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
May 14 3 p.m. Chamber Music Concert WGH May 20 9-4 p.m. Reproduction Moulding John Schnitzler Workshop
May 25 5 p.m. Opening Reception for Members and Guests
May 26 Opening of Houses for Season & “Lost Portsmouth” Exhibit
June 4 1-4 p.m. Session 1: Heirloom Quilting w/ Kristen Goodwillie Instructor
June 10 3-5 p.m. Notable Denizens of Portsmouth South Cemetery — A walking lecture w/ historian Dick Adams
June 18 1-4 p.m. Session 2: Heirloom Quilting
July 12 12 noon “Ramblin’ Richard” Concert Songs & Stories from WWI
September 3 1-4 p.m. Session 3: Heirloom Quilting
September 17 1-4 p.m. Session 4: Heirloom Quilting
October 9 Closing of Houses and Lost Portsmouth Exhibit
Richard Adams, PresidentKelly Davis, Vice PresidentJoe Capobianco, SecretaryFred Engelbach, Treasurer
Walter BardenwerperMarjorie Beck
Kathleen BoduchKaren BouffardJoanna BrodeSandra Dika
Peter FollansbeePriscilla MillerDexter Robblee
Spring 2017
Lost Portsmouth: Exhibit Planned for 2017 Our 2017 exhibit is titled “Lost Portsmouth” and is mounted in the southwest parlor of the Wentworth Gardner House. It will consist primarily of images of houses, other kinds of structures, and vistas that no longer exist. Adding interest will be side-by-side images of what has replaced those largely forgotten scenes. Thirty such examples will be displayed, together with explanatory text clarifying locations and the rationale for the removal of the buildings. These two images shown below offer a good sense of what the “Lost Portsmouth” exhibit will be like. The Carriage House (photo left), built by Frank Jones for his daughter and her husband around 1890, was widely considered to be the most elegant example of its type in New England. In 1973 it was demolished to make way for the Portsmouth Housing Authority’s Margeson Apartments (photo right), generally regarded as being highly inappropriate for the size of the lot.
LCHIP II: to continue Continued work this season at the Wentworth Gardner House is being partially supported by a grant from LCHIP. As you may know, the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) is an independent state authority that makes matching grants to NH communities and non-profits to conserve and preserve New Hampshire’s most important natural, cultural and historic resources. The total project value is $ 49,879 and the LCHIP grant is for $ 24,090.Interior Painting & Repair Our restoration painter, Tim Berry, has confirmed his spring schedule to continued interior painting and repair. Last season Tim completed the 2nd floor SW room. Work remaining under grant scope of work includes:
Repair and paint ceiling in 2nd floor SE roomRepair and paint 22 windowsRepair and paint 2nd floor NE, SE rooms trim
WG House Perimeter Drainage The original grant application proposed constructing a retaining wall at the rear patio to divert water runoff from the rear entry door. An alternate solution will be to gutter the one-story rear entry vestibule and install a perimeter drain along the north foundation to collect water at the foundation and drain it away from the building. As part of this drainage work, our restoration mason will assess the condition of the rear sills.
Participating in the Past (PIP)May 14, 2017 3:00 p.m.Mother’s day Chamber ConcertMusicians: Brandon Garbot, violin, from Curtis; Adelya Nartadjieva, violin, from Ensemble Connect; Sung Jin Lee, viola, from Julliard and Curtis; and Caeli Smith, viola who is a teaching fellow at the the New York Philharmonic. Wentworth Gardner House, South Parlor. Limited to 30 persons. Cost: $25.00 per person.
Saturday, May 20, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Reproduction Mouldings - Crafting 17th & 18th Century mouldings with Restoration Carpenter John Schnitzler.The morning session will familiarize participants with styles, eras, and examples of period mouldings. The afternoon session is a hands-on-workshop. Participants will take home the examples they create. Cost: Members: $75.00 Non-Members: $100.00 Materials: $10.00
June 4 & 18; Sept. 3 & 17: Each session from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.Heirloom Quilting - Instructor Kristin GoodwillieLearn quilting techniques and produce your own quilt. The weeks between the sessions will allow individuals to create the number of squares necessary for their quilt. Cost: $100.00 per person. Includes starting kit.
July 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the WarehouseRamblin’ Richard Ramblin’ Richard sings songs and tells stories from World War I, “The War to End All Wars.” Celebrate the 100th anniversary of America’s entry into the war. Cost: $10.00 per person.
Wentworth Lear Historic Houses • P.O. Box 563, Portsmouth New Hampshire 03802-563
Membership Categories
Individual $35Family $50Contributing $100Sustaining $250Wallace NuttingSociety $500GeorgeWashingtonSociety $800
Enclosed is $ for 2017 MEMBERSHIP INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS
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The committee is expecting another busy year. We are in the middle of completing the 2016 Wentworth Gardner House LCHIP grant consisting of repairing and repainting all interior windows. Additionally, the trim and ceilings in the two east bedrooms will be completed. Last fall the southwest bedroom was repainted and is being interpreted as the bedroom of Capt. Nichols. We are also advertising a lease/restoration opportunity for the Tobias Lear House and have had several preservation-minded persons make inquiry. The warehouse is also being considered for potential foundation repairs for a future grant.
Karen Bouffard
Buildings & Grounds
The John Stark Bed The Wentworth Lear Association has taken possession of a fine period bed graciously donated by Sally Smyser and her sister Nancy Borden. Their family acquired the bed in 1925 from Mrs. Dan Kimball who claimed the bed had belonged to General John Stark Revolutionary War hero. The bed was most likely acquired in or near Manchester, NH, where General Stark spent much of his life. While the bed’s provenance has not been firmly established, it is still a fine example of a period bed and a very welcome addition to our collection. Thanks again to Sally Smyser and Nancy Borden.
Treasurer’s Report WLHH continues to be in a financially sound posi-tion. At the halfway point in the fiscal year our $48,000 annual operating budget has a positive balance of $14,000. On the revenue side, the positive balance is due to strong membership contributions and to record annual appeal do-nations. On the expense side, expenses are within budget. We have not yet incurred our largest operating expense – that of paying the salaries of our seasonal part-time tour guides. Once those payments are made we anticipate that there will be a slight operating surplus at the end of the year. In addition we have the operating budget we heave several funds in which money is set aside for special
purposes. Two of the funds contain money to complete the restoration work on the Wentworth-Gardner House. Another fund contains money for restoration of the Tobias Lear House. Still another fund is for the Participating in the Past program. All together these funds amount to $115,000. We are fortunate in having many members and friends who recognize the importance of preserving our historic buildings. Their continuing support is vital in keeping WLHH on a path of financial sustainability.
Fred Engelbach, Treasurer
Tobias Lear House
John Stark Bed
