IRON WORK FARM in ACTON, Inc.
P.O. Box 1111, Acton, MA 01720
Fall Newsletter
December, 2005 Volume VI, Number 2
It has been over forty years since twelve devoted people founded a non-profit organization to own, maintain and preserve Jones Tavern, its related collections, and “any other buildings connected with the early settlement and development of the Iron Work Farm in Acton.” Within five years the Iron Work Farm in Acton, Inc. had also acquired the oldest house in Acton, the Jones-Faulkner Homestead, or “Faulkner House.”
This year, we mourn the loss of two more of those original incorporators. Director Emeritus Don Nylander, who died in July at the age of 92, was the Iron Work Farm’s first President, and led the organization through the initial phases of fund-raising and membership development, and guided the transformation of Jones Tavern from a run-down building of five apartments to a significant historical house museum. The proud son of a Swedish-born father, he had a special affinity for the occupants of the Tavern and Faulkner House and the roles they played in the founding of their country and the development of their community.
Dot Whipple died in May at 101. She not only was an incorporator, life member, and longtime Iron Work Farm Secretary, she also owned and lived in Jones Tavern in the 1950s. Even after she moved to St. Johnsbury, Vermont in the late 1980s, she still made regular trips back to the Acton area in her Volkswagen, always stopping to check on the restoration of her old home.
Thanks to contributions from Iron Work Farm members and a grant from the Acton Community Preservation Fund, this summer all four chimneys at the tavern were stabilized, restored, and protected from the weather by new slate caps. The $31,000 project would not have been possible without the generosity of the following IWF members. Again, we extend our heartfelt thanks to you all: Debra and William Alesbury, Bob and Joan Barta, Angela and Christopher Browne, Isabella Choate, Diana Fay and Richard White, Anne Forbes, Charles Jones, Anne Kress, Christine and Alan Mertz, Susan Mitchell-Hardt and David Hardt, Donald Robbins, Wendy Scully, Tom and Heidi Sikina, Lawrence Sorli, Mark Thompson, Bob and Tanya Trombly, Nancy Williams, and Robert Williams.
The chimney work was the first phase of a major rehabilitation at the Tavern. Now that it is finished, we are planning the next step—the replacement of the cedar shingles on the main sections of the roof. We have again applied for Community Preservation funds, which must be partially matched by the Iron Work Farm.
Choosing the Volunteer of the Year was one of the easiest decisions we have made all year. The honor goes to Daniel Trombly of 96 Main Street, Acton. Daniel, a sophomore at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, has mowed the Jones Tavern lawn all season as a community service for Iron Work Farm, and has designed our new web site, www.ironworkfarm.org! Please check it out when you get a chance.
2005-2006 Officers and Directors
All of the Iron Work Farm officers have agreed to serve another year—Larry Sorli as President, Bob Barta as Vice-President, Tom Sikina as Treasurer, and Anne Forbes as Secretary. This year we also welcome Greta Eckhardt to the Board of Directors. Greta, a resident of Maple Street, Acton, is a trained architect with an interest in historic buildings. Reelected to a three-year term on the Board are Michaela Moran and Larry Sorli. Other directors include Belle Choate, Nancy Evans and Bob Trombly.
Thanks to Tom Sikina’s year-long efforts, the seventh annual fall firewood sale at the Faulkner House has raised over $2,000 for the Iron Work Farm. The pick-up day, Saturday, October 8, was one of our many drizzly days this fall. Even so, a small army of volunteers including South Acton neighbors Sue Martin, Kris DePew, Luke Sikina, and Daniel Trombly made short work of loading trucks and station wagons. Thanks to everyone for taking on the soggy job!
100th Anniversary of Baker Bridge Accident
November 26, 2005 marked a most solemn anniversary for Acton. It has been a hundred years since a fiery train collision at Baker Bridge in Lincoln took the lives of two Acton residents—Daniel James Wetherbee of East Acton, and Faulkner descendant Lemabel Campbell, daughter of Sir Francis and Lady (Sophia Faulkner) Campbell. As you may know, Lady Campbell was the last Faulkner family member to own the Faulkner House. Lemabel, a 26-year-old schoolteacher, had been living with her aunt, Mary Jane (Faulkner) Harrington, in the house at 22 High Street at the time.
Iron Work Farm members Anne Forbes and Bill Klauer gave a talk about the Baker Bridge accident for the Acton Historical Society on November 20, which will be published in the next issue of the society’s journal Acton Revisited.
The open-house season has ended for the year, but will resume in the spring on Patriots Day. However, both buildings can be visited by appointment.
Monthly Iron Work Farm meetings continue on the second Tuesday of the month, 7:30 p.m. Now that cold weather is here, the meetings are held in private homes. All members are welcome. Contact Anne Forbes at 978-263-2227 or at aforbes@rcn.com for information on the meeting location.
Next year Patriots’ Day falls on Monday, April 17. Together with the Acton Historical Society we are already planning an even bigger celebration than in 2005. This time, two trolleys will carry passengers en route from Town Hall to the Hosmer House, Jones Tavern, the Faulkner House and back again. There will be games, demonstrations, and craft activities in addition to the first open houses of the season, and the Discovery Museums will join us for activities on the Tavern lawn.
Patriots’ Day provides a great opportunity for those of you who are interested in getting involved with the Iron Work Farm. Many volunteers will be needed to help at the Tavern and Faulkner House open houses, and to assist with games, crafts, tickets, food, etc. Please consider taking part this year. And if you’d like to help out with the planning, just call Nancy Evans at 978-697-1391 or email us at iwfcontact@ironworkfarm.org.