IRON WORK FARM in ACTON, Inc.

P.0. Box 1111, Acton, MA 01720

www.ironworkfarm.org

Fall Newsletter

2008

December 2008 Volume IX Number 2

2008: A BUSY (AND REWARDING) YEAR

Taking stock is always a good thing to do as winter approaches. At the Iron Work Farm properties 2008 was full of activity and progress. In addition to the regular monthly open-houses, we hosted several well attended events. From the spring South Acton egg hunt on the Faulkner House grounds to the fall annual meeting, open taproom, and paint-out exhibit at Jones Tavern, people of all ages came out to enjoy our two historic properties in a variety of ways. And as Patriots’ Day weekend proved yet again, our visitors are eager to learn about South Acton history, too. This year the emphasis was on Civil War history and the roles that residents of our properties and South Acton played in it. Our open houses were enhanced by items from the collection of Acton’s last Civil War soldier Aaron Jones Fletcher, and by letters and photographs of Col. Winthrop Emerson Faulkner and of his son Harry, who fought with the 7^th Kansas Cavalry.

2008 Annual Meeting. This fall the Board of Directors welcomed Nan Towle-Millett for a three-year term, and she immediately took on the task of planting spring bulbs at Jones Tavern. At the same time we are sorry to say goodbye to Bob Barta, who stepped down after several terms on the board. His wise counsel will be missed, but we trust he will be back for repeat performances as Col. Faulkner and other colonial patriots. Kimberley Connors-Hughes is our new Vice-President, while other officers remain the same for 2009, with President Nancy Evans at the helm.

For the first time since 1971, a vote of the members at the meeting revised the IWF membership dues structure. As of November 1 there are now just four official membership levels. As always, however, members are free to combine their dues and contributions in whatever proportion they would like.

New faces and 2008 property improvements. We were pleased to have the Acton Minutemen as guests at the Tavern this fall for their monthly planning meetings – at least until cold weather set in. (And we owe them our thanks for performing both on Patriots’ Day and at the October 4^th annual meeting and open taproom.) New contractors and craftsmen in 2008 included Jake Evans, who spruced up the peeling paint on the Faulkner House façade, and window preservation specialist Paul Swider, who is currently restoring two of the ca. 1818 windows at the Tavern. Gary Pemberton returned to paint most of the Tavern exterior, and we hope that next year’s budget will allow him to finish the remaining rear walls.

A major step at the Tavern was getting the lavatory in working condition. At the Faulkner House, after a lightning strike that affected the wiring, the alarm system was upgraded and minor repairs undertaken while we planned for our upcoming grant project. (See below.)

South Acton Paint-Out and Sale. Over 20 artists participated in this year’s South Acton Paint-Out, again organized and sponsored by the Iron Work Farm. For the fall paint-out exhibit Jones Tavern was transformed into a gallery, where even the unrestored rooms were filled with art. Appropriately, the smallest room displayed children’s paintings – a new feature this year. Several paintings were sold, and we hope to see even more artists taking part next year. They are a great bunch of new Iron Work Farm “friends”, who not only have a special eye for South Acton, but have contributed time and effort to our organization, as well. We owe special thanks to artist Wayne Geehan, who has donated a painting of the Acton Arboretum to a raffle to benefit IWF. The winner will be chosen on Patriots’ Day, and raffle ticket sales continue until then ($3 for one; $5 for two.) For tickets, contact Michaela Moran at 617-968-6220 or email iwfcontact@ironworkfarm.org. The painting, shown here, can be viewed at the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office at 97 Great Road, Acton, or on our website, www.ironworkfarm.org.

Open taproom at Jones Tavern, October 4. Again this year, the IWF Annual Meeting and the kick-off of the Paint-Out exhibit were part of our fall fund-raising event, the Jones Tavern Open Taproom. Over 175 people attended this beer and ale tasting, which featured home brews made by Todd Bachmann and Michaela Moran. Many attendees took the opportunity to purchase reproduction redware mugs and tankards custom-made for IWF by the pottery at Old Sturbridge Village. $2,000 was raised to benefit the Iron Work Farm, and for that we have many people to thank, including the musicians who provided great entertainment (Larry Lee Oppel, Gene Beresin and Rob Harris), the Acton Minutemen, and all the volunteers who helped hang the painting exhibit. And we won’t soon forget the great food donated by Whole Foods of Bedford, or the continual support of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Acton.

MASS. PRESERVATION PROJECTS FUND GRANT MOVES FORWARD

Under Michaela Moran’s able direction, great progress has been made since our summer newsletter announced the award to the Iron Work Farm of $22,000 in matching grant funds for a major planning effort at the Jones-Faulkner Homestead (Faulkner House). The project will total $44,000, and includes architectural and landscape planning, plus a small archaeological study. This long overdue work will include the production of a preservation and interpretation plan for both the building and the property, which will include recommendations for parking, circulation, and accessibility. The Iron Work Farm must match the state funding, and we will need the help of all our members, supporters and friends!

2009: ANTICIPATING ANOTHER EVENTFUL YEAR

Iron Work Farm winter schedule. The 2008 open-house season ended on October 26, but will resume in the spring on Patriots’ Day. However, both buildings can be visited by appointment at any time during the year. Monthly Iron Work Farm planning meetings continue on the second Tuesday of the month, 7:00 p.m. Now that cold weather is here, the meetings are held in private homes. All members are welcome. Over the winter we will be selecting the consultants for the Faulkner House project, deciding on a new line of collectible mugs and tankards, and making plans both for our two historic properties and for upcoming events. Contact the Iron Work Farm at iwfcontact@ironworkfarm.org for information on meeting locations, or to schedule a visit to the Tavern or Faulkner House.

Patriots’ Day 2009. Next year Patriots’ Day falls on Monday, April 20. Together with the Acton Historical Society we are already planning the day-long event. Trolleys will again carry visitors from Town Hall to the Hosmer House, Jones Tavern, the Faulkner House and back again. Games, demonstrations, and craft activities will take place, and plans for another Civil War re-enactment are underway.

Many volunteers will be needed to make the day a reality. If you are interested in helping with the planning, please call Nancy Evans at 978-697-1391 or email us at the address above.

GET INVOLVED IN HISTORY!

There are many other ways to get involved with the Faulkner House, Jones Tavern, and South Acton history. The Iron Work Farm is always looking for volunteer docents, gardeners and carpenters, for instance, and we need help creating period costumes for our hosts. An amateur webmaster to keep our website up to date would be welcome, as would assistance with arranging displays and mounting exhibitions. And when spring comes around again, please consider being a host at any of the open-houses; it’s both rewarding and fun!

We thank Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage of Acton for their contribution to the printing of this newsletter.