2014 Society Newsletters

Scituate Historical Society

43 Cudworth Road, Scituate MA 02066, 781-545-1083, scituatehistoricalsociety.org

Spring 2014 Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ScituateHistoricalSociety

Officers Time To Get To Work Again

President: David Ball The chirp of the birds finds The Scituate Historical Society pushing off winter
Vice President :Fred Freitas for the projects of spring. With bids about to go out for work on Lawson Tower, with
Treasurer :Denise Castro Open House dates to plan, with finishing touches to put on a Widow’s Walk for the
Secretary: Alison Short Kathleen Laidlaw Center, and with a series of events connected to the role women
Archivist: Carol Miles have played in Scituate’s history, 2014 is jam packed once again.

Trustees The Little Red Schoolhouse will be returned to its original look this year as
the Widow’s Walk that graced its roof will be recreated. This project is the culmina-
Betty Miessner—Chair tion of a body of work done at the Schoolhouse over the past few years. With Wifi, a
Mat Brown number of new computers, and handicap access, the Schoolhouse can hold its head up
Bob Chessia among small libraries available for local historical research. With the Widow’s Walk,
Bob Gallagher rebuilt stairways, and improvements to the grounds, the Schoolhouse remains very
Tom Hall much like it was in its days as Scituate’s High School. (continued on page 3)
Steve Litchfield
Gigi Mirachi
Tucker Patterson
Peter Whitfield

In this Issue: 1
The Jobs Ahead

The Silas Piece House 2
A Century Ago 3

Eagle Scouts 4

The Year of Women 5

The Constitution in D.C. 5

The Silas Piece Homestead is
being restored by local hero Frank
Snow. Frank is a member of the
Conservation Commission, sits on

the Community Preservation
Committee and has a deep appre-
ciation for Scituate. The Scituate
Historical Society applauds his
effort and thanks him for sharing
these pictures and this summary

of the Silas Pierce story.

For those of you who may have noticed; the Silas Peirce Homestead at 543 Country Way is
gradually being transformed back to an earlier period in history. The Peirce family established
prominence in Scituate with a land grant after the King Phillip War. The Silas Peirce home at 543
Country Way is one of many Peirce properties in that part of town.

Silas was born in Scituate and grew up in a family that operated an inn for travelers between
Boston and Cape Cod. Meeting so many people at a young age sparked his interest in the world
outside of this coastal town. Thus, Silas set out to Boston where he worked for a shipping compa-
ny that brought him an adventure outside the U.S. He quickly gained an appreciation for the beauty
of his homeland and returned to Boston where he founded Silas Peirce & Company. He took great
pride in marketing high quality food products and worldly treasures. His business grew rapidly.
His business soon became the first grocery store chain in the U.S. with stores in Portsmouth, NH;
Framingham, Ma; Peabody, MA to name a few.

Silas maintained his ties to Scituate with his home at 543 Country Way. He was active in the
community and I have been told he was a founder of the Scituate Historical Society. His home has
been through many transitions over the years and is currently being brought back to life at an earli-
er period with modern amenities!!

Open Houses are typically Sunday afternoons as the restoration continues and the owner awaits a
buyer who appreciates the home. Members are invited to stop in. - Frank Snow

What were the challenges of a Century Ago?

A Police Station, Dredging the Harbor, Renting the Lighthouse, and Balancing the Budget

TOWN OFFICERS, 1913
Selectmen, Assessors, and Overseers of the Poor.- James W. Turner, Scituate; Frederic T. Bailey, North
Scituate; Jonathan Hatch, Sand Hills

REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN

To the Inhabitants of Scituate:

At the last annual meeting the matter of disposing of the lockup was hastily considered by the town,
and on account of the fact that the Methodist Church wished to dispose of its share in the building, it was vot-
ed to sell it without making provision for a lockup elsewhere.

Since the town is obliged to maintain such a place and we were powerless to provide a new one, we
deemed it best to buy the interest of the church and await the action of the town in providing for future needs
in this regard.

The town has been very fortunate in securing an allotment this year from the state of nearly $20,000
for the improvements at Scituate Harbor. At present the channel is 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep at low water,
affording ample accommodation for all craft likely to come into the harbor.

The most urgent needs at present are the widening and straightening of the entrance of the channel,
and the dredging of an anchorage basin for the accommodation of the fast increasing number of craft which
frequent our shelter so that they may not interfere with the use of the channel. This work is under considera-
tion by the Harbor and Land Commission and a report will be rendered at the March meeting.

While the appropriation of $1000 was insufficient to purchase the Lighthouse property at public auc-
tion, through the efforts of Mr. Harvey H. Pratt and Congressman Thatcher, the historic spot was saved to the
town by the Lighthouse Commissioner, who nullified the sale and leased the property to the town for five
years at $50 per year, thus giving us time to present a bill to Congress asking for the cession or sale of the
property to the town at a nominal sum.

Beginning January 1, 1914, the Legislature has made it illegal for those charged with the disbursement
of appropriations to exceed them. This fact, coupled with the necessity of filing itemized accounts of all ex-
penditures with the Bureau of Statistics, requires us to rearrange our bookkeeping so that the accounts will
come under new headings. This we did January 1, and the appropriations asked for are in accordance with the
new system.

If the town sees fit to ask the state for an audit of its accounts and the installation of a new system of
bookkeeping it may do so, but at considerable cost; while the practical result of such audit is already accom-
plished.

(Ed.) In 1913 the “lockup” was located in the building which stood on the triangular parcel at the intersection of First Parish

and Stockbridge Roads. It was originally the Union Schoolhouse and was serving as the Police station until the 1950’s.

This card records the action of Town
Meeting in March 1914 to rent the Light-
house from the Federal Government while
legislation went forward to secure its
eventual sale to the Town.

Hurray for the Eagle Scouts of Scituate

The Scituate Historical Society has been ex-
tremely proud over the years to have helped facilitate
more than 20 Eagle Scout projects. Examples of this
work can be seen at the Humane Society Boathouse,
the Gristmill Pocket Park, out on Cedar Point by
Scituate Light, and on the Driftway at the Maritime
Museum. Eagle Scouts have contributed time and la-
bor to preserving and improving Scituate’s historical
sites.

Some of the lesser known projects include an
interview series that was done by Stephen Brigham.
Mr. Brigham interviewed his neighbors in Minot and
came back with a fantastic oral history series. His
brother Ben complemented this project with a video
project of his own about Minot. Another exemplar
would be work down by Richard Tibbetts to archive
materials at the Little Red Schoolhouse more than
seventeen years ago.

All in all there have been more than 20 projects

designed and executed by Scouts from Scituate
troops over the years. The Society is proud of this
relationship and hopes to be part of many more
Eagle Scout projects in the future.

Signage from the Grist Mill Pocket Park
executed by Eagle Scout Patrick Doyle

Information Board at Scituate Light Improvements and Picnic Tables at the Maritime and
executed by Eagle Scout Collins Farhat Mossing Museum executed by Eagle Scout Jeff Murray

2014 Will Celebrate Women in Scituate Photographs courtesy of Larry Ward

(continued from page 1) Lawson Tower will be the site of a
small makeover as Community Preservation Funds have been
made available by Town Meeting for an inspection of the top,
its finials, and its windows. A man lift will be taking a crew
up to do the inspection. The long wanted elevator that so
many have pondered as they trooped up the stairs to the Bells
will be in place for just a few days so that need repairs and
window preservation can take place. It should be a site to see.

2014 marks the 200th anniversary of Rebecca and
Abigail Bates service to the nation as the Army of Two.
Events will be organized all through the summer to celebrate
and remember the contributions of other women from a range
of fields to the Town of Scituate. The Scituate Historical
Society will hold a dinner on September 18, 2014 at the
Barker Tavern in Scituate to note the anniversary. Check the
Society web page at www.scituatehistoricalsociety.org for
more information.

White House Calls for Larry Ward

What do the White House and the Maritime and
Mossing Museum have in common? The brilliant ship
models of Larry Ward.

Mr. Ward recently visited Washington D.C. to see
his model of the U.S.S. Constitution installed in the Navy
Mess of the Executive Office Building.

The Scituate Historical Society celebrates the
choice and the craftsmanship of Mr. Ward.

To the Members of the Scituate Historical Society:

Rising printing and handling costs have caused the Trustees of the Scituate Historical Society to con-
sider how to best serve the membership with the newsletters.

We propose this: Members who wish to receive the newsletter as it has been traditionally sent
through the mail need do nothing. There will be no interruption of service.

Members who wish to receive a full color newsletter in advance of the mailing can choose to move to
a new mailing list. Please forward your name and email address to [email protected] in
order to help us create this option. Please use the term Newsletter in the Subject line of your email.

Thank you.

Scituate Historical Society

43 Cudworth Road, Scituate MA 02066, 781-545-1083

Summer 2014 A View From Space of a Very Special Place

Officers Lawson Tower recently
got a face lift of sorts as
President: David Ball windows, shingles, and
Vice President :Fred finials were inspected and
Freitas repaired.
Treasurer :Denise Castro
Secretary: Alison Short The work afforded
Archivist: Carol Miles townspeople this amazing
view of the Tower and
Trustees grounds. Now in its 112th
year Lawson Tower con-
Betty Miessner—Chair tinues to mesmerize
Mat Brown guests from the ground
Bob Chessia floor right on up to the
Bob Gallagher Bells.
Tom Hall
Steve Litchfield If you missed the Scituate
Gigi Mirachi Mariner and the stunning
Tucker Patterson images of Robin Chan, we
Peter Whitfield are happy to provide this
one.
In this issue: 1 Photograph by Dana Green
1
Lawson Tower A Milestone Calls for A Celebration
Facelift
A Bash for the Bates
Sisters

Can We Win a 2 The Scituate Historical Society
Contest? 2 will hold a dinner event on
Widow’s Walk Thursday September 18, 2014 at
6:30 at the Barker Tavern to
Mossing Shed on the 3 commemorate the 200th
move anniversary of the American
Remembering a Good 3 Army of Two event.
Friend Reservations can be made at the
Kathleen Laidlaw Center, 43
Vote! 4 Cudworth Road, Scituate MA.
The cost of tickets is $50.00 per
Lines of Fire 4 person for a buffet dinner and
many, many surprises.
Turnaround 5 This is the social event of the fall.
If you miss it you will have to
Hail to the Chief 5 wait for the British to invade
again.
GAR Update 5

Let the Word Go Forth

Scituate Historical Society member and
volunteer Bob Hays shares this fantastic
idea.
He would like members and friends to send
their photographs of Scituate Light to the
20th Annual Lighthouse Digest
Photography Contest. He wants a photo of
Scituate Light to grace the cover of this
august journal for the very first time.
Details of how you might submit your
photo will be posted on the Society web
site, www.scituatehistoricalsociety.org.
The instructions for submissions is
detailed and you must be precise. There are
some terrific prizes offered in two
different categories. All photos must be
submitted by September 12, 2014.
Check the web site for all the particulars.

Scituate Light from the Restored to Life !
ocean side beach

The Kathleen Laidlaw
Center was once
Scituate’s educational
hub. With the support of
the town acting through
Town Meeting and the
Community Preservation
Act, the Widow’s Walk
that graced it in its youth
has been returned to the
heights. Thanks to
David Ball, Pam Martell,
Jeff Martell, Steve
Litchfield and to
Warren Cowing for their
efforts restoring this jewel.

In Remembrance Photograph by Ron Swan

Long time member of the Scituate Historical
Society, Mary Arcand passed away on April 24,
2014.
We remember Mary with fondness and appreciation
because she was a moving force at the Cudworth
House. Her ability to refresh and present our deli-
cate textiles was wonderous to behold. Visitors to
the house were always intrigued to see this careful-
ly preserved and presented collection of garments
worn so long ago. These beautifully washed and
ironed undergarments are displayed in the bedroom
upstairs at the Cudworth House.
We cherish our memory of Mary and will miss her
abilities that so enhanced the Society's collection.

Going for a Ride

The last Irish Mossing shed in existence is going for a ride.
With the approval of the Selectmen, the Irish Mossing shed is going to be installed and integrated as part of the Mari-
time and Irish Mossing Museum. New displays are in the planning stage and the move should be
complete by the end of August. The ride from First Cliff down the Driftway will be one for the ages.
This has been a fantastically complicated project to coordinate, as there are utility, police, fire, water, and traffic
concerns galore. Thanks to Pam and Jeff Martell for their diligence.
In concert with the move will be a new display outside the Museum. Eagle Scout Sam Villani is working with long time
Society supporter Tom Mulloy to create a display of items found during the many years Tom has been diving off
Scituate.

Notice of Special Meeting in Lieu of Thank You Andrew Carroll &
Annual Meeting the Cast of Lines of Fire

The special meeting will take place at 1 pm on The Grand Army of the Republic Hall was a fitting scene for a
Saturday, Oct 4, 2014 at the Little Red remarkable performance of Andrew Carroll’s Lines of Fire.
Schoolhouse, 43 Cudworth Road. Responding to the loss of many family letters, Mr. Carroll has made
it a crusade to save and share letters to and from American
The Meeting will consist of an annual report servicemen and their loved ones at home.
from the President as well as action on the The performance was stirring. Pamela Loring posted to Facebook
following report of the Nominating Committee. that evening, “...These letters, selected from Andrew Carroll’s book
and growing collection of “Letters Home,” were read by a talented
1. Trustees (for three-year term) Term Expires group of actors and laypeople. They deliver more than the struggles
of war, but share the intimacies of loss and longing, of compassion
Tom Hall 2017 and tenderness, of humor and insight. Their words resonate with
Steve Litchfield 2017 wisdom born from struggle that so few of us know, and left me, and
Gigi Mirarchi 2017 I think everyone there tonight, with a sense that we've shared a part
of their lives and been given a real gift.”
Other Trustees now serving: She said it all.
Bob Chessia 2015
Betty Miessner 2015
Tucker Patterson 2015
Bob Gallagher 2015
Mat Brown 2016
Peter Whitfield 2016

2. Election of Officers (for two-year term)
Dave Ball, President 2016
Fred Freitas, Vice President 2016

Other Officers now serving:
Alison Short, Clerk 2015
Denise Castro, Treasurer 2015

3. Other business that may come before the Andrew Carroll - photograph by Bob Chessia
Meeting
Please make every effort to attend the Meeting.
If you are unable to attend, please fill out the
proxy included herewith and return it to the
Society before Oct 4, 2014.

Respectfully submitted,
Alison E. Short, Clerk

Proxy for Oct 4, 2014 Special Meeting in Lieu of An-
nual Meeting

I am a member in good standing of the Scituate
Historical Society and hereby vote

For Against the
election of the Trustees and Officers shown in the
Report of the Nominating Committee

Name of member, Scituate Historical Society The Scituate Cast of Lines of Fire—photograph by Bob Chessia
_______________________________________

The Trustees and Their Ties Go on a
Turnaround

Historical Society Trustees Mat Brown, Bob Chessia,
and Steve Litchfield had the chance to sail aboard the
USS Constitution as it took part in D-Day anniversary
events this past June. It was an occasion that called for
the red and white striped ties they inaugurated last
summer for the 200th anniversary of the battle
between the HMS Shannon and the USS Chesapeake,
sister ship to the Constitution. All three send their
thanks to Jean DiGicomandrea for including them in
this voyage. (Photo credit, Jean DiGiocomandrea)

Photo by Ron Swan Two Tones

The Scituate Historical Society is on While we are on the topic of two tones, The Grand Army
Facebook. Find us there and be sure to like us! Hall has had a makeover.

His Honor, The Chief Justice, After long deliberations a new color scheme for the exte-
Returns to Greenbush rior of the Grand Army Hall has been chosen and the
painting is on going. Denham Baker has hold of the job
and is bringing the same meticulous approach that he
brought last summer to the Lighthouse, the Cudworth
House, and the Mann House to the former Baptist
Church on Country Way.

The GAR Hall has also seen the installation of a new
projector and the sound system is in the process of being
improved. This is going to make the Hall a perfect place
for coffee houses, open mike nights, and other
entertainments like Lines of Fire featured on page 4.

Through the work of Bob Chessia and Steve
Litchfield, the Chief Justice William Cushing
Memorial Stone will be returned shortly to the
Greenbush rotary.
Long hidden from traffic in a more secluded spot
heading southbound, the stone has been restored
and remounted to be placed adjoining the Grist
Mill Pocket Park. There will be parking and a safe
way to learn of this pivotal figure in Scituate’s
history. Our thanks go out to David Glancy for his
work from start to finish helping the
Society restore and move this memorial. Thanks
also to Arthur Beale for his help in the project.

To the Members of the Scituate Historical Society:
Rising printing and handling costs have caused the Trustees of the Scituate
Historical Society to consider how to best serve the membership with the newsletters.
We propose this: Members who wish to receive the newsletter as it has been
traditionally sent through the mail need do nothing. There will be no interruption of service.
Members who wish to receive a full color newsletter in advance of the mailing can choose to move to
a new mailing list. Several members will have received this in full color more than a week before
you are reading it. Please forward your name and email address to [email protected]
in order to help us create this option. Should you have done this in response to the last newsletter we
are grateful but would ask that you do it once again as a server crash has cost us some data. Please
use Newsletter in the subject line of your email.
Thank you.

Scituate Historical Society

43 Cudworth Road, Scituate MA 02066, 781-545-1083 scituatehistoricalsociety.org

Fall 2014 The Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum adds a little
Brother as the Mossing Shed is brought along side
Officers

President: David Ball
Vice President :Fred Freitas
Treasurer :Denise Castro
Secretary: Alison Short
Archivist: Carol Miles

Trustees A rudder from a rum runner is a new display

Betty Miessner—Chair Looking into the Museum from the Shed
Mat Brown
Bob Chessia
Bob Gallagher
Tom Hall
Steve Litchfield

Gigi Mirachi
Tucker Patterson
Peter Whitfield

In this issue: 1 A new display takes shape A few steps will take you to the Shed
1
The Transplant is 2 Photography by Ron Swan
nearly complete 3
Why Haven’t You 3 The Newsletter In Color is a Sensation
Switched 4
A Great Night for 5 The numbers are growing! What numbers you ask? The numbers of members who have
“Sis” 5 switched to getting the newsletter in color through email. Not only do they get it sooner than do
Celebrate! those still on the snail mail list, they get all the pictures in color and in the future they will get
more pages too. Consider the switch and drop an email to [email protected]. Do it
A Friend today and you will get this issue in full color.
Remembered
An Amazing Plan
Comes Home
Reunion Visit

The Flag Flies

Oh What A Night! The Army of Two Anniversary Dinner

Photographs by Ron Swan Gunnery Sergeant Helen
“Sis” Dowd was the inaugural
recipient of the American Army
of Two award for her 30 years in
the Marine Corps and Fleet
Reserves.

Joined by her family “Sis”
was a fitting star, capping off the
night with an impromptu sing
along. It was a performance
worthy of Broadway and brought
down the house.

The Scituate Historical
Society would like to
acknowledge Ted Goode who
approached the Trustees with the
idea for this award.

Representative Jim Cantwell and Scituate Historical Joan Powers shared the story behind the
Society Trustee Gigi Mirachi presented “Sis” with a story of this photograph, taken when the
commemorative glass bowl, Bates Fife was returned to the Lighthouse by
Mrs. Elizabeth Greene. Joan played the role of
The inscription read: “To Gunnery Sergeant Helen “Sis” the go between when Mrs. Greene revealed to
Dowd for her 30 year career in the United States Marine Corps her that the fife was in her possession. Mrs.
and for her commitment to her country and her town.” Laidlaw took it from there to bring it home..

We could not have had a more fitting winner or one with
a more devoted family. Peter Dowd, the brother of “Sis” made
that clear with his sincere remarks.

The Celebration Should Continue!

Mat Brown has arranged for a limited
number of copies of the Harpers Magazine cover of
July 1879, in full color as pictured along side, to be
available at the Little Red Schoolhouse, 43
Cudworth Road, Scituate.

These are beautifully done prints of
Rebecca and Abigail Bates as they fought off the
British 200 Years ago. More on that celebration
can be found elsewhere in this newsletter.

The cost for each framed print is $32.00
and they can be safely shipped for an additional
charge. Bring the girls home and keep their
spirit alive.

This colorization was done a number of
years ago by Roz Shirley. It is fantastic!!

Congratulations go out to Mary Porter for her
appointment as Assistant Archivist for the Scituate
Historical Society. Mary will fill in for Carol Miles
when Carol is on her winter sabbatical.

Jim Howard, a long time friend of the A Good Friend Passes
Scituate Historical Society passed away just as the
last newsletter was being printed. Jim Howard at the radio on Rebecca Road March 16, 1956

Jim, who played an enormous part in the sa-
ga of Etrusco, at his place in Mrs. Russo’s kitchen,
also shared his passion and knowledge of the WRUL
radio station once located on Hatherly Road.

That is the story he was speaking of with
volunteers at the Lighthouse only days before he
passed.

The Scituate Historical Society sends its
thanks to his family and friends for their generosity
and our most heartfelt condolences on their loss.

Mr. Howard had a deep sense of history and
was a wonderful story teller and he will be deeply
missed by all who knew him.

Looking Toward
Dawn!

A set of plans takes a
round about route

back home.

Looking Toward Dawn was
a plan devised by Frederick Bailey
in 1933 for the development of all
the property east of Cudworth
Road and South of Beaver Dam
Road (then known as Willow
Street.) It is a remarkable vision of
what might have been in an era
when conservation laws were non
existent and landscapes could be
reimagined.

These plans were returned
to Scituate recently when they
were discovered in an attic in
Connecticut by a family readying
to move. The house in which they
were living was once owned by a
former Scituate Selectman who
must have tucked these away
during his tenure in office and
then packed them up for a run
down I95.

Dave Ball reached out to
the sender for the story. The
Society also holds the remnants of
a model of this project

Ponds and boulevards;
parks and rotaries, lakes named
Harvard, Dunster, and Chauncey;
oh what might have been!

For the Class of 64 it is still an Endless Summer

The Scituate High School Class of 1964 visited Scituate Light, Lawson Tower, The Grand
The Stockbridge Grist Mill, and toured the town on the occasion of their 50 year High School Army Hall
Reunion. painting
project is just
The tour was organized by Society Trustee Steve Litchfield and he had great company a few steps
along the way. 74 of the 174 members of the class attended the reunion; some traveled from as far away from
away as California for the event. completion.
WiFi and AV
The Scituate Historical Society hopes to see them 50 years from now for their 100th. upgrades are
in place with
Where is Tom now? new doors in
the plans.
Historical Society Trustee Pass the word
Tom Hall has found a way to take a about this
“Don’t Give Up the Ship” flag to some gem!
amazing spots.

In this shot he poses on
top of Mt. Adams in 2012. Tom has
also brought the flag to nine of the
New Hampshire Peaks over 4000 feet.

Save the Date The Annual Winter
Saturday January 24, 2015 Christmas Sale will be held
Harbor Methodist Church on Saturday November 29,
2014 at the Maritime and
The Dinner Meeting Irish Mossing Museum. This
Tradition Continues issue highlights all the
changes there and this is
Can it be Twenty your chance to visit and to
Years Already? shop for the holidays.
Plenty of Parking too.
The article alongside is from the Scituate
Historical Society newsletter from the fall The sale will run from Noon
of 1994. The Society was marking the to 4:00pm. Books, prints,
relighting of Scituate Light after 134 years postcards, shirts, flags, and
in the dark. one of a kind items will be
The work of Kathleen Laidlaw, Joe available.
Lebherz, David Ball and so many others
had brought the light back to life.

President’s Report

Irish Mossing Shed Relocated to the Maritime & Irish Mossing
Museum

Elsewhere in this newsletter you read about the Irish Moss Shed be-
ing moved to the Maritime & Irish Mossing Museum on Driftway. I would like
to add some additional details about the project.

The move was funded with Community Preservations Funds approved
at Town Meeting. Pam Martell, our Special Projects Director, began work on
planning the move shortly after approval of the project. This was a very
complicated project because not only did she have to arrange for the
actual move, she also had to secure permits and releases from a multitude of
town boards and utilities. In addition to that it became quickly apparent that the foundation that the shed would sit on would
require extremely accurate planning because the shed had to meet the exact height of the Mossing Room floor in the main museum.
Pam’s husband Jeff took on that task. When all was done, the floors matched up perfectly---an amazing feat!

We were extremely fortunate that David Glancy from Glancy Crane Company agreed to take on the job of the actual move. On
a Monday in mid August the shed was loaded onto a low slung flatbed trailer and the next day at 6:00 A.M. the flatbed with the shed
securely attached to it left Scituate Marine Park. It arrived in less than a half hour later at the museum! It was then lifted by crane
over the roof of the museum and set in place. Believe me that set the scene for some great photo images! The entire operation took
just under three hours!

A connector between the museum and the shed is now complete. Over the next few months, we will be planning out
exhibits for the shed. One of the teaching topics that we wish to convey is that many mossers were also volunteers in the Humane
Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and there will be an exhibit showing that.

Another Eagle Scout Project Completed

I am pleased to tell you that another Eagle Scout project has been completed for the Society. This latest project was done
by Sam Villani. Sam came to me about a year ago saying he was going to achieve Eagle Scout and he wanted to know if we had a
project that he could do. When I met him it was very clear that Sam was very motivated and had great self initiative. We decided that
he would build a walking path from the parking area at the Maritime & Irish Mossing Museum to the Moss Shed, research and
develop signage for new exhibits along the pathway, and plant two apple trees in the orchard to the side of the museum. Sam
completed his project in late August and it looks great! I believe this is the seventeenth Eagle Scout project done for the Society
since 1996. That is really a remarkable number.

One More Maritime & Irish Mossing Museum Story

On October 5, a woman from the Studley family who lives in Georgia visited the museum. She had lived at the museum
when it was a house in the early 1950’s. She was amazed at all the changes, but she could still tell where some of the rooms were
located when she lived there and seemed very pleased that the building has been put to great use.

Dave Ball, President

To the Members of the Scituate Historical Society:

Rising printing and handling costs have caused the Trustees of the Scituate Historical Society to consider how to best serve the membership with
the newsletters.

We propose this: Members who wish to receive the newsletter as it has been traditionally sent through the mail need do nothing. There will be
no interruption of service.

Members who wish to receive a full color newsletter in advance of the mailing can choose to move to a new mailing list. Several members
will have received this in full color more than a week before you are reading it. Please forward your name and email address to
[email protected] in order to help us create this option. This list is growing and you will want to be on it. The newsletter is going
to get bigger and better and soon for its online subscribers. Please use Newsletter in the subject line of your email.

Thank you.

Our Best Wishes for a speedy recovery go out to Trustees Chair Betty Miessner.

Scituate Historical Society

43 Cudworth Road, Scituate MA 02066, 781-545-1083

Have You Set the Date One of our Dearest is Lost to Us
Aside?

Mark Saturday, January 24, 2015
on your calendar and get yourself
over to the Little Red Schoolhouse
to make your reservation for the
annual winter dinner meeting of

the Scituate Historical Society.
Once again the good neighbors of
the Harbor Methodist Church will

host a turkey dinner with all the
fixings.

The topic for the evening will be:
Scituate During World War II–
A Very Scary Time.

The cost per ticket is $15.00. The
evening will begin at 6:30.

Officers We are sorry to share that long time Chair of the Board of
Trustees, Elizabeth,” Betty” Miessner passed away after a long
President: David Ball illness on December 11, 2014.
Vice President :Fred
Freitas Betty was an integral part of the Scituate Historical Society;
Treasurer :Denise involved in setting policies and in the day to day management
Castro of the historic sites. She was a constant source of inspiration,
Secretary: Alison insight, and wit. Her passing leaves us all diminished.
Short
Archivist: Carol Miles A memorial service for Betty was held on December 20,
2014 at the Grand
Trustees Army Hall. Various
speakers rose that day
Mat Brown to share stories of
Bob Chessia Betty’s talents for
Bob Gallagher genealogy, and for the
Tom Hall theater, for her humor
Steve Litchfield and her kindness.
Gigi Mirachi Our heartfelt
Tucker Patterson condolences go out to
Peter Whitfield her children, Joe, Betsy,
Katy, and Ed, and to
Winter 2014/2015 her sister, Anne, for
their loss.

Did you know that 191 men and women from Scituate served in the American
Expeditionary Force during World War I? As the Great War is remembered

100 years after its fractured start, it is humbling to remember the sacrifices of
those brave citizens who believed they were fighting a war to end all wars.
Next time you find yourself at the east end of Lawson Common, pause a
moment and reflect upon those names.

A Fantastic Opportunity Realized

The Scituate Historical Society is pleased to announce the purchase of a
remarkable collection of postcards and photographs, many quite rare.
The labor of love of long time supporter, Marc Jacobson, this collection is

extraordinary in its scope and quality. Mr. Jacobson mined auction
houses, on line sites, antique stores, flea markets, and all the other

homes for this nearly encyclopedic cornucopia of Scituate
neighborhoods and villages. This purchase expands the holdings of the
Society in its depth and in its range. It will be an educational tool second

to none as it is developed. Our great thanks go out to Mr. Jacobson.

Notice of Special Meeting Who will take the challenge?

The special meeting will take place at 6:30
pm on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at the Little
Red Schoolhouse, 43 Cudworth Road.

The Meeting will consist of a vote on a
proposal to amend the Society Bylaws.

The Amendment reads as follows:

Amend Article IV Section 4 of the Bylaws adopt- Researchers discovered these puzzles in a
1940’s era newspaper while preparing for
ed March 8, 2003, Amended July, 2007, and Novem- the talk to take place at the dinner meeting
ber 2009, to include: on January 24th. If you are up to the
challenge and can solve either one, bring
Trustees, having served on the Board for at your answers to the dinner, where you will
least 10 years, and who, for reason of illness or fami- receive a copy of Beauty, Strength, and
ly illness, are not able to attend 25% of Trustee meet- Speed by Carol Miles and John Galluzzo.
ings in a fiscal year, are to be considered Trustees Good Luck!!
Emeritus. Trustees Emeritus will counsel sitting Trus-
tees and may attend Trustee Meetings without voting
privileges. New Trustees will be nominated and seat-
ed in the manner described in Article IV, Section 5 of
the Bylaws adopted March 8, 2003, amended July,
2007, and November 2009, when Trustee Emeritus
status is designated. Trustee Emeritus status does not
preclude, in any way, a nominee from returning to the
Board at a later date as a voting Trustee.

Please make every effort to attend the
Meeting.

If you are unable to attend, please fill out the
proxy included herewith and return it to the
Society before March 4, 2015.

Respectfully submitted,
Alison E. Short, Clerk

Proxy for March 5, 2015 Special Meeting

I am a member in good standing of the
Scituate
Historical Society and hereby vote

For Against
the proposed amendment to the bylaws of
the Scituate Historical Society.

Name of member, Scituate Historical Society

_______________________________________

President’s Report
It was with great sadness that I had to tell the trustees that

Betty Miessner had passed away. I relied heavily on her for
many things and she was always available to offer her support,
encouragement, and guidance. She loved Scituate. Her interests
were different than mine. Betty enjoyed digging into the
genealogy of many families.

Often we receive genealogy questions from people across the
country and even from abroad. As soon as I received an inquiry
I sent it off to Betty. Within a very short period of time she
produced a detailed answer to the questions and included
references for those interested in more research of their family.
Just last summer we received a very nice note from someone
who wrote back profusely thanking Betty for the in depth
genealogy research she had provided for him.

Betty was a woman with many interests and talents. She
volunteered at the Massachusetts State Archives in Boston and was interested in acting. She was
also proud of her southern roots, Maryland. If there was a Scituate Maryland connection she was
extraordinarily interested.

My sympathies go out to her family.

January Dinner Meeting
I’m going to give you the back story to our upcoming dinner meeting. The good part of this

comes further down! Keep reading!
I’ve given a couple of talks for the North and South River Watershed Association at the Fourth

Cliff Family Recreation Area. Many people today are not aware of the fascinating history and
facilities there.

Fourth Cliff was taken over by the military during World War Two. The cottage owners there were
given very short notice to leave their cottages. The Federal Government took over the
property without even paying for the confiscated cottages. They apparently were compensated
after the fact.

The military felt the need for major gun emplacements at Fourth Cliff and work began in earnest
on Battery 208 as it was called. . The guns were exceptionally heavy so a second bridge was built to
Humarock to carry the load. Many people today know that bridge as the Julian Street Bridge. Work
also began on constructing a very large concrete bunker to be used in conjunction with the two six
inch guns at the top of the cliff. Buildings were built along the top of the cliff to look like cottages,
but they too were built of reinforced concrete. They also built a concrete watch tower to assist in
manning the guns and to have well trained eyes that could be on the lookout for enemy craft such
as German U boats.

Now for the good part! I called the site manager at Fourth Cliff and asked if Bob Gallagher and I
could take interior photos of the bunker and watch tower. He said it is the policy of officials at
Hanscom Field who oversee the facility not to allow the public inside the bunker or watch tower. I
pleaded our case. Using a variation of the tactic “Do you know who I am”, I said we are the Scituate
Historical Society and really would like images for our collection and a possible future program.
Permission was granted! A couple of weeks later we went to Fourth Cliff and took many images of
the inside of the bunker and watch tower. That’s how the idea came for our program.

Not only will we cover Fourth Cliff Battery 208, we will also talk about and show images of short
wave radio station WRUL on Hatherly Road. That station played a vital role
during World War Two. We will also discuss and show images of the military
installation at the Glades. The Glades facility was the southernmost point of
the Boston Harbor Coastal Defense System. You will hear about
German spies, blackouts, and beach patrols. It’s going to be a great
evening! Don’t be the person looking for reservations at the last minute and
be told: SORRY WE ARE AT CAPACITY AND CAN’T TAKE ANY MORE!

Mark Jacobson Postcard Collection Purchased
This fall I got an e-mail from Mark Jacobson. I’ve known Mark for a number of years. He and I

talked several years ago how we might get the Town of Scituate interested in buying Minot’s Light.
Mark was particularly interested in Minot’s Light because he lived on Glades Road for many years.
His message this fall wasn’t about Minot’s Light; it was about his postcard collection. He said he
had over 1,200 cards and was going to sell them. He wanted to know if I knew of a local collector
that might be interested. I told him before he did anything we would like to see it.

Carol Miles, Bob Gallagher, and I met him a few days later. It was a depressing meeting! I really
thought the Society had almost every Scituate postcard ever published---I was wrong! Most every
card we looked at was one we didn’t have! We asked him for some time to meet with the trustees
to see if they would be willing to make an offer.

The trustees commented that we have to do everything within our power to buy the
collection. It wasn’t cheap. Mark had an estimate of value from a major antique auction house of
more than $20,000. I was able to get him to sell the collection to us for about $14,000. This is the
most we have ever paid for anything like this. Over the next few months we will be discussing
fundraising ways to help pay for the collection. You will be hearing more about this in the spring.

Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Grant
Last June the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts held a life saving award

presentation at the Maritime & Irish Mossing Museum. The award was given to Charles Harris who
saved a fisherman in Scituate Harbor last February. Since the award involved a very nice monetary
donation to Mr. Harris, the Humane Society asked that there would be no publicity for the event.
That’s why most are not aware that it took place.

Our Society worked hard to make a nice event out of it and I asked Pam Martell, our design and
event planner, to take on the task. Everything went beautifully. The Humane Society trustees were
VERY impressed with our museum and especially our exhibits on the life saving efforts of the
Humane Society. Every single Humane Society trustee there that day took me aside and personally
told me to have us submit a grant to them for exhibit expansion in the Moss Shed and Life-saving
Room. I asked Pam to work on that application. She did a great job with it. We applied for $17,000.
We heard from the Humane Society in November that they had awarded us $18,000. That amount
of money will go to
do a top notch job
expanding the
exhibits at the
museum.

It is now Christmas
Eve. I’m done!

Waiting for Santa!

Dave Ball