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From the (Virtual) Director’s Desk….By Laura Quinn

 Happy Spring, BHA members! Yes, we survived another New England winter! The robins are back and activities at the Stone House are gearing up for Opening Day, May 10!

There’s more good news to share since the last newsletter.  We were awarded a $1,000 Research Inventory Grant from The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities to continue work on the “Bodices, Bonnets and Brass Buttons” project initiated by students in the UMass Public History Program!  Graduate  students Jen Kleinman, Chanika Mitchell and Bill Allen presented their research findings at the Stone House on March 26.  Their lively, informative presentations kicked off what promises to be a new tradition of collaboration between the Stone House and the UMass Public History Program and launched a new series of talks and exhibitions focusing on the Stone House’s exceptional textile collection.  We are also fortunate that Jen, Chanika and Bill are enthusiastic about continuing their work on inventorying and preparing condition reports to help fulfill the grant. We can all look forward to further research and learning more fascinating details about the collection in the months ahead.

The BHA submitted a grant for Community Preservation Act funding to purchase and install historically accurate cedar shutters representing Phase 2 of the Windows Project.  The replacement of all 32 windows with CPA funding last year  was a great success.  And yet, it also underscored the fact, well, something is missing.  Namely, the shutters that have been on house since the mid-19^th century.  By applying for funding to replace the shutters and the appropriate historic hardware, full completion of the “Windows Project” would be completed.  While it will be no easy undertaking, we have the support of the Historic District Commission and the logic behind our application for replacing the shutters-vs. other projects—has been well received.  The grant review process continues through May with the final determination of grants awarded to be announced shortly thereafter.

 In the meantime, many thanks to Sam Joyal, a past President of the BHA and long-time member, who has been diligently at work painting the interior window sills of the main parlor—all in the midst of cleaning and preparations for opening day.  The new windows and fresh paint are truly dazzling!  Thank you, Sam!  And finally, huge thanks to the unprecedented work of  Museum Committee volunteers Shirley Bock, Florine Neggers, Millie Harrington and Phyllis Ferriter who, armed with mops, pails, beeswax, Q-tips and remarkable energy, are hard at work making the Stone House glow!  I hope you will all join us on May 10 and throughout the season to see the new—and satisfyingly familiar—results of the work accomplished by so many volunteers over the (yes, rather long) winter!