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SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSOR:

Voices from the Waterfront

In a continuation of the theme of the gundalow fundraiser, this

year’s popular Night at the Museum event took place throughout Dover Landing. Thirteen separate reenact-ments and 30 volunteers entertained 200 people with stories about the importance of Dover’s water-front throughout the city’s history. Unfortunately, the second day of the event had to be cancelled due to rain.

The Woodman MuseumP.O. Box 1916Dover, NH 03821-1916

2016 Home for the Holidays Artisan Faire IIThis year’s Artisan Faire will take place each Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm in the Thom Hindle Gallery, beginning Sunday, November 27th and ending December 18th. Unique and original juried works from local and regional artists will be featured, and coordinator for the Faire, Catherine Mazur, is confident there is sure to be something for every discerning holiday shopper for the special people in their lives. If you plan on attending the Holiday Parade, why not get into the holiday spirit by stopping in at the Artisan Faire?

Above: Anthony McManus as painter William S. Gookin (1799-1872). A Dover resi-dent, Gookin was an accomplished painter of portraits and scenes from the Dover water-front, especially the gundalows and other ships in the port of Dover.

Cast photo of this year’s re-enactment crew for Night at the Museum IV: Voices From the Waterfront, written and produced by Mark Leno.

Beth Hawthorne (sometimes confused with Annie Woodman) and Jazmin Nock as 1840s dressmakers Ruth and Elizabeth Coffin.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM IV

What a season it has been. Events

galore! Sometimes we shone, like rocks fluo-rescing under UV light; and sometimes we were all wet — literally, as

those who attended our Centennial Gala on July 23rd discovered. Through it all we’ve had wonderful support from the community, and it’s a testament to the vision of our foundress that the museum is having such a great season.

We increased our attendance by 50% over last year. We raised funds for needed infrastructure such as accessibility, and for hopes becoming reality (Learning Lab technology for the campus). One of our usually successful fundraisers, our 4th Annual Night at the Museum, was a sellout on the first day, and a rain-out on the second. We began to joke that the Woodman is the cure for this summer’s drought — Need rain? Have the Woodman plan an outdoor event!

Not to be denied, we pushed forward fearlessly. With the gundalow sailing into town in October, we experienced beau-tiful weather on both nights of our sails on the Cocheco — what a ride, what a river, what a story.

Your support has made our efforts shine. In this issue of our newsletter, we look back to some of the happenings of this busy Centennial Season. And forward, to the Dover Holiday Parade. Also, please check out our Second Annual Artisan Faire that promises to be as successful as last year’s.

So many people to thank as we spring forth into our Second Century — thank you all — we couldn’t do it without you!

Sincerely,

Wes LaFountain, Executive Director

THE WOODMAN

Newsletter of the Annie E. Woodman Institute Museum Dover, New Hampshire | Established 1916 | 603.742.1038 | woodmanmuseum.org

Centennial Gala a Grand Success in Spite of Weather

The downpours, thunder, and lightning that forced Centennial Gala guests to evacuate the event tent to safety inside the garrison, Woodman, Hale, and Keefe Houses, did not dampen the excitement

and spirit of the night. Speakers and guests good-naturedly carried on with the elegant evening’s activities, as shown in the photos below.

Excerpt from Thom Hindle’s Centennial Gala Thank You Remarks

I must admit . . . . The WOODMAN has been a really fun place to hang out. I started coming here in the 1950s as a small boy growing up in Dover. . . .

Mr. & Mrs. Berry were the live-in curators. We would enter through the big front door….NO POLAR BEAR. So, to set the record straight...I HAVE been

AUTUMN 2016

to promote the study of local area history, natural science and the arts

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DIRECTOR’S CORNER

THE WOODMAN is extremely fortunate to receive special donations from accomplished local collectors on occasion, who make this museum’s permanent collections stand out in quality. Two fine examples of this commu-nity generosity are featured here, in highly desirable gifts from Mr. Dennis Burns, long-time member and strong supporter of the museum. First, an American Queen Anne Highboy, circa 1760. Made of cherry wood and stained to resemble mahogany, a preferred finish

Abraham Lincoln, as portrayed by Bruce MacAdam of Dover, appeared at the Gala .

Colonel John Parker Hale, as portrayed by Dover’s Ron Cole, mingled with guests at the Gala.

Above is Susan Smith, as Marilla Ricker, lobbying for women’s voting rights.

here longer than the polar bear. A guest book and the donation box. There was no admission.

Mr. Berry got to know us and would let us roam around . . . . sit on the

floor face to face with the alligator . . . look at jars filled with strange creatures in the marine room . . . the snakes and birds up on the second floor.

In the early 1970s while teaching photography in New Jersey, I was asked by trustee Phil Foster to curate a display in the Hale House. I had the pleasure of working with Ann and Bob Dwyer, the last live-in curators.

After moving back to Dover I got involved with the Historical Society and the new Heritage Group conducting neighborhood walking tours. I reacquainted with museum trustee Bob Whitehouse who had replaced Phil Foster . . . . And I began volunteering at the museum, helping Bob with exhibits and setting up for the lectures at Dover High School.

In 1996 I was asked to replace Bob as a trustee . . . there still was no admission and no money coming in except a little interest from the trust. That first year the furnace quit in the Woodman House with winter coming. No money to repair and we had to petition the court to use trust money.

We again requested the court to establish an admission policy . . . . we started a membership drive along with the first fundraising campaign and published a member newsletter in 1997. An operations account and a restoration account for donations was established. The Hale House had a roof leaking, bricks coming apart, gutters with holes as big as golf balls . . . chimneys beginning to come apart.To learn how Thom and others helped The Woodman grow and thrive to become the Seacoast treasure it is today, go to www.woodmanmuseum.org to read his full remarks.

Year in ReviewThe Woodman’s Centennial Celebration

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Centennial GalaExcerpt from Thom Hindle’s Remarks

Thom Hindle with Mayor Weston and proclamation at Centennial Gala

Gundalow Fundraiser Showcases Natural Beauty and Wildlife of the Cocheco River

Perfect fall weather gave participants in the gundalow fundraiser an unforgettable experience as they sailed

for an hour down the Cochecho River. Sailing downri-ver on the Piscataqua, a replica of the historic transport vessel that was an important part of Dover’s maritime history, guests were treated to beautiful scenery and glimpses of blue herons. George Maglaras, a well-known supporter of Dover’s waterfront, provided an informative and entertaining narrative along the route, supported by Cathy Beaudoin and the staff of The Gundalow Company.

Antique bicycles were a hit at the Car Show.

Narrator George Maglaras acquaints the Gundalow crowd with the history of the Cocheco River on our October sail.

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UNH Marine Docent Program Provides Hands-on Learning

The purpose for this program is to orient students to marine life by giving them opportunities

to touch, draw, and even dissect various marine specimens. Students were also able to interact via a live video and audio feed to the research vessel Nautilus, a UNH project engaged in mapping the ocean floor off the coast of California. Students were able to participate in a live question-and-answer session with the researchers.

create responses. A new part of the curriculum this year focused on Dover’s textile design and history exhibit in the Hale House as it combined aspects of history and art. An additional arts

portion of the proj-ect was planned in conjunction with an exhibit featur-

ing the works of artist Pat Hardy. A resident of North Berwick, Ms. Hardy has traveled and worked throughout the U.S. and Europe and currently enjoys working as a visiting artist in the schools.

This project and the Hardy exhibit were made possi-ble with the financial support of Measured Progress, a national non-profit educational testing organization located in Dover dedicated to teaching and learning. We hope that this successful collaboration, in its second year, will result in a project expansion to other schools next year.

Building on the success of the pilot project in 2015, more

than 100 sixth-grade students and their teachers spent a busy October morning at The Woodman engaged in interactive learning exercises that were based

on the museum’s history, natural science, and art exhib-its. Developed by Dover Middle School teachers and aligned to the State’s approved standards, the exercises required the students to observe exhibits, ask questions, and then use their critical thinking and writing skills to

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Dover Middle School Interdisciplinary Learning Project Returns to The Woodman

at the time, finished as such at the time of its making.

Secondly, an impressive New Hampshire Tall Case Clock, circa 1810. Overall height (without center finial) is 90"; the bonnet top features unique cut-out fret work. Typical of clocks of the day made in New Hampshire and surrounding rural towns of Vermont and Maine. Both pieces are on view in the John Parker Hale House, situated among other culturally significant gifts by this, and other, generous donors.

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Laying out the new Medicinal and Industrial Garden at the Hale House, Spring 2016. Fund-ed by NH Master Gardeners, installed by the Strafford Coun-ty Master Gardeners and other community members.

About three dozen vehicles were displayed at this year’s Antique Car show, from vintage 1916 Ford trucks to the latest Porsche, with motorcyles and bicycles as well!

Art teacher Marie Robicheau (standing, center) and artist Pat Hardy (seated in both photos) speak with students during Dover Middle School interdisciplinary project.