Hearthside House | Babcock-Smith House Museum
Season 1 Episode 6 | 28m 32sVideo has Closed Captions
Hearthside House in Lincoln; Babcock-Smith House Museum in Westerly.
Learn why Hearthside House is called the "House that Love Built," then visit the Babcock-Smith House Museum, home of Rhode Island's first Yale graduate, Dr. Joshua Babcock.
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Treasures Inside The Museum is a local public television program presented by Rhode Island PBS
Hearthside House | Babcock-Smith House Museum
Season 1 Episode 6 | 28m 32sVideo has Closed Captions
Learn why Hearthside House is called the "House that Love Built," then visit the Babcock-Smith House Museum, home of Rhode Island's first Yale graduate, Dr. Joshua Babcock.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> IT IS A 200-YEAR-OLD HOUSE FULL OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
DOWN THE STREET, A ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE HAS COME BACK TO LIFE.
IT WOULDN'T MILL STANDS AS A TRIBUTE TO THE BEGINNING OF AMERICA'S INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND A WORKING BLACKSMITH SHOP IS STILL RESHAPING METAL.
THIS IS TREASURES INSIDE THE MUSEUM.
ALL OF NEW ENGLAND IS GRACED WITH HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT HOMES.
THEY ARE DISTINGUISHED BY THOSE WHO LIVED IN THEM AS WELL AS THEIR ARCHITECTURE.
THANKFULLY, MANY OF THESE HOMES, LARGE AND SMALL, HAVE BEEN PRESERVED AS MUSEUMS.
JUST BELOW THE BUTTERFLY POND, IN LINCOLN, RHODE ISLAND, LIES A SECTION OF ROAD KNOWN AS THE GREAT ROAD HISTORIC DISTRICT.
IT IS HERE THAT THE TOWN OF LINCOLN OWNS SEVERAL HISTORICAL PROPERTIES INSTITUTING THE HEART SIDE HOUSE MUSEUM.
THE HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1810 BY STEPHEN HOPKINS SMITH.
>> POPULAR FOLKLORE SAYS STEPHEN SMITH MET A YOUNG LADY IN PROVIDENCE WHO WAS A SOCIALITE AND SHE WANTED TO MARRY SOMEBODY WHO HAD A LOT OF MONEY, WHO COULD BUILD HER A BEAUTIFUL MANSION.
STEPHEN WAS NOT A WEALTHY MAN, BUT HE WAS HOPELESSLY IN LOVE, SO HE BOUGHT A LOTTERY TICKET IN THE HOPES THAT HE MIGHT WIN ENOUGH MONEY TO BUILD A MANSION.
>> AS IT TURNS OUT, SMITH $140,000 AND USE HIS WINNINGS TO BUILD A HOUSE FOR THE YOUNG LADY HE WAS TRYING TO IMPRESS.
HE POURED A LAW OF LOVE INTO THIS HOME.
>> HAS A SAD ENDING BECAUSE SHE TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE HOUSE AND SAID WHAT A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE BUT WHO WOULD EVER WANT TO LIVE OUT HERE?
THAT BROKE STEPHEN'S HEART, SO HE BROUGHT HER BACK TO PROVIDENCE AFTER PRESENTING THIS TO HER AND NEVER LIVED HERE.
AND HE NEVER MARRIED.
>> HEART SIDE DID BECOME HOME FOR 11 FAMILIES OVER THE NEXT 200 YEARS.
EACH WITH THEIR OWN CHAPTER TO WRITE INTO THE HISORY OF THIS MANSION.
>> EVERYBODY LOOKS AT THIS HOUSE AS A MANSION, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT ALL THE FAMILIES THAT LIVED HERE WERE PRETTY ORDINARY FAMILIES.
THEY WERE NOT WEALTHY.
THEY WERE JUST ORDINARY PEOPLE IN THIS HOUSE.
>> TODAY, HEART SIDE IS A MUSEUM OWNED BY THE TOWN OF LINCOLN AND OPERATED BY THE FRIENDS OF HEART SIDE.
>> WE STARTED WITH AN EMPTY HOUSE WHICH WAS BORING FOR PEOPLE TO SEE.
PEOPLE WANT TO BE SURROUNDED BY THINGS THAT WERE HERE WHEN PEOPLE LIVE HERE.
A GIVES GREAT CONTEXT FOR THE STORIES THAT WE THEN TELL TO HAVE SOME OF OUR ITEMS AROUND US.
OVER THE YEARS, AS MORE AND MORE ITEMS CAME IN, COLLECTIONS STARTED TO COME IN.
ALL OF THE SUDDEN, WE STARTED TO PUT THEM ON DISPLAY AND DISPLAY RESEARCH BEHIND THEM.
AT TURNED INTO A MUSEUM.
>> WE BELIEVE HEART SIDE SHOULD BE A LIVING AS HE HIM.
USUALLY, YOU CAN SIT IN AND TOUCH AND BE PART OF IT.
WE WANT YOU TO BE PART OF THE HOUSE.
>> THE HOUSE WAS EMPTY AT FIRST, BUT TODAY EACH ROOM IS FURNISHED WITH FURNITURE FROM DIFFERENT PERIODS, TELLING DIFFERENT STORIES.
ONE TREASURE IS UPSTAIRS IN THE MASTER BEDROOM.
YOU CAN TELL IT IS THE MASTER BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTIFUL WORK ON THE FIREPLACE AND IT IS THE ONLY BEDROOM WITH FOUR WINDOWS.
>> WE HAD THIS INTERPRETED FOR THE LAST OWNER OF THE HOUSE.
THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A BEDROOM AND WHAT IS MOST SIGNIFICANT IN THIS ROOM IS THIS BED.
THEY PURCHASED THIS BED AT AN ANTIQUE SHOP AND LITTLE DID HE KNOW THE STORY BEHIND IT.
HIS SON SHARED A LOVE OF HISTORY AND GOT INTO A CONVERSATION WITH A FRIEND ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR AND THE FRIEND OF HIS WAS ROBERT ROSE.
HIS GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS A CIVIL WAR HERO FROM RHODE ISLAND.
HE HAD HIS GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER'S DIARY FROM THE CIVIL WAR, SO HE WENT -- HE LET HIM BORROW IT AND HE BROUGHT IT HOME AND SHARED IT WITH HIS PARENTS.
>> WHILE ALLYING IN THIS BED, THE COUPLE READ THE DIARY AND BOTH AGREED IT WAS A PROFOUND ACCOUNT OF WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE DURING THE CIVIL WAR.
>> AND HE WAS A BOOK PUBLISHER, SO HE DECIDED THAT ACCOUNT NEEDED TO BE PUT INTO A BOOK.
THE BOOK WAS CALLED THE UNION AND IT IS THE DIARY OF ELISHA.
>> YEARS LATER, ROBERT RHODES MOVED TO NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SHARED THE BOOK WITH A NEIGHBOR WHO AGREED THAT IT WAS A PROFOUND ACCOUNT.
>> THAT NEIGHBOR WAS KEN BURNS AND KEN BURNS DECIDED TO MAKE THE DOCUMENTARY.
IT ALL CAME OUT OF THIS PARTICULAR BED THAT ONE NIGHT WHEN ANDY AND PENELOPE READ THAT.
>> ANOTHER FAMILY THAT LIVED AT HEART SIDE WHERE THE TALBOTS, WHO PURCHASED IT FOR $100.
>> THEY MOVED HERE FROM PROVIDENCE AND DECIDED TO SET UP A BUSINESS IN THE ATTIC.
>> THEY FILLED THE ATTIC WITH LOOMS AND SPINNING WHEELS AND NAMED THEIR BUSINESS HEART SIDE LOOMS.
>> THAT IS HOW THE HOUSE GOT THE NAME HEART SIDE.
THEY WERE TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT TO THIS HOUSE.
THEY WERE AT THE CUSP OF THE COLONIAL REVIVAL, AS WELL AS THE ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT.
THEY FILLED THE HOUSE WITH ANTIQUES.
IT WAS REALLY A MUSEUM AT THAT TIME AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME PEOPLE STARTED TO APPRECIATE THESE OLD THINGS.
>> THE ORIGINAL LOOMS WERE ALMOST LOST WHEN ONE OF THE TALBOTS CHILDREN GAVE THEM AWAY.
>> AND HER WILL, SHE LEFT THESE MUSEUM -- THESE LOOMS TO THE TEXTILE MUSEUM AND THAT MUSEUM WENT OUT OF BUSINESS LAST YEAR.
WE RECEIVED THE ENTIRE COLLECTION, INCLUDING SOME OF THE COVERS THEY MADE HERE AND ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT.
ALL OF THE SPINNING WHEELS AND EAT LOOMS.
>> THESE LOOMS AND THE FABRICS ARE AMONG THE TREASURES AT HEART SIDE.
>> THE LOOMS YOU SEE HERE WERE BROUGHT TO HEART SIDE BY THE TALBOT FAMILY.
ARNOLD TALBOT WENT AROUND AND PURCHASED ALL OF THESE LOOMS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER AND BROUGHT THEM HERE TO HEART SIDE.
WHEN THE TALBOTS WRE WORKING ON THE IS, THESE WERE 200 YEARS OLD.
THEY HAD TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND BOTH KIDS LEARNED HOW TO WEAVE.
FROM VERY LITTLE TODDLER'S, THEY ARE SITTING ON THESE LOOMS WEAVING.
WE HAD PORTUGUESE WEAVERS, IRISH WEAVERS.
THESE LOOMS WERE GOING 70 DAYS A WEEK.
A LOT OF NOISE GOING BACK AND FORTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
HOT IN THE SUMMER TIME AND COLD IN THE WINTER TIME.
THEY CONTINUE TO WEAVE.
THERE WEAVING AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE A FEW GOODS, BUT THESE ITEMS BECAME POPULAR.
THESE ARE DISHTOWELS AND RUGS AND COVERS.
PEOPLE WOULD PAY A PRETTY PENNY FOR THEM.
OVER TIME, THEY STOPPED BUYING, BECAUSE THEY COULD BUY CHEAPER ONES.
THE TALBOTS REENGINEERED AND DECIDED TO SELL THE GOODS TO CHURCHES INSTEAD.
THEY MADE WALL HANGINGS AND SO FORTH.
THE CHURCHES WOULD PAY FOR IT.
>> WHILE THE LOOMS ARE ON PERMANENT DISPLAY, OTHER EXHIBITS CHANGE PERIODICALLY.
DAVID DAVIDSON WAS A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO CAPTURED A NUMBER OF IMAGES OF HEART SIDE WITH A NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS KNOWN AS HAND-PAINTED COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY.
A COLLECTION OF HIS WORK WAS DISCOVERED BY DESCENDENTS OF THE TALBOTS, INCLUDING AN ORIGINAL CAMERA AND A SHAWL BORN IN MANY PICTURES.
50 ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BETWEEN 1907 AND 1912 ARE NOW PART OF THE COLLECTION AND OFFER AN INSIDE LOOK AT HOW THE ROOMS APPEARED.
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, HEART SIDE COMES TO LIFE WITH EXHIBITS AND EVENTS THAT EXPLORE OUR HISTORY.
FROM A DISPLAY OF VICTORIAN ERA WEDDING DRESSES TO A CELEBRATION OF THE 1904 WORLDS'S FAIR.
VOLUNTEERS CREATE MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES.
ONE EXHIBIT THAT HAS BECOME POPULAR IS CALLED GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.
EACH OCTOBER, THE HOUSE IS TRANSFORMED, JUST LIKE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN 1873 FOR THE WEEKEND FUNERAL OF A FORMER OWNER.
>> IT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE DONATION OF AN ANTIQUE EMBALMING KIT.
>> SOMEONE DONATED AND ANTIQUE CASKET, MORNING DRESSES, AND IT STARTED TO COME TOGETHER.
IN TRUE RHODE ISLAND FASHION, KATHY HARTLEY HAD A CONNECTION TO THE DEARLY DEPARTED.
>> THEY REALIZED THAT HE WAS MY GREAT GRANDFATHER AND I HAD NOT PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER UNTIL I STARTED TO RESEARCH FOR THIS EXHIBIT.
IT MADE IT EASIER, BECAUSE NOW I HAD FAMILY PHOTOS OF HIM AND A LOCAL FUNERAL PARLOR WAS THE UNDERTAKER.
THEY STILL HAD ALL THE RECORDS AND THE EMBALMING TABLE THAT HE WAS INVOLVED ON IN THIS HOUSE.
IT COMES TO LIFE FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME IN HERE AS TO HOW FAMILIES DEALT WITH DEATH DURING THAT TIME.
SO MANY OF THE FUNERAL PRACTICES WE DO NOWADAYS CAME FROM THAT TIME.
>> INCLUDED IN THE EXHIBIT IS THE EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF CLOTHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WORN DURING MORNING IN THE VICTORIAN ERA.
THESE DRESSES, ALONG WITH HATS AND OTHER ACCESSORIES ALL TELL A STORY BUT THERE ALSO FRAGILE.
TEXTILES ARE ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR MUSEUM TO CARE FOR.
>> THESE ARE THE COLLCTIONS OF HEART SIDE HOUSE AND MORNING COLLECTIONS.
I HAVE UNPACKED THEM AND I'M LAYING THEM OUT SO I CAN SEE HOW THEY WERE DISPLAYED FOR THE UPCOMING DOES EXHIBIT -- THE UPCOMING EXHIBIT.
SOME ARE MORE FRAGILE THAN OTHERS.
THE SKIRT I AM LOOKING AT -- WHAT WE WANT TO DO WHEN WE FIND THESE FRAGILE OBJECTS IS TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE BOX AS GENTLY AS POSSIBLE, SUPPORTING THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND EVALUATE WHETHER THEY SHOULD GO ON A MARRIED -- A MANIKIN OR A TABLE OR BE PUT INTO STORAGE.
>> A GRADUATE STUDENT AT DUKE UNIVERSITY IS WORKING WITH THE GARMENTS.
CONSERVATION IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE MUSEUM'S EFFORTS TO EXHIBIT THEIR COLLECTIONS.
>> THIS IS A CHILDREN'S SKIRT.
IT NOT ONLY SHOWS SIGNS OF REPAIR AROUND THE WAISTBAND.
THERE IS STAINING ON IT.
SIGNS OF REPAIR, SIGNS OF DAMAGE, IT IS USEFUL BECAUSE IF THEY ARE LOOKING AT A GARMENT THAT THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF OR DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS USED FOR, THEY WILL LOOK AT CREASES, WHERE WAS IT STRESSED, WHERE WAS IT ON A WOMAN'S BODY.
WAS THIS A GARMENT BAG YOU COULD GO TO PARTIES IN, THAT YOU COULD EAT IN, WAS THAT A CHILD GARMENT?
>> THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE IN PRESERVING TEXTILES IS THAT THEY REQUIRE SPECIAL MATERIAL TO STORE THEM.
YOU HAVE TO STORE THEM IN ARCHIVAL TISSUE, ARCHIVAL BOXES, ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTROLLED SPACES.
WE DON'T HAVE THE SPACES.
WE ARE IN A 200-YEAR-OLD HOUSE.
NO AIR CONDITIONING.
DRY HEAT.
WE DO WHAT WE CAN.
>> THIS IS A CLOAK, IT HAS LOTS OF READING ON THE TOP AND WHEN I PICKED THIS UP, THE LINING FELL OUT.
THAT HAPPENS WITH A LOT OF OLD GARMENTS, ESPECIALLY TOWARD THE OLD OF -- THE END OF VICTORIAN ERA, BECAUSE THEY RETREATING IT WITH THINGS LIKE SALTS TO HAVE A MORE BEAUTIFUL FINISH.
HOWEVER, THAT IS WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL INHERENT VICE.
THAT MEANS THE WAY THE GARMENT WAS MADE IS CONTRIBUTING TO ITS DOWNFALL.
THE WAY THAT THIS IS SHATTERING IN PAPERLIKE STRIPS, SOMETIMES IF YOU TOUCH THEM THEY WILL DISINTEGRATE.
YOU CAN'T DO MUCH ABOUT IT.
THE GOAL IS TO KEEP IT AS LONG AS YOU CAN AS HEALTHY AS YOU CAN AND IN AS GOOD CONDITION AS YOU CAN.
>> MOST OF THE TEXTILES IN THE COLLECTION ARE DONATED TO HEART SIDE AND THE BEST DONATIONS ARE THOSE THAT COME WITH PROVIDENCE OR AND OWNERSHIP HISTORY.
THROUGHOUT THE MUSEUM, GREAT CARE AND THOUGHT HAS BEEN TAKEN IN EVERY EXHIBIT TO BREATHE LIFE INTO THESE ROOMS.
IN THE SECOND-FLOOR HALLWAY THERE SITS A 1905 PHOTOGRAPH WITH A SET OF WAX CYLINDERS.
♪ THERE ARE A LOT OF MUSEUMS WHERE YOU CAN SEE AN EXHIBIT LIKE THIS BUT VERY FEW PLACES WHERE YOU CAN HEAR IT AS WELL.
AT HEART SIDE, IT IS ABOUT HEARING WHAT THAT EARLY PHONOGRAPH SOUNDS LIKE AND IMAGINING WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR A FAMILY TO HEAR THE RECORDED SOUND FOR THE FIRST TIME.
UP UNTIL THAT TIME, MUSIC COULD ONLY BE HEARD LIVE.
HEART SIDE IS A LIVING MUSEUM AND ITS HISTORY COMES ALIVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BUT ESPECIALLY AT CHRISTMAS.
♪ >>, RIGHT ON IN SO YOU CAN LISTEN TO MY STORY.
>> VISITORS ARE GREETED BY VOLUNTEERS AND ESCORTED THROUGH THE MANSION.
>> ON OUR TABLE WE HAVE THESE CHRISTMAS CRACKERS WHICH YOU MAY HAVE.
WE ALSO HAVE HOT COALS THAT WERE USED TO HEAT UP THE BED.
>> CHRISTMAS IS PROBABLY THE BEST TIME HERE.
THE HOUSE IS JUST MADE TO BE DECORATED.
>> EVERY ROOM IS DECORATED BY VOLUNTEERS WHO ADOPT A ROOM AND RE-CREATE THE FEEL OF A OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS.
>> WE ARE NOT DOING SO MUCH A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS BUT EVERYTHING WE DO IS TRYING TO PORTRAY ALL OF THE DIFFERENT FAMILIES THAT HAVE LIVED HERE.
WHAT WAS CHRISTMAS LIKE FROM ONE OF THE FAMILIES THAT LIVED HERE IN THE 1860'S.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR THE LAST FAMILY, IN THE 1960'S.
>> THE CELEBRATION EXTENDS FROM HEART SIDE DOWN THE STREET TO ONE OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES ALONG THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE SCHOOL HOUSE.
>> ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SCHOOL IS TO GIVE THE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM.
>> WITH POEM AND SONG WE GREET YOU.
>> FOR CHRISTMAS, LOCAL STUDENTS RE-CREATE HISTORY WITH A CHILDREN'S PERFORMANCE.
THE SCHOOLTEACHER WOULD BE PRE--- WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PERCENT TO THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF HER CONTRACT.
THE ONE ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE DATES BACK TO 1850 AND WAS MOVED HERE IN 2015 FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION.
>> AND GOT THE NAME HOT POTATO SCHOOLHOUSE BECAUSE THE STORY OF THE TEACHER WHO WOULD BAKE POTATOES AND PUT POTATOES ON TOP OF HER POTBELLY STOVE FOR THE CHILDREN SO THEY WOULD HAVE A HOT LUNCH.
>> TODAY, CHILDREN CAN IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN HISTORY AND DISCOVER WHAT LEARNING WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE 150 YEARS AGO.
>> HE WOULD COME IN, THE KIDS WOULD SIT AND COME UP TO THE TEACHER.
>> BY INVITING IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY CREATE A PLACE FOR OTHERS TO REMINISCE ABOUT A BYGONE ERA.
JUST A FEW HUNDRED YARDS DOWNSTREAM FROM THE SCHOOLHOUSE IS THE MILL.
THIS 1812 WOODEN MILL WAS BRAILLE DURING THE FIRST WAVE OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND WAS IN OPERATION FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS.
>> THE SHOP CLOSED IN 1800 AND EVERYTHING WAS LEFT THERE.
ALL THE TOOLS WERE LEFT IN PLACE AND IT WAS LIKE THE WORKERS WENT TO LUNCH AND NEVER CAME BACK.
>> THE MILL WE THINK IS IMPORTANT.
IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.
SLATER WAS MAINLY FABRICS.
THIS IS A MACHINE SHOP AND WHEN IT CAME HERE AND OPENED, IT DID EVERYTHING.
>> THIS WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED THE ONLY MILL, NAMED AFTER THE ORIGINAL OWNER.
GEORGE ONLY BUILT THIS MILL AND RAN IT UNTIL 1850 WHEN HE SOLD IT.
>> THEY HAD THE TURBINE IN THE BOTTOM AND IT WOULD POWER ALL THE MACHINERY FROM LATHES, SAWS.
THEY REALLY COULD DO ANYTHING.
>> OVER THE YEARS, IT BECAME A SHOP WHERE SLEIGHS AND BUGGIES WERE MADE.
THEY ALSO PRODUCED SHOELACES AND CORSET LACES.
>> IT HAD ITS OWN BLACKSMITH SHOP ATTACHED TO IT.
THEY ACTUALLY MADE AND FIXED AND REPAIRED ALMOST ANY MACHINE, DID ALL OF THEIR OWN WORK.
>> IT IS FROZEN IN TIME AND IT IS A WONDERFUL MUSEUM TO GO SEE.
YOU WALK IN AND FEEL LIKE THEY JUST LEFT.
>> EVENTUALLY, THAT BLACKSMITH SHOP MOVED UP THE ROAD AND LANDED HERE, JUST DOWN THE HILL FROM THE SCHOOLHOUSE.
EDWARD IS THE CURRENT BLACKSMITH.
>> I USUALLY COME IN IN THE MORNING, GET STARTED.
THAT IS CALLED THE TERMINUS.
PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS TO START THE FIRE.
SOME PEOPLE LIKE WOODCHIPS, A BLOWTORCH.
I USUALLY JUST USE PAPER AND PUMP IT.
BLACKSMITH, THE BLACK PART COMES FROM IRON.
IT IS CONSIDERED A BLACK METAL.
BLACKSMITHS MAKE HINGES, ANYTHING AROUND THE HOUSE.
CANS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE NOW WHO ARE DOING THIS DO IT FOR AN ARTISTIC OF THING.
THEY ARE MAKING THINGS THEY ENJOY.
WE HAVE CLASSES ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
WE ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, SO ANYTIME YOU SEE THE DOORS OPEN, FEEL FREE TO COME IN.
YOU CAN WATCH WHAT WE ARE DOING, ASK QUESTIONS.
WE TRY TO RUN IT SO IT IS EDUCATIONAL.
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WE TRY TO LET THEM COME UP TO THE END BILLING AND HIT THE METAL.
SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOT AND COLD METAL.
HOW FLEXIBLE AND FORMABLE A PLACE OF STEEL CAN BE.
>> WE HAVE COUPLES WHO HAVE CELEBRATED ANNIVERSARIES.
THE ANNIVERSARY REALLY GIFT IS METAL SO THEY COME TO DO METAL WORK TOGETHER.
I'VE HAD FAMILIES COME ON OCCASION AND WANT TO DO A FAMILY EXPERIENCE.
THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO TAKE A BACKS MAKING -- A BLACKSMITHING CLASS.
>> IF THEY COME IN AND TAKE A CLASS I WANT THEM TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.
MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THIS FOR A LIVING.
I WANT THEM TO LEAVE HAVING THE BEST TIME THEY COULD POSSIBLY HAVE.
I REALLY ENJOY TEACHING.
IT IS AMAZING WATCHING PEOPLE SHARE THE EXPERIENCE AND GETTING CLOSER THROUGH THIS.
HELPING EACH OTHER, IT IS A COOL THING.
>> THE BLACKSMITH SHOP, THE SCHOOLHOUSE, HEART SIDE HOUSE AND THE MILL.
FOUR MUSEUMS IN ONE, OPERATED BY THE FRIENDS AT HEART SIDE, DEDICATED TO PRESERVING HISTORY ALONG THE GREAT ROAD HISTORIC DISTRICT.
♪ IN WESTERLY RHODE ISLAND ON THE ORIGINAL POST ROAD STANDS A GEORGIAN STYLE MANSION THAT WAS HOME TO THE FIRST YELL GRADUATE AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.
>> DR. BABCOCK PERSEVERED IN EDUCATING HIMSELF, ATTENDING SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
THE TOP THREE POSITIONS ONE COULD HOLD IN GOVERNMENT WOULD BE CHIEF JUSTICE, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, WHICH HE DEFERRED TO SAMUEL WARD.
IT WAS AMONGST THE MAJOR OFFICEHOLDERS OF THAT ERA.
>> THE HOME IS LISTED -- LISTED ON A NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
THE STRUCTURE MAY NOT LOOK EXACTLY LIKE IT DID DURING DR. BABCOCK'S TIME, BUT INSIDE, IT FEATURES MANY ORIGINAL TREASURES.
>> THERE ARE FOUR FEATURES OF THIS HOUSE WHICH MAKE IT CONSIDERED A MANSION IN THE COLONIAL ERA.
THE FIRST IS THE WIDTH OF THE FLOORBOARDS BECAUSE THEY BELONGED TO THE KING FOR SHIPBUILDING AND IT HAD TO BE SOMEONE IMPORTANT TO HAVE WIDE FLOORBOARDS.
THE SECOND IS THE HEIGHT OF THE CEILINGS.
IN THE COLONIAL ERA, PEOPLE WERE SHORTER SO IT WAS UNUSUAL TO HAVE A HOUSE WITH CEILINGS THIS HIGH.
IT SHOWED HE WAS PROSPEROUS.
HE COULD AFFORD TO HEAT A HOUSE OF THIS SIZE.
THE THIRD REASON THIS HOUSE IS CONSIDERED A MANSION IS THE BEAUTIFUL CORNER CUPBOARD, WHICH HAS TRIPLE COLUMNS WITH TRIPLE -- BEAUTIFUL SCALLOPED MOTIF IN THE TOP.
THE FOURTH THING, WHICH IS MOST UNUSUAL, IS THE BANISTER IN THE FRONT HALL.
IT WAS IMPORTED FROM EUROPE, PROBABLY ENGLAND OR ITALY.
>> KNOWN TODAY AS THE BABCOCK SMITH HOUSE MUSEUM, IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND SHARES THE HISTORY OF NOT ONLY THE BABCOCK'S BUT ALSO ORLANDO SMITH .
ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTS, HE MOVED HIS FAMILY INTO THE HOUSE IN 1848 AFTER HE DISCOVERED GRANITE IN THE AREA.
>> HE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GOOD QUALITY IN HIS PROPERTY.
IT WAS FOR SALE.
HE WOULD BUY THE PROPERTY AND HE STARTED THE FIRST GRANITE COMPANY IN TOWN.
>> THE SMITH FAMILY PUT WESTERLY ON THE MAP.
WESTERLY'S GRANITE INDUSTRY PROVIDED WORK FOR LOCAL FAMILIES , LARGE GRANITE SLABS FOR BUILDINGS AND GRANITE PIECES WORKED INTO MONUMENTS AND SCULPTURES, CONSIDERED TREASURES TODAY.
THEY CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.
THE NEWLY EXTENDED CARRIAGE HOUSE ON THE PROPERTY HOLDS MANY TREASURES FROM THE SMITH GRANITE COMPANY, INCLUDING RECORD BOOKS WITH ORIGINAL ORDERS AND TOOLS COLLECTED FROM WORLD-RENOWNED STONE CARVERS AND MASONS.
>> THE WHOLE TOWN OF WESTERLY IS INVOLVED.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY VENTURE BECAUSE OF HIS FORESIGHT IN PUTTING THE TRUST JUST FOUR YEARS AFTER HE HAD IT RESTORED.
B>> THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF HISTORIC HOMES AND HOUSE MUSEUMS ACROSS MIDLAND.
PERHAPS THERE IS ONE CLOSE TO WHERE YOU LIVE FULL OF TREASURES AND WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED.
♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.
VISIT NCICAP.ORG] [CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES]
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