March 2024

Welcome!

During the Holiday Stroll on December 1st, I was approached by a number of people who had moved to Medfield over the last few years and knew nothing about the history of the Dwight-Derby House or its significance. Given the demands of families, careers, and other social obligations, it's no surprise that people who are new to the area (and even many who aren't!) have overlooked the little yellow garrison colonial house on Baker's Pond at 7 Frairy Street. It seems that The Friends of the Dwight-Derby House can and must do a better job of keeping everyone up to date, whether they are new in town or were in Medfield in 1996 when the property was acquired by the Town of Medfield.

And there is so much to say. Since 1997, The Friends of the Dwight-Derby House has managed, maintained, operated and funded the house in order to keep it preserved and open both as a museum and an event rental.

And thus, the birth of this newsletter, the Squibob Herald.

President, Friends of the Dwight-Derby House

Squibob Musings

Who Is This Squibob?

Some of you have never heard of Squibob, which was a nom de plume of George Horatio Derby (1832-1861), the most famous resident of the Dwight-Derby House, and a man considered by many to be one of the original satirists in the United States. George's writings were admired by both Abraham Lincoln and Samuel Clemens.

It is therefore in honor of George and the San Diego Herald, who published his work, that we call this newsletter the Squibob Herald.

A drawing of “Squibob,” who was one of George Horatio Derby's most popular characters. (From SQUIBOB An Early California Humorist by George Horatio Derby.)

Touring the House

We want to accommodate everyone who wants to tour the house and realize that two Saturday mornings a month are not always convenient. By prior arrangement and subject to docent availability we will offer free tours seven days a week during daylight hours. To request a tour, fill out a Contact Us form on our website.

We will be open on April 27th and 28th from 10 am to 4 pm for guided tours during Medfield History Weekend. We look forward to seeing you then!

The East Parlor Project

As March is National Women in History month, there couldn't be a more appropriate time to unveil an exciting new exhibit in the works, the "East Parlor Project." This new exhibit will recreate the women's millinery shop that Mary Townsend Derby set up in the east parlor of the house in 1825.

The redecorated east parlor will essentially be a tribute to Mary Townsend Derby who, as a young single mother of two children, launched a business at home to support her family and the small farm on the "road to Wheeler's Bottom" as Frairy Street was called in those days.

While there is scant historical information available as to exactly what wares were offered, there is ample evidence that bonnets were a mainstay. According to Electa Kane Tritsch in her book Medfield's Dwight-Derby House, published in 2009, Mary and her friend Julia Butterfield established "an in-house commercial operation in Medfield that would provide income for her own family and respectable employment for other women short on funds." And, as we know, this occurred in a period where women could neither own property nor vote.

Volunteers Needed!

We will also need volunteers to decorate and perhaps even make hats. The bottom line is that we would love to hear from you if you are interested in being part of this effort.

You can contact me, Geoff Sauter, via email or just stop in when you see the "Open" flag displayed at the end of our driveway.

If any of you have kept track, this is at least the third attempt by The Friends of the Dwight-Derby House to reach out to the community with a newsletter to keep you all in touch with our activities. The first two newsletters preceded the Internet, in 1999 and again in 2001.

Hopefully, the Squibob Herald will endure a little longer! As they say, "third time's the charm!"

774-478-5262

info@dwightderbyhouse.org

www.dwightderbyhouse.org