E-Newsletter | June 26, 2020
|
|
Caleb's Trunk
(
Editor's note: This week we have a treat for our young readers.
Click here to listen
as Museum of Old Newbury Board Member,
Mike Welch,
reads
Katie’s Trunk
by Ana Turner. It is set during the American Revolution and tells an engaging story from an unexpected point of view. Mike’s story got us thinking about some of the wonderful trunks in our collection at the Cushing House.)
One piece in our collection that stands out, despite being tucked under the front stairs, belonged to
Caleb Cushing,
whose family home still stands at 98 High Street.
The “Elastic, Steel Spring, Solid Sole Leather Trunk” was made between 1852 and 1868 by Alexander McDonald of Boston. Better known as a maker of document boxes, McDonald built this wonderful travel chest that was perfect for somebody on-the-go. It featured an easily accessible folder in the front and a clever compartment in the top that dropped down into a writing desk/storage compartment for important paperwork.
Cushing was certainly a “man-on-the-go.” He had a long and successful career as a lawyer, politician and diplomat. He served as mayor of Newburyport, was elected a US Congressman for Massachusetts, became Attorney General under President Franklin Pierce, served as Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court justice, and was US Ambassador to China. These, however, are all stories for another day.
This trunk dates from a period of time at the end of Cushing's political career when he served as Minister to Spain from 1874 to 1877. As a personal friend of President Grant and a skilled diplomat, Cushing was asked to help negotiate a tense diplomatic dispute known as the Virginius Affair between Spain and the United States during the Cuban fight for independence.
On February 8, 1874, he was appointed “Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of Spain” and promptly sailed across the Atlantic to help prevent a war.
The
Virginius
was a ship hired by Cuban insurrectionists to transport men and arms in order to attack the Spanish regime. While flying American colors and sailing in international waters, the
Virginius
was illegally captured by the Spanish, who wanted to try the men onboard (many of whom were American and British citizens) as pirates and execute them.
The Spanish summarily executed 53 of the men, which incited anger and calls for retaliation from the American press. It was Newburyport’s own level-headed lawyer Caleb Cushing who deescalated the calls for violence and was able to negotiate reparations to be paid to the families of the Americans who were executed, effectively ending the episode peacefully and avoiding warfare.
This trunk, which is now part of the museum’s collection, would have accompanied him during this tense period of negotiation. Fortunately, it was saved and passed down through the Cushing descendants and can now serve as witness to an impactful moment in American history.
|
|
Mass Humanities CARES
Susan C.S. Edwards,
executive director, announces, "We are pleased to report that the museum has been awarded a CARES Act grant for $5,000 from Mass Humanities." Funds have been provided from the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020.
A total of 123 awards were made across the Commonwealth. This award is based on the quality of Museum of Old Newbury's humanities programming and budget size.
Edwards further shares, "The funds are for general operating support between now and September to assist small institutions during this critical time."
(Editor's note: For more information on the great work of these two organizations, follow Mass Humanities (
@masshumanities
) and NEH (
@nehgov
) on your favorite social media platform. #NEHCares)
|
|
History nerds
Jack Santos,
Custom House Maritime Museum, and
Colleen Turner Secino,
Museum of Old Newbury, serve as your hosts for the popular Newbury-area triva show, "Yeat Yeat, Don't Tell Me!"
Zoom in
here
for today's episode, Friday, June 26, 2020 @ 12:00 p.m.
(Editor's note: Try your hand at last week's questions
here
. For answers, click
here
, or watch the 1/2 hour show
here
.)
|
|
ICYMI: Puzzle Me This...Living la Vida Hosta!
Just four more days until the first installment of the 41st Annual “Virtual” Garden Tour is available online.
Access to the virtual tours is free (although donations are always appreciated:
https://www.newburyhistory.org/donate
), and will feature the value of composting (available June 30, 2020); backyard retreats (available July 30 and August 30, 2020); and from-garden-to-table (dropping September 15, 2020).
With your narrator,
Bill Hallett,
and the camera magic of
Dan Fionte & Bob Watts,
it won’t be the same as being there yourself, but it will be close.
Shown here is the pride of the
Cushing House
garden
,
the
1808 Hosta,
named because it was one of the first plantings to compliment the newly constructed Federal style home.
Hostas are America's most popular perennial garden plant for very simple reasons…they are one of the few plants that thrive in shade and they are extremely easy to care for and propagate. There are hundreds of varieties and their colors can vary from pale yellow to the deepest of blue-greens, with many variegated forms like the 1808 also available.
Click on the image above to begin.
(*ICYMI: In Case You Missed It)
|
|
REMINDER: Sunday, July 5, 2020
Reading Frederick Douglass
The First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist and the Museum of Old Newbury will host a virtual community reading of Frederick Douglass's impassioned 1852 speech, “The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro.” Lend your voice to this powerful participatory event.
|
|
Something is Always Cooking at the Museum
Hot dog! When it comes to salads, Newburyport's
M.R. Scampington
is the cat's meow. He shares his hot weather go-to lunch here. Delicious alone, but it's even tastier with a few pita chips on the side.
White Bean & Tuna Salad
1 6-ounce can and 1 3-ounce can Italian tuna in oil, do not drain
1 15-ounce can cannellini white beans, rinsed well
1 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Zest and juice of 1 lemon (at least 2 1/2 tablespoons of liquid)
1 - 2 dashes red wine vinegar (more to taste, if you wish)
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 small red onion or 3 shallots, minced
2 tablespoons capers, in brine
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
Pinch coarse salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Combine all in a medium bowl. Stir gently, mixing well, but not completely breaking up the tuna. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Keeps up to 5 days. 4 servings, 1 cup each.
|
|
Margie's MOON
Volunteers
Margie Gillis,
gardener extraordinaire, along with support from
Nancy & Fred Thurlow,
work diligently in the Museum of Old Newbury's back garden tending to the many perennials and annuals that make the space pop.
Margie took a stroll earlier this week and captured some of the lushness and beauty. At right are delphiniums in various stages of bloom. Below a Kousa dogwood from the Lunt home overlooks assorted hosta and an overabundance of pink roses climbs the fence near the Perkins "Mint."
See for yourself!
Even during these times of social distancing, the gardens at the Museum of Old Newbury are open to the public. Please come and relax, as well as check out the handiwork of Margie and the many volunteers that keep us going and "growing."
|
|
During this difficult period of COVID-19, we rely on your support more than ever. We are working to reschedule many of the programs that we have had to postpone, as well as develop new, online programs for you to enjoy and keep us connected. We hope, if you are able, that you will consider a
donation
to the museum. Thank you for your continued support.
|
|
Museum of Old Newbury
98 High Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
978-462-2681
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
