News
You’re Invited to Support the 2012 Annual Operating Fund for Historic Houses
May 21, 2012
“The tour was deeply moving and inspiring.”
This comment from a recent visitor to Mary Baker Eddy’s Chestnut Hill home continued, “The tour gave me an opportunity to reflect on the immensely vital work taking place at that period in Mrs. Eddy’s life.”
Thoughts like these are often shared by those who have toured one of the Mary Baker Eddy historic houses in the Longyear Museum collection. Support of these important landmarks from Longyear’s friends has enabled the Museum to provide inspiring experiences to visitors from around the world. We are so grateful for this generosity.
Preserving the Mary Baker Eddy historic houses is an ongoing responsibility that Longyear takes seriously. Experienced staff maintain the houses year-round and their “to-do” list is long and varied. Some 2012 projects include:
• rebuilding the back wall of the historic garage at Chestnut Hill
• putting a fresh coat of paint on the Swampscott house
• shoring up a two-hundred-year-old parlor ceiling in Amesbury
• repairing and re-staining weather-beaten porches at North Groton and Concord
• replacing window shades to protect against harmful light damage to furnishings
• incorporating new research into some of the tours
The Annual Operating Fund for Historic Houses supports projects like these, as well as regular operating expenses such as heat, electricity, yard maintenance, and staff costs for those who care for the houses and give tours. In 2011, gifts in support of historic house operations and maintenance helped fund such projects as roof work on the historic carriage house at Chestnut Hill, a full renovation of the Resident Overseer apartment in Swampscott, and exterior repairs and painting at the historic house in Stoughton.
Everyone at Longyear is committed to preserving the Mary Baker Eddy historic houses and making them available to the public, and we invite you to join us in this work by contributing to the 2012 Annual Operating Fund for Historic Houses. Your participation in this effort is greatly appreciated and your gift will be used wisely.
To make your gift or pledge, please contribute online , call Longyear at 800.277.8943, ext. 220, or mail your gift to Longyear Museum and note that your contribution is for the Annual Operating Fund for Historic Houses. Every gift makes a difference. Thank you, in advance, for considering this request for support, and for your commitment to furthering Longyear’s mission.
