2016 Accomplishments

What the Society has done this year?

We have had a busy year.

1. Over the past year, we have expanded our membership from less than 100 to over 450. Our goal is to increase that to 1000.
2. By year’s end, we will also have hosted, co-sponsored, or supported 19 History-related programs and events.
3. Last November, as a result of our request, the Town Council issued a proclamation designating 7 March, the date of the signing of the Compact in 1638, as our annual “Portsmouth Founders’ Day”, to include a public showing of the Compact in Portsmouth on or near that date. On 7 March, our first “Founders Day” event was held at the Town Hall and was a great success – standing room only.
4. On 9 March, President Jim Garman gave a standing room only lecture at the Portsmouth Free Public Library on the Early Days of Portsmouth.
5. Also in March, we adopted a new Historical Society logo designed by local award-winning graphic artist, Tom Roskelly.
6. In April, we co-sponsored a series of 3 Genealogy classes by Linda Rego at Portsmouth Free Public Library on 3, 10, 24 April.
7. Over the past year, we have been upgrading and improving our Social media and internet capabilities. With the assistance of the Portsmouth 375th Legacy Group, we were able to utilize the 375th Group’s PortsmouthAtlantic.org, and PortsmouthHistory Center.org web site to host a new PortsmouthHistorical.org web site at no cost to the Historical Society. Gloria Schmidt helps keep people informed on the Portsmouth Historical Society Facebook page and @portsmouthhistoricalsociety on twitter.
8. In May we reopened our museum for the season on Memorial Day, and the Society had its first Open House on 22 May. At this event, RI State Representative Dan Reilly presented a RI State Grant of $2000 to the Historical Society. The funds were used to install a high capacity dehumidifier to help preserve the artifacts in the museum. We had a nice crowd and we were pleased to show off our new continuing exhibit of Portsmouth homes: “Who Lived Here?” The display was put together with considerable research by Curator Marge Webster and Gloria Schmidt along with their Curator’s Committee.
9. On May 21, our Docent Coordinator, Anne B. Wagner, conducted a docent training session to familiarize both new and returning docents on how to best host the season’s guests to our museum. We had about 10 new docents who are very important to the Society in hosting our visitors each Sunday during the season.
10. On 1 June PHS members Gloria and Richard Schmidt visited the third grade at Melville School to talk about the Glen. The next day approximately 70 of those 3^rd graders visited the Museum as part of a local history day. Those of us who participated enjoyed hosting the students and their teachers.
11. Over the summer, Board member Mike Palgierani got a new flagpole erected and, with the help of New England Tree Preservation, we were able to get the old one removed.
12. After problems with leaks that caused some water damage to the ceiling in interior of the museum, we were able to repair the problems and restore the ceiling and interior of the museum with the help of a State preservation grant. We still have funds available in the grant and will use it complete some additional improvements to the museum this year.
13. On 20 June, we conducted our Annual Meeting/ board elections and hosted a Guest Lecture on Victorian Furniture by Historic New England Senior Curator Nancy Carlisle. At this meeting we also approved new set of Historical Society bylaws.
14. On 7 July, We hosted a rare viewing of Portsmouth’s 1776 copy of the Declaration of Independence and a lecture on William Ellery by local scholar John Parrillo at Portsmouth Town Hall. William Ellery was one RI’s two signers of the Declaration.
15. On 22 July – we hosted and participated in a celebration of Anne Hutchinson 425th birthday, which included:
16. 10-12 am – Ceremony/Picnic lunch at Founder’s Brook Park
17. 1-3 pm – Art exhibit and Jim Garman Lecture at Portsmouth Free Public library
18. 3-5 pm – Wine Tasting at Greenvale Vineyards
19. On 9 August – we hosted Author Christian McBurney for a “sold-out” lecture on Barton’s Raid at the Library.
20. On 21 August, we held a “History Comes Alive” event at THE SOCIETY in conjunction with the Portsmouth Community Theater. Over 50 people attended this event and guest reviews were enthusiastically positive. We would like to hold events like this at least once annually.
21. In late August, Several Board Members met with an Americans with a Disabilities Act (ADA) contractor and then with an architect from Roger Williams University with expertise in ADA access to formulate a plan for ADA Access to the Historical Society’s buildings.
22. On 1 September, we hosted a visit of board members of the Tiverton Historical Society to show them our facility and to discuss areas of possible mutual programming.
23. On 15 September, President Garman hosted a meeting with Portsmouth High School Teacher, Tim Ryan, to discuss teaching more about local history in our high school.
24. On 4 October, we co-hosted Maureen Taylor, the “Photo Detective” for a lecture at the Portsmouth Free Public Library.
25. From 4- 6 October, we supported Portsmouth Community Theater presentations of the original play, “Ghostly Witness” (1673 Cornell murder) dinner theater at the Valley Inn.
26. On Friday, 14 October, we will hold our annual Harvest Social Fundraiser at Greenvale Vineyards.
27. On October 23, the Society hosted the annual memorial service for the 1983 Bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut Lebanon. A memorial stone and garden commemorates the tragedy where nine Rhode Island Marines lost their lives.
28. On 2 November, President Jim Garman will give a presentation on “Portsmouth A Hundred Years Ago” showing original photographs from that era, at the Portsmouth Free Public Library.
29. On 15 December, Jim will give a lecture on “Island Park in the Early 1900s” at the Portsmouth Free Public Library.