Woodman Institute Museum
Dover, NH
Dover, NH
by Patricia and James Cummings
photo courtesy of Thom Hindle, museum trustee/chair.
A patriotic bunting graces the portal entry to the 1818 Hale House, part of the Woodman Institute Museum in Dover, New Hampshire.
On a June day, we decided to take a little afternoon jaunt across the state of New Hampshire to visit the Woodman Institute. This museum, established by the $100,000 endowment of Annie E. Woodman in 1915, is located in the town of Dover. The museum consists of three buildings and is a repository for many and varied collections. The first building has a huge mineral and rock collection, including some items found right here in New Hampshire. Entering the adjacent room, one is greeted by a ten foot, upright Polar Bear at the bottom of the stairwell. The bear was shot in 1969 on an ice floe near Siberia. Considering that Polar Bears are the only bears to hunt and eat humans, the massive size of this one was staggering to ponder. However, the caption states that the bear was by no means the largest of its kind.
In the next room, we were able to view many examples of North American wildlife, as well as animals from South America and Australia. The mounted head of a bull moose gives an indication of the potential size of some of these giants of the north. They are incredibly massive and elegant. A smaller full size moose, a gray wolf, beavers, mink, ferrets, opossums, and quite a few other animals both large and small are preserved within glass cases. The last cougar killed in New Hampshire in 1853, is also on display.
On the same floor, there are all kinds and sizes of seashells, a preserved thirty seven pound lobster, a large green sea turtle, a man-killing, bivalve clam from Australia, and various sponges and other aquatic reef plant life.
Trailing up the stairs, we entered a room full of mounted butterflies and insects. My attention was caught by a large moth whose bottom wings look like eyes. What an adaptation of nature to scare off would be predators! The rest of the room was filled with stuffed birds, from the tiniest hummingbird to birds of prey and owls, and also snakes and turtles.
After seeing the exhibit, I finally have the terms "downy woodpecker" and "hairy woodpecker," solidified in my mind. All winter long, we have had both kinds of birds feeding on suet. While they look similar, with their black and white bodies and red capped heads, the hairy woodpecker is significantly larger. Bird lovers will delight in seeing many familiar as well as, not so commonly seen birds. Across the hall, there is a room full of exotic birds from both tropical and eastern countries. The all-white peacock was quite amazing.
The third floor of the building has war artifacts from the Civil War and WWII and a room devoted to various memorabilia and ephemera related to Abraham Lincoln, and also his saddle. There is an impressive collection of souvenir and campaign ribbons, posters, guns, helmets and hats.
Heading to the lower level, we decided to brave the heavily cascading rain to venture across the yard to a second building which is the former home of a wealthy mill owner. The house was built so that the first level was a large ballroom.
The display of textile samples from the Cocheco Mills and other quilt related items such as the quilt by Marilyn Follansbee, make this museum one of great interest to quilt and fabric lovers. photo provided by Thom Hindle/museum trustee/chair.
Glass cases now preserve small artifacts of all kinds. Of course, my interest went immediately to the back corner where a quilt was hanging. Marilyn Follansbee, a local Dover quilter, donated the quilt to the Museum's permanent collection. She used reproduction fabrics which had been originally produced by the now famous nineteenth century Cocheco Mills of Dover.
In front of the quilt, there is a pretty display of reproduction fabrics, with a few description cards about some of them. Nearby are salesman's sample cards, an old sewing machine, and information about the Cocheco Mills, and the Sawyer (woolen) Mills.
The same floor of displays has a few other needlework treasures: a Sampler, an antique doll bed quilt on a home crafted bed, and an embroidered child's nightgown, and a very old stitched piece on linen, and a velvet dress on a mannequin. There is a toy display, and a doll collection, as well as an Oriental display of dolls and old fans and more.
The second and third floors were actually the living quarters of the family. The second floor begins with a large landing with built-in seats flanking either side. One can immediately tell that the house was built with much care and aforethought by affluent people. The floors are all hardwood.
The window shutters which are cleverly done, fold back during the day to rest upon the window casings which are set at a 45 degree angle. The second floor is completely furnished in the same way that it would have been mid -nineteenth century, with period furniture, piano, music box, washstand with pitcher, basin and commode. Right now, the third floor is being used for storage but it is hoped that it can be modified in the future and be open for public viewing. Beautiful, large paintings add grace to the stairwell, and are best seen in descent.
Braving a downpour again, we ventured out across the patio to a third building. An Old Garrison House was moved by one horse to the site from three miles up the road. The authentic colonial home's outside planks are built entirely of oak. The entire house is protected from the weather and from further deterioration by another building structure which has been superimposed around it.
Inside the colonial, there are small rooms full of "dinnerware" items, teapots, china and crocks; a shoemaking/repair station; a hearth with bread oven; textiles and the implements for making cloth: spinning wheels, looms, and a flax brake machine; Samplers and pieces of clothing. Outside the house, there is a twelve man wooden sled, and a "Napoleon" Civil War canon.
All in all, we were so happy to have been treated to seeing these wonderful collections of artifacts. We came away, truly in agreement that the Woodman Institute is one of New Hampshire's "hidden treasures."
Located at 182 Central Avenue in Dover, NH, the museum is open from 12:30-4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, except holidays. The museum closes on December 1 and will re-open on April 1. Entrance fees are nominal and memberships are available. For more information, visit the Woodman Institute's website.
Tours can be arranged by calling (603) 742-1038 and the museum must be notified if the group number will exceed ten people. The museum is supported and maintained by the generosity of its members and guests. I hope that you will get a chance to visit and that you, too, will be as amazed as we were, and will feel that it was well worth the trip.
©Copyright 2002-2007. James and Patricia Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH.
The photos shown in this file are the property of the Woodman Institute Museum.
Comments? Questions? e-mail: pat@quiltersmuse.com