Oh Marshfield!—Marshfield
~ Daniel Webster in a letter to his wife, 1840
The Orator
June 2014/Issue No. 17
Newsletter of the Daniel Webster Preservation Trust, Inc.
Dear Members and Friends,
It’s summer—finally! No more unseasonable weather. Time to escape from
your labors and relax. Head to the beach. Catch a wave or a fish. Soak up the sun.
Enjoy whatever floats your boat.
Daniel Webster expressed his pleasure of leaving Washington and politics
behind and withdrawing from professional and public life to enjoy his summer
residence on the seacoast with the simple exclamation “Oh Marshfield!—Marshfield!”
His feeling for the town and everything connected with it was deep-seated and
romantic. We of the Daniel Webster Preservation Trust share his “lovin’ feelin’.”
That is why we encourage you to visit the Webster Estate this summer and
take a tour or have some tea or celebrate the season with some good old-fashioned
family fun. That is why we suggest you consider the rental of this historic setting and
gracious mansion for your special happening, personal or corporate.
We sincerely hope you will include among the pleasures of summer living and
the activities that enhance special time spent with family and friends some moments
here at the Daniel Webster Estate & Heritage Center. You’ll find details about all our
upcoming events in this newsletter, in magazines and newspapers, and on posters
around town, and you can obtain rental information by calling the Estate, contacting
our function manager, or checking our website. We are certain that if you add us to
your summer must-do list, you’ll be glad you did—and we’ll be delighted to see you.
The Daniel Webster Preservation Trust, Inc.,
an all-volunteer entity recognized by
the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Executive Board:
Barbara Carney, President
Carol Kiburis, Vice President
Jim Botelho, Treasurer
Cathy Maher, Secretary
Jim Cantwell, Chairman Ex Officio
Board Members:
Eileen Byrne, Otis Carney, Mickey Carr,
Pat Cate, Gail Connolly, Gwen Frazier,
Virginia Gaffey, R-lene Gilgan, Robert Gilgan,
Sandra Hawes, Ann McAleer, Larry Nelson,
Phyllis Nielsen, Jean Peck
Acquisitions Chairperson: Eileen Bryne
Newsletter Editor: Jean Peck
Estate Location:
238 Webster Street, Marshfield, MA 02050
Mailing Address:
Post Office Box 238, Green Harbor, MA 02041
Estate Telephone: 781-834-0548
Website: www.DanielWebsterEstate.org
Happy Summer from the DWPT!
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How You Can Help Preserve the Daniel Webster Estate
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Membership Become part of the DWPT membership and receive discounted admission at qualified events. Simply choose the highest
annual dues category you can afford—Student/Senior $15, Individual $25, Family $50, Friend $75, Donor $100, Sponsor $250, Patron $500,
Benefactor $1,000—and then either mail a tax-exempt check to DWPT, P.O. Box 238, Green Harbor, MA 02041, or pay by credit card through
PayPal on our website.
Financial Support Give a monetary contribution of any amount to support our activities and responsibilities, or earmark your contribution for
a specific purpose or project such as our “Paint the House” effort. (Use the mailing address above or donate via our website.)
Acquisitions Donate Webster memorabilia, historical artifacts, and period antiques to the Estate. Call 781-834-7097 or 781-834-9867 to
discuss the donation of your item(s).
Clerical Help Assist with our communications activities (correspondence, publicity, newsletter, or website). Call 781-834-9867 for details.
Docent Training Help educate a public curious about Daniel Webster and his estate by serving as a docent (tour guide). Call 781-834-6241
for more information.
Volunteerism Share your expertise and special interests by organizing new events for us or give of your time and talent to assist in our
ongoing events. Call 781-834-9867 or 781-837-2403 to find out how your ideas and skills can best be merged with our varied activities.
Event Participation Attend our many interesting and fun-filled events—and bring your family and friends with you. Check for details on
upcoming events in this newsletter and online at www.DanielWebsterEstate.org.
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Daniel Webster’s Phaeton—Back Home Again
The day was very fine, and I set out to make a visit to Plymouth…We were in a large buggy,
or more properly, an old-fashioned phaeton,…open in front, and with two horses…
The king-bolt, or transom-bolt, broke…the carriage, of course, fell to the ground and threw us out, headlong…
I had a great escape, and the more I think of it, the more I marvel that I am among the living.”
Daniel Webster, Spring of 1852
• A phaeton (in contrast to a barouche, berlin, curricle, gig, landau, or victoria, all of which are classified as open
carriages) is a light, open-sided, four-wheel carriage drawn by one or two horses. The word comes from the Greek,
Phaethon, son of Helios, who drove so fast and carelessly that Zeus struck him down supposedly because he was
worried that Phaethon would set the world on fire. He should have been worried that Phaeton might break his neck!
Wood, Tomlinson & Co. carriage,
gift from the citizens of New York
to the Hon. Daniel Webster
• Throughout the 1800s, the manufacture of horse-drawn carriages was an important
industry because of their use as passenger vehicles. The light four-wheel carriage with
open sides (phaeton) was mass produced from the mid-19th century until the 1890s,
when the popularity of the bicycle and the horseless carriage (automobile) took over.
Larger carriages with closed sides were often of elegant design, as exemplified by the
Wood, Tomlinson & Co. carriage given by the citizens of New York to Daniel Webster in
appreciation for his service as Secretary of State. This elaborate vehicle was proclaimed
the most elegant and finished piece of workmanship ever turned out in this country.
The whole cost, horses, harnesses included, was $2500, a considerable sum at the time.
• By 1900, there were over 10,000 carriage builders at work in the United States alone. Some of those manufacturers
were very large operations, with factories stretching for many acres and employing thousands of workers. Others were
much smaller, such as the village blacksmith who could take in repair work and build the occasional vehicle. All of these
craftsmen were an important link in our country’s cultural and industrial evolution.
• Today, many of these craftsmen are forgotten by the general public, which is why we are eager to acknowledge the
work of John Mikkola of The Olde Woodwright Shop in Hampden, Massachusetts, who did such a superb job of
restoring the Estate’s important 2013 acquisition from Dartmouth College—a phaeton that once belonged to Daniel
Webster. John’s work included frame and wheel repairs, paint restoration, and carriage re-upholstery. In the course of
his work John found the axles to be manufactured by H. Ives, which suggests a link to the Mt. Carmel Axle Works, New
Haven, Connecticut, established in 1833 by Frederic Ives. While he found no maker name on the carriage itself, John did
find the number 11 on the body and irons. He suggested the most likely maker is Brewster & Company of New York,
whose carriages were manufactured in New Haven. NOTE: A “Webster Buggy Presentation Ceremony” will be held at
the Estate on July 6 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Please join us as we celebrate this wonderful piece of history!
Fully refurbished phaeton, flaps up
Otis and Barbara Carney with John
Mikkola in the Estate’s Carriage House
Flaps down and looking “phabulous”
Happenings at the Mansion
d Spring Victorian Tea Sold out once again, the Estate’s Spring Victorian Tea
on April 6 featured our formal tea service and three courses of palette-pleasing
savories. Trust VP Carol Kiburis and her team of gracious hostesses served
homemade blueberry scones, delicious tea sandwiches—highlighted by our
special “Webster” chicken salad—and an array of sweet and tantalizing desserts.
Two more seasonal teas are scheduled for this year. Please mark your calendar
for our Summer Tea on June 29 and Fall Tea on October 19—and reserve early!
d Volunteers’ Appreciation Tea Each year the DWPT hosts a special “Thank
You” tea in honor of our dedicated volunteers. This year’s tea, held on April 27,
paid tribute to the time, energy, and expertise of those whose efforts assisted with
the Estate’s day-to-day activities and stewardship. Our volunteers are an
invaluable resource to us and accomplish a variety of tasks, including fundraising,
event planning, event setup and breakdown, public relations, historical research,
acquisitions, interior design, mansion restoration and maintenance, and property
management. Simply put, these volunteers are our lifeblood, and the DWPT is
extremely grateful for them.
d Opening Day of Docent Tours Thanks to Trust director Ann McAleer and
her team of trained docents, the Estate’s doors opened to the public once again
on May 4, and each visitor was graciously welcomed and guided through the
historically rich and beautifully appointed Webster mansion, its gardens, and its
outbuildings—including the Carriage House, where Daniel Webster’s newly
restored phaeton is kept. We invite you to take a tour and enjoy history the easy
way—all in one place, all in an hour or two, in air-conditioned comfort, and at no
cost (but we gladly accept your donation). Tours run from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. each
first Sunday now through November (except Labor Day weekend) and every
Thursday in July through September.
d Third Graders’ Estate Tours School buses arrived at the Estate again this
May and June as the DWPT continued its spring tradition of conducting tours of
the Webster mansion and property for Marshfield’s third graders. Trust director
Gail Connolly along with several dedicated teachers, parents, and volunteers
organized the field trips to acquaint students with the Thomas/Webster Estate
during Colonial and Victorian times, thus fulfilling part of the state’s educational
standards for Grade 3. Special bookmarks were given to remind students of this
historical place and to encourage further reading about local history.
Webster Estate 5th Annual
July 27, 2014
12 noon to 4:00 p.m.
at the Daniel Webster Estate
Pony rides
Balloon animals
Petting zoo
Children’s crafts
Happy slide and bouncy house
Face painting
Storytelling
Yoga and tae kwon do
Children’s ID program
Chowder, chili, and hot diggety dogs
Popcorn, snow cones, and cotton candy
Homemade cookies and brownies
And much, much more!
Rain or shine.
Free admission.
Sale of food and activity tickets to benefit Estate “Paint the House” fund.
For more details, check our website or call Phyllis Nielsen at 781-834-6813.
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Rent the gracious and historic
Daniel Webster Estate & Heritage Center
for your special happening!
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Unforgettable Queen Anne-style mansion
Lovely gardens showcased on fourteen acres of rolling lawns
Turn-of-the-century elegance + state-of-the-art kitchen and service area
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Shared with the public through tours, lectures, and special events
² Weddings ² Showers ² Special Occasions ² Reunions ² Holiday Parties ² Corporate Meetings and Events ²
Rental Information: www.DanielWebsterEstate.org
Contact: Virginia Gaffey, Function Manager, 781-837-2403
Daniel Webster Estate and Heritage Center
CONNECTING THE PAST
THROUGH THE PRESENT
WITH THE FUTURE
238 Webster Street, Marshfield, MA 02050
Estate Telephone: 781-834-0548
Website: www.DanielWebsterEstate.org
ö2014 Calendar of Upcoming Eventsö
JUNE
29 Summer Victorian Tea Enjoy summer’s blooms and be refreshed at the
Estate’s second seasonal tea of the year! 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. (seating at 2:00 p.m.),
$15 admission (tea and delicate sweets and savories, good conversation, and
mansion tour all included). Due to the popularity of our teas, reservations are a must!
RSVP Jinny Gaffey at 781-837-2403 or Carol Kiburis at 781-834-7818.
Mark your calendar!
JULY
6 Webster Buggy Presentation Ceremony Make history with us as we formally
present to the public Daniel Webster’s gloriously restored phaeton. 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
in the Estate’s Carriage House. Light refreshments will be served.
Daniel Webster Estate
Victorian Christmas 2014
27 Family Fun Day Spend an old-fashioned and entertaining afternoon with family
and friends on the grounds of the historic Webster Estate. Noon to 4:00 p.m., rain or
shine, free admission. Activities, crafts, critters, and lots of food of young and old.
For more information, check our website or contact Phyllis Nielsen at 781-834-6813.
SEPTEMBER
28 Generational Tea Delight in taking afternoon tea in the company of someone
special—your mother, daughter, grandmother, aunt, niece, cousin, or friend, even
your favorite dolly! 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. (seating at 2:00 p.m.), $15 admission (with tour).
Please reserve early by calling Gail Connolly at 781-834-8457.
OCTOBER
19 Fall Victorian Tea Celebrate the beauty of autumn and join us for our last
seasonal tea of this year! 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. (seating at 2:00 p.m.), $15 admission
(tea, treats, and tour included). It is not too soon to sign up and reserve your spot!
RSVP Jinny Gaffey at 781-837-2403 or Carol Kiburis at 781-834-7818.
It’s not too late to join the
Daniel Webster Preservation Trust.
Just mail your check to
DWPT
P.O. Box 238
Green Harbor, MA 02041
Or pay by credit card
with PayPal on our website.
Every gift makes a difference!
We thank you for your support—
and so does Daniel Webster,
the “Farmer of Marshfield”!
Evening Preview Gala
December 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Designer Show House
Daily December 6-14
from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Evenings December 9 and 11 only
from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Join us for our 10th annual—
and very merry—holiday event!
I deem it a great piece of
good fortune that, coming
from the mountains,
desirous of having a
summer residence on the
sea coast, I came where I
did and when I did.
~Daniel Webster
in his last speech made
to any public gathering
July 24, 1852
Before this speech, several
Marshfield citizens had
met Mr. Webster at the
Kingston rail station, and
he had been driven in a
barouche drawn by six
gray horses up to Black
Mount, where a crowd of
friends and neighbors
eagerly awaited his return.