Let There Be Light!

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • January 25, 2021

 As you may or may not know, most of the MMA’s buildings date from the very early twentieth century and down into the late eighteenth century – we span 1790 to 1930 if you don’t count Loines Observatory (1968) or Drake Cottage (2000).  It is a challenge to keep them in tip-top shape and to make sure they can properly support our 21 st century programming – but we do it!  We do it with donations, some monies from programming, and of course lots of grants from state, federal, local, and private foundations and entities.  It keeps us busy!  But it is all worth it and we are most grateful to everyone for their support.

 Recently, we have made a few more much needed updates to our “Astronomer’s Cottage” – a circa 1830 house that the MMA acquired in about 1922.  It is located immediately adjacent to the Maria Mitchell Vestal Street Observatory (1908).  We had recently completed some grant funded work to this site and had a few more items to work on.  One of these was electrical work – updating some lighting and wiring and adding some lighting to the cellar which was lit by well, not much – let’s say, one light bulb.  It has always been a basic storage place for the MMA so it didn’t need a lot of light.  Until, the electrician entered, said “Yes, I can provide some more lighting down here,” and then oh my mercies of lighting marvels, I went down to check, flipped on the switch and TADAH! the cellar went from a dungeon to a very pleasant, well-lit space where I can see EVERY nook and cranny, every corner, and now I can work on some items that I need to go through down there!  (With apologies to my English teacher Mother – run-on was purposeful to denote my excitement.) What a difference lighting makes!  I don’t have to wear a headlamp to work.  I can see everything !  It is actually inviting.  What a difference a little (read a lot) of light makes!

With a big thank you to Jeff Schneider and Ellis and Schneider Electricians!

JNLF

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July 31, 1883. I had two or three rich days! On Friday last I went to Holderness, N.H.. to the Asquam House; I had been asked by Mrs. T to join her party. There was at this house Mr. Whittier, Mr., and Mrs. Cartland, Professor and Mrs. Johnson, of Yale . . . The house seemed full of fine, cultivate people. We stayed two days and a half. And first of the scenery. The road up to the house is a steep hill, and at the foot of the hill it winds and turns around two lakes. The panorama is complete one hundred and eighty degrees. Beyond the lakes lie the mountains.  The Asquam House sat atop Shepard Hill and was built in 1881. A hotel, it has space for fifty guests, it was located near Squam Lake and became part of a summer enclave that developed there in the later part of the nineteenth century. Today, the area is a National Historic Landmark, but sadly, the hotel was demolished in 1948. Maria would have been familiar with these people seen here – and others I did not include – but particularly John Greenleaf Whittier who was something of a family friend. He was close to one of her younger brothers, William Forester. JNLF

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