Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House

Our Centennial Countdown Begins!

2011-06-03T12:20:00.000-04:00

In 1910, any visitor seeking to find the thrill or comfort in visiting the Concord home of one of the world’s most beloved authors would have instead discovered signs posted that read “Private Property” and “No Trespassing."

Fortunately, this is hardly the welcome one receives today at Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, in large part due to the brave foresight of several Concord residents who, in 1911, sought to both preserve the home where Louisa May Alcott and her family lived and perpetuate the legacy of the Alcotts in literature, education, the arts, and social justice.

On January 23, 1911, the Concord Woman’s Club was able to raise enough funds to purchase Orchard House “with all the land in front of it and 20 to 30 feet in the side and back” from Mrs. Harriet Lothrop (aka author “Margaret Sidney”), owner of the adjacent Wayside as well. Private donations garnered from around the world -- including a dime from a girl in Hungary! -- totaled $8,000 and were to be used “for papering, furnishing, also to begin a maintenance fund,” as noted in a Concord Patriot article.

As early as 1909, however, research was being done into establishing a “Corporation” to help save and preserve Orchard House. On April 15, 1911, Articles of Incorporation were signed by the following founding members of the all-volunteer Louisa May Alcott Memorial Association: Murray and Mabel Ballou, Anna H. Burrill, Charles and Elizabeth Darling, George and Laura Furber, Carrie M. Hoyle, Woodward and Bessie Hudson, Russell and Edith Robb, Abby F. Rolfe, Henry and Margaret Blanchard Smith Jr. Several of these surnames resound to this day as a result of continued family involvement with Orchard House and other Concord organizations.

In 1913, John Sewall Pratt Alcott, the only surviving nephew of Louisa May Alcott, was asked by Good Housekeeping Magazine to write about his family and the home they so loved:

I suppose it was because it was right in their midst the people of Concord forgot the existence of Orchard House. We tried many times to buy it, but it was not until the club of women of the town brought their united efforts to bear that the price was put within reasonable limits. Two years ago they bought it, and when they had collected enough money they set right at work, making the necessary repairs and putting on the needed patches. The house was in such a bad condition that one of the carpenters called into consultation advised Mrs. Henry Rolfe, the president of the Louisa Alcott Memorial Association, “to tear it all down and build a new one.” The house has been restored, practically, through little self denials.

Board members gathered monthly in the Parlor of Orchard House or in Mrs. Rolfe’s home to review plans for and progress of renovations pursuant to the formal opening of Orchard House as an historic site. With persistent fundraising and careful budgeting, the Board kept one eye on providing visitors entry into the idyllic and heartwarming home so vividly portrayed in Little Women, but were also intent upon providing a historically accurate context for the public to appreciate the talents and contributions of all the Alcott family members.

The first official Orchard House Guest Book signature was posted on July 13, 1911, with admission to the house being 25 cents. Visitors came and went for nearly a year before a formal celebration of work completed on Orchard House was held on May 27, 1912. An article in The Christian Science Monitor estimated 250 people visited Orchard House that one day. Guests included descendants of the Alcotts and other notable Concord families, as well as people from across the globe who had been inspired by the ideals and works of the Alcotts. Mrs. Rolfe provided historical background on the house, John Alcott reminisced about his Aunt Louisa and Grandfather Alcott, and Frank Sanborn also spoke.

The current stewards of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House -- a fifteen-member all-volunteer Board elected from nearly one hundred Corporators along with five full-time administrators and upwards of fifty part-time interpreters, educators, and volunteers -- still maintain the home in accordance with the highest standards of historic preservation and interpretive technique, enabling Orchard House to garner prestigious grants for on-going restoration and awards for quality tours, programs, and events.

Since the opening of Orchard House did not happen with haste, it is perhaps fitting that as the historic house today seeks to meaningfully commemorate its Centennial, the celebration is not confined to merely one date, or even bound by one year. In April 2011, we honored the founders of L.M.A.M.A., whose dedicated efforts brought to life a place that had held sway in the hearts and minds of generations of Little Women readers, by re-enacting the signing of the Articles of Incorporation with several descendants of the original Board, current Board members, and an Alcott descendant:

This year's Summer Conversational Series & Teacher Institute (July 10th - 15th) has as its theme, "Creating a Vision: The Power of Place - A Centennial Celebration of Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House." Authors such as Concord’s own Jane Langton will join scholars from around the world to discuss the power of place in their own writings and other contexts, as well as the significance of Orchard House as an abiding source of inspiration.

As time passes toward May 27, 2012, we will offer many other opportunities for fans and supporters to celebrate with us. Please keep checking back on this blog, as well as on our website -- www.louisamayalcott.org -- for details, and don't forget to say "Happy Anniversary" when you visit us!

Group Photo at Orchard House today (April 6th) @ 4pm, rain or shine!

2010-04-06T11:04:00.010-04:00

It's been far too long since we blogged -- we'd actually like to think that Mr. Alcott would have been a real fan of this Internet feature had it existed in his time!

We have stayed nicely busy through the Fall and Winter, and are grateful that Spring is finally looking as if it is here to stay. The trees are leafing out, daffodils are popping into golden yellow bloom along our fence posts, and the birds and woodland creatures are foraging for nesting material, so a new generation is not far off in coming ...

Today we are hosting a group photo opportunity in support of "Saving America's Treasures Week." Sponsored by The National Trust for Historic Preservation, events around the country at a variety of the 1,100 Official Projects of Save America's Treasures are intended to raise awareness of the worth and vital need for continuation of preservation programs. As you may already know, the proposed 2011 Federal budget completely eliminates funding for Save America's Treasures as well as Preserve America, and cuts in half funding for National Heritage Areas.

Back in 1999, Orchard House was designated an Official Project of Save America's Treasures and, as such, we were most fortunate (nay, blessed) to be able to apply for and receive a $400,000 grant to begin the most intense preservation work ever undertaken in our site's [then] nearly 90-year history. This "seed money" rescued Orchard House from certain destruction by enabling us to build the first-ever foundation under the back half of the House (largely constructed by hand and while we were still open to the public) and correct massive structural abnormalities that had, of financial necessity, only been addressed before by stop-gap measures. Because of the imprimatur of this highly competitive grant, we were also able to leverage a triple-match of our $400,000 award and fund $1.5 million of Phase I preservation!

As grateful as we are for this, the influence and impact of Save America's Treasures reaches far beyond Orchard House. In Massachusetts alone over the past 10 years, Save America's Treasures has poured more than $16 million into preserving and restoring historic sites and icons and revitalizing historic downtowns. Nationwide, 16,000 jobs have been created and $377 million in additional public/private funding has been leveraged. Those statistics make Save America's Treasures quite "the economic stimulus engine that could"!

Now, as Save America's Treasures is fighting for its very own existence, we are privileged to be part of the effort to convince Congress to reinstate funding for this worthy and highly effective program. Even if you can't physically join us for the photo today, please consider making your support heard by your Congressional representatives. The National Trust website has an easy on-line form that will communicate your sentiments to the appropriate members of Congress for your area; please visit www.preservationnation.org to submit your response. Also, forwarding this information to your family, friends, and colleagues this week (while Congress is in Easter Recess and actively listening to their constituents!) will help enormously.

Thank you in advance for any help you are able to offer, and may you all enjoy a beautiful Spring!

Partners in Preservation Popular Vote Winner

2009-05-18T06:38:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to the Paragon Carousel in Hull, MA for being the top vote-getter in the Partners in Preservation contest!

Additional grant recipients will be announced on June 16th.

Final Hours to Vote for Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House

2009-05-17T20:27:00.005-04:00

The Partners in Preservation contest ends tonight at midnight, only a few hours from now!

If you have stuck with us though the entire five-week voting period -- many, many thanks! We've relished the challenge of devising clever yet non-intrusive ways for you to be reminded to vote, and admire your own perseverance in remembering every day.

If you joined us along the way in our quest for the $100,000 preservation grant, we thank you as well. The incredible surge we experienced last week -- going from 15th place to 12th place in four days -- was remarkable and inspiring!

And, if you're only now reading this and wishing you could vote for us, there's still time to cast your ballot and show that Orchard House matters to you! Simply visit http://www.PartnersinPreservation.com to register and log in to vote.

We're very grateful for the exciting ways in which we've reached out on social networking sites and the many new and renewed friends and followers we've acquired in the process. We hope you will continue to check for updates on us in the future. Better yet, if you're ever in Concord, MA, do make sure to visit Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House. Thank you all so much for your support!

A Tale of Love and Support in Concord, MA

2009-05-13T19:59:00.003-04:00

We would like to share with you the following incredible story that occurred yesterday:

In the early morning hours of 12 May 2009, fire ravaged two stores on Main Street in Concord, Massachusetts: Fritz and Gigi's - The Children's Shop and Churchill Flowers. Fortunately, the lone apartment dweller above these businesses managed to call the fire department and get out safely. These businesses were located in historic buildings, and although they are likely to be structurally sound, the interiors -- complete with fine old woodworking details and generations of memories for Concord shoppers -- along with all the merchandise, are total losses. Re-building will proceed apace for these folks, but will take several months at the least before they can get back on solid ground. In our already awful economic climate, this could not have come at a worse time for these business owners.

Fritz and Gigi's is owned by the Kussin family, long-time Concord residents. The Kussins are also direct descendants of the Alcotts ...

Upon hearing the news of the fire (communicated to us by a Staff member driving his son to school), we immediately went to the store to express our concern and offer any help. When Louisa Alcott Yamartino (the great-great-granddaughter of Anna Alcott Pratt) saw us, the first thing she said was: "We saved your [VOTE!] sign! It didn't get burned!" That, we assured her, was the least of our concerns. Nonetheless, she insisted that we put the sign back on the lawn in front of the store right away! Then, after walking through the devastation and asking again what we could possibly do to help them, Louisa quite seriously answered: "Keep voting!" She honestly admitted that the success of Orchard House in the Partners in Preservation contest would help her family feel better about what was currently happening to them.

What a selfless thing to say and feel. What incredible resilience in the face of adversity. And, it was just so Alcott ...

Everyone associated with Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House is extraordinarily honored to be acquainted with the Kussin family, and wish them nothing but the best in the coming days, weeks, and months. We have already helped to organize community-wide relief efforts for the family, and hope to not let them down in these last days of the contest. We offer this story as great testament to the power of believing in a cause, and hope it provides you with another great example of how "this place matters!" (To read an article in our local paper about the fire and efforts to help the family, please click here.)

Please vote for Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House in the Partners in Preservation contest. On-line voting ends this Sunday, 17 May 2009 at midnight. We have made incredible progress -- moving from 15th to 14th to 13th place -- in only three days! With your help, we know we can succeed!

To cast your ballot for us to win a $100,000 preservation grant, click here. Thank you!

LOUISA MAY ALCOTT'S ORCHARD HOUSE MAKES THE FRONT PAGE OF THE BOSTON GLOBE WEST TODAY!!!

2009-05-07T17:14:00.006-04:00

Please read this article by clicking on the title of this blog post (and for more information on why we need to win the Partners in Preservation contest, visit http://www.louisamayalcott.org).

Then, vote for us every day through May 17th at http://www.PartnersinPreservation.com.

With only 10 days left in the contest,
your daily votes are crucial to our success!!!

Please help us break into the Top 10 ... and stay there! (And please spread the word to your friends, family, and colleagues to do the same.)

If we win, we all win, because one of America's most beloved historic sites will be able to continue its preservation efforts and stay open for generations to come!

Thank you!

"Promote the Vote" for Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House!

2009-05-01T14:24:00.007-04:00

During our well-attended "Spruce Up for Spring" Gardens & Grounds Clean-Up last weekend, some of our youngest volunteers took time out to join Executive Director Jan Turnquist in making an earnest plea for votes. Enjoy our first-ever in-House video (click on the Blog title to watch it on YouTube), and then please vote for us every day through May 17th at http://www.PartnersinPreservation.com.

To find out even more about why we should win, visit this special portion of our website: http://www.louisamayalcott.org/vote2009.html.

Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House makes the front page of The Concord Journal (and on-line at Wicked Local, too)!

2009-04-23T19:15:00.013-04:00

Read the story, check out the cool pix of "Miss Alcott" supervising the Preservation Project, and watch the video (if you haven't already). Then ... VOTE!

Once a day every day through May 17th at www.PartnersinPreservation.com!

Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House vying for $100,000 in guaranteed grant money

2009-04-21T18:37:00.003-04:00

Watch as Executive Director Jan Turnquist explains why we need to win the Partners in Preservation contest!

"Spruce Up for Spring" Volunteer Gardens & Grounds Clean-Up Fast Approaching!

2009-04-21T15:49:00.004-04:00

This year marks the tenth time Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House has asked volunteers to help with our annual gardens and grounds clean-up. In the past, this event has not only helped us to save on costly landscaping fees, but also promotes a spirit of camaraderie that is beautiful to experience -- young and old and everyone in between working alongside each other to make "America's House" awake from its long Winter nap and look beautiful for the new tourism season!

The clean-up date of Saturday, April 25^th also happens to fall on "Global Youth Service Day," an international effort to encourage youth volunteerism to make a difference in local communities. We provide Community Service credits to students and boy/girl scouts, so it's a terrific way to get what you need and have a good time doing it! (For more info on Global Youth Service Day, visit www.gysd.org.)

Finally, this year's clean-up is vital to our success, as it will help us "put our best face forward" when we host our Open House for the Partners in Preservation contest on May 2nd & 3rd. If we win, we will receive $100,000 to preserve Orchard House! (For details -- and to vote for us every day through May 17th! -- visit www.PartnersinPreservation.com.)

Volunteers can help out for the entire day or for an hour or two. Families are welcome, and you don't need previous gardening experience -- we have all manner of activity to keep folks busy! Healthy snacks and lunch are provided too, so what's not to like? (In the event of rain, "Spruce Up for Spring" will be held on Sunday, April 26th.) Hope you can help!

From The Concord Journal: Votes will decide if Orchard House is guaranteed grant money

2009-04-21T11:18:00.002-04:00

American Express unveils preservation finalists - Daily Business Update - The Boston Globe

2009-04-15T22:08:00.001-04:00

American Express unveils preservation finalists - Daily Business Update - The Boston Globe

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