Grand Re-Opening of the Caryl House

The Dover Historical Society invites you to celebrate the re-opening of the Benjamin Caryl House at an old- fashioned autumn festival on Sunday, September 30th from noon to 4 PM at the Caryl House, 107 Dedham St. The program will feature an eclectic mix of historical entertainment, demonstrations,  exhibits and other attractions. Visitors may also admire the handiwork of historic preservation professionals who recently completed work on the property.              Picnic seating will be available, with sun and rain protection if needed.

Come early and stay late, starting with a lazy picnic lunch and a chance to catch up with friends and neighbors. Captain Marden’s Cod Squad will be offering a variety of seafood choices and will welcome your patronage.

Plan to chat with Dr. John Hart (aka Brian Cortez) a contemporary of our own Dr. George Caryl, between 1-3 PM. Mr. Cortez will portray Dr. Hart who was surgeon of the Massachusetts 2nd regiment from 1777 to 1784; he is quite a conversationalist, eager to hold forth on the practice of medicine and other curious topics dating to the late 18th century.

Children will want to see the cider press at work, to try weaving and to play with toys from the colonial period. Kathy Hirbour, from the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, will be on hand throughout the afternoon leading activities for young visitors.

Costumed docents will provide tours of the House where a treasure of the collection will be on display -- Benjamin Caryl’s flamestitch wallet, recently conserved with support from the Dover Cultural Council.

A new exhibit Insuring the Future of Our Past: Preservation of the Caryl House documents the goals, methods and accomplishments of the 2012 historic preservation project.  The afternoon concludes with a vocal concert at 3 PM featuring Diane Taraz, who charmed the Council on Aging in 2011. Ms. Taraz is back by popular demand performing songs from the Civil War era, and explaining their origins and significance.

Said Barbara Palmer, curator of the Caryl House, “This is going to be a very special event.  The Caryl House makes its debut after a top to bottom preservation effort,  looking pretty spiffy and eager to resume its educational mission to the Town it serves.

  “We want this event to say thank you to all the people who were instrumental in bringing the project to fruition and to the citizens of Dover who generously supported this necessary undertaking.   Those seriously interested in the principles, materials and methods of historic preservation  will want to linger over the photographic history of the project, documenting its structural and esthetic accomplishments.

“We are hoping folks will make an afternoon of it, enjoying an early fall outing with friends and neighbors, treating themselves to seafood goodies from Captain Marden’s  food truck, applauding the entertainers, and gaining insight from the exhibits and activities that will highlight the day.  I think there will be something for everyone, including a wonderful crafts expert who will be working with young visitors with on hands-on activities throughout the afternoon”. 

Caryl House, built around 1777, was  the home of the Reverend Benjamin Caryl,  Dover’s first  minister  and doctor, and sheltered four generations of the Caryl family. It is furnished to show how Rev. Caryl and his family lived in the 18th Century following the American  Revolution.  The property is owned by the Town of Dover and  operates as a house museum under the care of the Dover Historical Society.  It is considered one of the most important examples of 18th century architecture in the area and was named to the National Register of Historical Places in 2000.

The Preservation Project included repair and reinforcement on the east and north faces of the house; extensive window work including repair, restoration and frame replacement; antique masonry repair; and preservation of 18th century architectural elements such as preserving the remaining original clapboards and the front door entry pediment.

There will be open houses at the Society’s three museums, the Caryl House and Fisher Barn, both at 107 Dedham St., and the Sawin Museum, 80 Dedham St., from 1 to 4 PM each Saturday through November 17th.