"Kentucky Derby" Tea!

For our traditional Annual Mother's Day Tea, Hearthside is "Going to the Races"!

Lincoln ---- The historic Hearthside mansion offers the perfect setting for the elegance and tradition of a Victorian Tea Party, and so once again this year, Friends of Hearthside are sponsoring their Traditional Mother's Day Tea on Saturday, May 7, 2011

The Tea provides an experience of grandeur of the late 19 century, when elaborate teas were fashionable social events.

Ladies and gentlemen would often meet in the afternoon to enjoy tea and conversation among elegant settings of lace and dainty china tea cups, with wonderful creations of miniature tea sandwiches, scones, and scrumptious sweets. As with so many Victorian traditions, elaborate dress, as well as proper etiquette, was followed for the ritual of Afternoon Tea. Women would gather with big feathered hats, long full dresses and gloved slim hands.

The volunteers from Friends of Hearthside, who will be dressed in their Victorian finery, cordially invite their guests to experience a memorable day by joining in the tradition of Afternoon Tea.

While Victorian dress is optional, guests are encouraged to wear their favorite hats.

The theme for this year’s Tea will be “Going to the Races.” and will feature our very own Victorian lady, Lady Estelle T. Barada, who will discuss the history of the "Kentucky Derby" and the tradition of "Wearing of the Hats".

Her presentation will start by showing you what the young lady of Stephen Hopkins Smith's fancy, would have worn on that afternoon buggy ride though Great Road, in 1810. 

Then she will time travel to the mid 1800's and what the ladies  worn to a Victorian Tea and to the Royal Ascot. Also, the type of hat and bonnets worn during the Civil War era of the mid 1860's.

Then you will travel to the 1900's and see what Mrs Talbot of Hearthside might have worn as she went visiting, a day at Churchill Downs, riding in the motor car or a voyage on the Titanic.
The Edwardian Hats were the most largest and over the top in any era.
Then traveling into the vintage hats era of the 1930's - 1950's. 

She will also exhibit some of her favorite hats from her private collection.

 

This will be a most exciting adventure into the History of Hat's and a Day at the Races!

Prizes will be given for the “most beautiful” and “most unusual” hats.

In the midst of our busy and hectic schedules, the Afternoon Tea is an opportunity to experience and relish in the luxury of slowing down and visiting with friends.“It’s a true step back in time”, says Lady Estelle.

In addition to enjoying the rituals of Tea and the hat presentation, there will also be tours of the 10-room house given , following the  tea.

Special gifts for mother will also be available at the Hearthside Gift Shop.

This popular event, now in its tenth year, is expected to draw 60 guests. Space is limited.

The tea starts at 2pm and the tickets are $20.00 .Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling Pat Campellone at 401-722-2925  or Lady Estelle 401-935-5759, before April 21.2011.

All proceeds from the event benefit the restoration of the historic homestead.

Often times referred to as “the house that love built”, Hearthside was built with lottery winnings in 1810 by Stephen Hopkins Smith with the hope of winning the heart of his lady love.

Hearthside, a landmark in Lincoln, is considered to be one of the finest examples of a Federal style home in Rhode Island, with its ogee curved roofline and two-story pillared porch.

Friends of Hearthside is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the historic town-owned mansion.

Hearthside is located on Rt. 123 at the intersection of Breakneck Hill Road and Great Road in Lincoln.

For more information, visit www.hearthsidehouse.org.