Babcock-Smith House Museum

Family Friend and Teacher: Matilda Browne
2025-04-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by Hugh Barton
Matilda Browne, the only woman member of both the Cos Cob and Old Lyme artist colonies, was known for her paintings of cows, impressionist landscapes, and still lifes. She was a lifelong friend of Frederick R. and May F. Hoisington. Hoisington’s Cayey-Caguas Tobacco Company had plantations and cigar factories in Puerto Rico. They took Matilda Browne to visit Puerto Rico in 1912. She would later teach oil painting to their daughter, Elizabeth, who married a Barton whose father was in the memorials business and owned a small granite quarry in Westerly. The paintings of Matilda Browne and Elizabeth H. Barton are an enduring legacy of the cigar company and the family friendship.
Free to members: $5.00 for not-yet members

Aftermath: Memorializing the Battle of Gettysburg. Part 2
2025-03-16 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by John Linton
Part 2 will deal with the Smith Granite Company’s monuments and the sculptors and stonecutters who produced them along with the Gettysburg National Military Park’s commitment to repairing the damage to its monuments.
Free for members: $5.00 for not-yet members

Aftermath: Memorializing the Battle of Gettysburg. Part 1.
2025-02-16 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by John Linton
Part 1 will deal with David Wills and the creation of the Gettysburg National Cemetery and Soldiers’ National Monument, David McConaughy and the creation of the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association, the formation of the Grand Army of the Republic and its lobbying of state legislatures to fund their regimental monuments, and the bid process focusing on the Smith Granite company and their agent W.B. Amringe.
Free for members; $5.00 for not-yet members.

Westerly Granite as Infrastructure
2025-01-26 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Granite used for infrastructure was and is a mainstay of the Westerly industry. Hugh Barton will discuss the use of granite for paving stones for streets, crushed granite for airplane landing strips, and larger pieces for seawalls and breakwaters. These uses date from the earliest days of the granite industry to present day.
Free for members; $5.00 for not-yet members

Holiday Open House at the Museum
2024-12-07 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Join us for a morning visit to the newly-revamped Joshua’s store featuring items made by our docents and then enjoy some free soup, freshly-baked cookies and muffin tops, and hot cider. Take home some of our justly well-known cookie platters, choose some baskets to drop some raffle tickets in, and shop for holiday presents at Joshua’s Store. You can be in good shape for the holiday season when you leave.

A Sip Says It All: Olive Oils and Vinegars
2024-10-20 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Suzanne and Stephen Capizzano of “Olive Oils and Vinegars” in Pawcatuck, CT will be bringing us a presentation
on “What lives beyond the olive tree?” They will talk about the fresh seasonal extra virgin olive
oils and discuss the different grades of olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars; as well as being
able to discern the different flavors and aromas. Attendees will be given the opportunity to taste the difference of high-quality extra virgin olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars on food, as well as experience an aged balsamic vinegar in a refreshing drink.
Members free; $5 for not-yet members.

The Westerly Museum of American Impressionism
2024-09-08 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Presented by Catherine Shotick
Catherine Shotick, the director of the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism, will speak about the construction of the new museum and the vision for the space once it opens. She will also provide a brief background on American Impressionism and the artwork that visitors will be able to see throughout the museum’s galleries.
Free for members: $5.00 for not-yet members

Monuments in the Midst of Monuments
2024-08-08 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
This tour of the monuments in the middle of the River Bend Cemetery is a repeat of the one offered in July. Rain date will be August 13.
Free for members; $5.00 for not-yet members.

Monuments in the Midst of Monuments
2024-07-09 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for a tour of monuments in the middle of River Bend Cemetery. The tour will be offered once in July and once in August. Rain date for July will be Thursday the 11th and for August will be the 13th.
Free for members; $5.00 for not-yet members.

The Woodlawn Stained Glass Survey
2024-06-23 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by Sophia Kamps
Behind the locked doors of Woodlawn Cemetery’s mausoleums lie over twelve hundred stained-glass windows, chronicling stained glass in America from the late 1870’s to the late 1920’s. Since 2020, a team of conservators and curators has been surveying the collection. Sophia will discuss the process of researching and attributing mausoem stained-glass windows, discoveries from the survey, and the value of partnership between conservation expertise and historic research.
Free for members. $5.00 for not-yet members.

Open House; Presentation of "Men, Monuments and a Massachusetts Musket"; and Debut of "The Wallace Nutting Exhibit"
2024-05-25 14:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Presented by Ellen and Bob Madison and Bob Boucher
The intriguing story of a recent addition to the granite exhibit. What connection to the granite industry can a Civil War musket have? Come and find out.
Free as part of our annual Open House which runs from 2-5. Program will be at 2. Free tours following the program.

South County Samplers
2024-05-05 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by Susan Jerome
The Museum has lent four of its samplers to the Gilbert Stuart Museum for its exhibit Embroidered Lives: South County Samplers and Their Stories which runs from April 28 through July 28. Jerome will speak on various aspects of samplers and their documentation.
Free for members: $5.00 for not-yet members.

A Peaceable Kingdom
2024-04-28 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | River Bend Cemetery, United States
Presented by the Babcock-Smith House Museum Volunteers
Join us for a walking tour of a small section of River Bend Cemetery in Westerly where the lions lie down with the lambs and the angels watch over them. Guides will introduce a variety of monuments, most of them made from local Westerly granite by talented craftsmen, and will share information about their design and construction. The tour is part of Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries Awareness and Preservation weeks in April and May. Donations are gratefully accepted. Gather at cemetery office area.

3D Printing and Assembly of Low Cost Hand and Arm Prosthetics
2024-04-21 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by Bob Reiger

e-NABLE is a global network of thousands of home hobbyists who volunteer their time, talent and resources to 3D print and assemble low-cost hand and arm prostheses for both children and adults. With the cost of a professional state -of -the- art hand prosthetic approaching $75,000, the purely mechanical devices made and donated by e-NABLE volunteers fill a need where the cost, complexity, or lack of infrastructure do not permit more advanced, expensive devices.

Free for members; $5.00 for not-yet members.

The Wallace Nutting Connection
2024-02-18 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by Maureen Bjorkland.
Join us as we explore the connection between the Babcock Smith House Museum and Wallace Nutting.
Wallace Nutting was a photographer, artist and author who was born and lived most of his life in New
England.
Free for members; $5.00 for not-yet members.

Westerly Red & Pink Granite
2024-01-14 14:00 (America/New_York) | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Hugh Barton will share his findings on some of the companies, including Calder & Carnie, Jonathan Lanphear, WR Frazier, and Orlando Smith North Quarry, which quarried the lesser known Westerly Red and Pink Granite.
$5 for not- yet members.

Holiday Open House at the Museum
2023-12-09 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Take home our popular cookie platters and homemade biscotti. Shop early at Joshua’s Store and enter our gift certificate raffle. Free hot cider, muffins, gourmet soup and Museum Tours.

Who Was ‘Crazy Harry’?
2023-11-05 14:00 (America/New_York) | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by Suzanne Matteson
Suzanne will share her research on Harry Babcock, whose portrait is featured in both the Museum house and the Stonington Historical Society Palmer Mansion.
Free to members. $5.00 for not-yet members.

Auction: Going Once, Going Twice, Sold!
2023-09-17 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Preview: 1:00 pm
Auction: 2:00 pm
Huge auction, conducted by Bob Ward, features antiques, primitives, country pieces, big and small. Something for everyone. Postings will be made and updated regularly at auctionzip.com. Once there, just type in “RI” and look for “Your auctioneer Bob Ward.” His ID number is 3745.
On the grounds of the Babcock Smith House Museum

Collecting Fruit Jars
2023-09-10 14:00 - 15:00 UTC | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by Maureen Bjorkland
This presentation explores how canning foodstuffs has developed over the years. Fruit jars, more commonly known as canning or mason jars, in their amazing array of colors, sizes and shapes will be displayed!
At the Carriage House.
Free to members. $5.00 for not-yet members.

Downtown Granite Tour
2023-08-09 18:30 - 2023-08-10 18:30, 2023-07-11 14:00 - 2023-07-12 17:00 UTC
Walking Tour of significant Westerly granite buildings, monuments, and other often overlooked examples of the contributions of Westerly granite craftsmen.
Meet at the Columbus Statue in Wilcox Park across from the Town Hall.
Free to members.
$5.00 for not-yet members.

Open House
2023-05-27 14:00 - 17:00 UTC
Free tours. Joshua’s Store open.
Program TBA

Italian Immigrant Traditions in Westerly
2023-05-07 14:00 - 17:00 UTC | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by Edward Gradilone
Italian immigrants settled here more than one hundred years ago, bringing with them many traditions. What traditions are still alive and well today? What traditions still exist, but have changed: What traditions are no longer practiced?
At the Carriage House.
Free to members. $5.00 for not-yet members.

History Revealed by Monuments Between 1875 and 1920
2023-04-23 14:00 - 2023-09-03 17:00 UTC | River Bend Cemetery, United States
Presented by Museum Volunteers
Once again, we are participating in Historical Cemeteries Month sponsored statewide by Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission. In collaboration with the River Bend Cemetery, we will be conducting a walking tour of a small section of the cemetery. Our goal is three-fold. By examining monuments, we can learn about family genealogy, significant events of the time period and artistic trends of the era.
At River Bend Cemetery.
Donations accepted.

Why Some Monuments Can’t Seem to Stay in One Place
2023-04-16 14:00 - 17:00 UTC | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by John Linton
This program will focus on the closing of cemeteries in San Francisco and the destruction of monuments there, and the movement of the Horace Greeley statue in NYC, the John Mason statue in Connecticut, the Stonewall Jackson statue in VA, and the Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument in Providence.
At the Carriage House.
Free to members. $5.00 for not-yet members.

Did you read the news? Newspaper Stories of the Westerly Granite Industry
2023-03-25 14:00 - 17:00 UTC | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by Hugh Barton Sunday,
In his research, Hugh has discovered some fascinating local granite stories which he will share with us.
At the Carriage House.
Free to members. $5.00 for not-yet members.

Secrets of the Museum
2023-02-02 14:00 - 17:00 UTC | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by Ed Fazio and Tony Smith
If you missed the original presentation, come see photos of seldom-seen features, such as the Roman archway in the basement, and share your stories.
At the Carriage House.
Free to members. $5.00 for not-yet members.

Christmas at the Babcock-Smith House
2022-12-10 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | BSHM Carriage House, 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
The Babcock-Smith House docents will be selling cookies, raffle baskets and gift certificates. Joshua’s Store will be open. Complimentary hot cider, cookies, and mini-muffins. Free tours of the holiday -decorated mansion.

Down by the Riverside
2022-07-12 18:00 - 2022-08-09 18:00 UTC | River Bend Cemetery, United States
rain date July 14
rain date August 11
Presented by Museum volunteers
Museum volunteers will share insights into the monuments in an older section of River Bend Cemetery. This year the tour will focus on the people in this section rather than the granite details of the monuments. Parking is most available near the office and the nearby side streets.
Riverbend Cemetery.
Free to members. $5.00 for not-yet members.
