2020 challenged all of us in unexpected ways. Small museums like the David Ruggles Center were no exception. We had to close our doors to the public in the spring, but continued to work behind the scenes.
Northampton’s Community Preservation Committee approved funding to nominate the Florence Abolition and Reform National Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places. Kathryn Grover and Neil Larson, who prepared the successful NR applications for the Ross Homestead and the Dorsey/Jones House, made extensive progress with this work. The formerly enslaved citizen Basil Dorsey built 191 Nonotuck Street in 1849. With nine other Northampton freedom seekers, he organized a rally at town hall to resist the infamous Fugitive Slave Law of 1850.
The DRC worked with the City to restore five broken African American gravestones and the double marker of Charles and Gertrude Burleigh at the Park Street Cemetery. We raised $3250 in our GoFundMe campaign which was used to hire Ta Mara Conde of Historic Gravestone Services. Ta Mara donated the restoration of the gravestone of George Hoderstia who had been “Born a Slave in Maryland,” as his marker attests.
The DRC regularly hosts school groups for field trips. Last year we used a grant from Mass Humanities to create an interactive curriculum for middle and high school students. With DRC staff guidance students interpret primary sources for themselves and lead their own walking tour of the village based on what they have learned. Visit our website to explore the Curriculum, a valuable resource for anyone interested in this history. Check out our write-up in the Daily Hampshire Gazette.
We had to suspend group visits, special events, and most walking tours for all of 2020. As a result, critical sources of revenue were lost. Supporters responded, donating over $12,000 to our Fall fundraising campaign. We are especially grateful to them during this difficult time. The money will be used to cover the museum’s modest operating expenses until we can welcome visitors again. If you too wish to donate, please visit our website, or send a check to Box 60405, Florence, MA 01062.
We look forward to re-opening the Ruggles Center as soon as we safely can. We want to remain part of the urgent conversation about history and racism in America. For now, we are planning a number of Zoom events and are exploring a new round of grants. We recently accepted a major donation of archival materials that will be incorporated into our existing collection. Please check our website in the coming months for events and opening date. We value your continued support and ask that you share posts from our Facebook Page.
