The Mattapoisett Friends Meeting House fundraising efforts for the restoration of the antique building are underway and, although it got off to a wet start this week, the yard sale planned for August 2 went ahead anyway despite the rainy weather.
“We had known it was going to rain,” said Deena Kinsky, a member of the Mattapoisett Friends Meeting House, so she said they knew they would need to have the yard sale indoors, even utilizing the old carriage shed on the property where, many years ago, people would store their horse drawn carriages.
“A lot of people came out,” said Kinsky, despite the rain. “We don’t know if we would have had more people or if it was just a great activity for a rainy day.”
According to Kinsky, the cost of the first phase of the renovation is estimated at about $75,000, and the entire project is estimated at about $245,000. The yard sale raised about $600, and a few of the items donated, said Kinsky, have been placed on eBay to see if they will sell for a higher price.
The friends also hosted a donation-only family meat pie supper with a silent auction on Sunday, August 3.
Many people in the community have made donations of items to sell as well as money, and Kinsky says the friends are also seeking grant funding to help with the restoration costs.
There are other events planned for the remainder of the Mattapoisett Friends Meeting House “Quaker Week.” On Saturday, August 9, the friends will be at the meetinghouse for another donation day, collecting more items for another yard sale to be held in October.
For Sunday, August 10, the friends invite members of the community to an abbreviated half-hour silent worship at 9:30 am, followed by an informational lecture about the history of Quakerism. Later that evening, two visiting Quakers from Cuba will speak about the growing Quaker movement within their country at 7:00 pm.
As for the renovations, slated to being either late August or early September, Phase I of the project is to repair the rotted first floor framing, which Kinsky said needs to be totally replaced. She said Meeting House member Brad Hathaway has spearheaded the project because the building, built in 1827, has high sentimental value for the Mattapoisett Quakers.
“We love our meeting house,” said Kinsky. “It’s like a spiritual home and it’s important to us. We feel like we’re stewards of this building after the people who came before us. It has so much historical value. It’s got a lot of rich heritage and we want to fix it up.”
By Jean Perry