HISTORICAL SOCIETY. X. THE HOTEL CLUNY OF A NEW ENGLAND VILLAGE BY SYLVESTER BAXTER, AND AN OLD IPSWICH HOUSE BY W. H. DOWNES. WITH THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE AND PROCEEDINGS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING DEC. 3, 1900. Salem Press : THE SALEM PRESS CO., SALEM, MASS. THE HOTEL CLUNY OF A NEW ENGLAND VILLAGE.1 BY SYLVESTER BAXTER. THE extraordinary production and huge circulation of the historical novel is but one of the consequences of the remarkable growth of the "patriotic societies" in this country in the past few years-societies like those of the Sons and the Daughters of the Revolution, the Colonial Dames, and the like. One of the most admirable results of the movement is the widespread interest in the establishment of local historical societies, particularly in the old towns of New England. These historical societies have a very interesting and even fascinating work before them the collection and preservation of all manner of local records, the looking-up of spots of historical interest, the preservation of interesting old buildings, and the marking of historic sites with commemorative tablets, besides the study and discussion of both local and general history. In the average New England town the soil proves gratifyingly fertile in these fields and the delving therein bears rich fruit in the development of interest in and love for the community, the heightening of civic feeling, the encouragement of local improvements, and a care for the future of the town as well as an interest in the town's past. In not a few places the local historical society has done a most excellent thing by taking some fine or quaint old house for its headquarters, fitting it up after old fashions, and adorning it with attractive historical collections. Such Reprinted by the kind permission of the Publishers, from "The Georgian Period," Part VII, issued by the "American Architect & Building News" Co., Boston, 1900. |