Woodlawn logo 2010
October 2015
Woodlawn Museum, Gardens & Park
19 Black House Drive, Ellsworth ME 04605
207-667-8671
woodlawnmuseum.org

The Woodlawn News  

October is a glorious month at Woodlawn.  The brilliant orange, yellow and red foliage has kept the grounds bursting with color.

Bustling.  That is how we describe October with  380 school children visiting the estate this month bringing our total so far this year to 647! These students have attended educational programs completely free of charge using the proceeds from the Ellsworth Antiques Show at Woodlawn.  In addition to the students, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. and our grounds have been busy with croquet players, community gardeners, and walkers enjoying their daily visits.  We have even had the Ellsworth Cross Country teams visit the property on training runs.

The Black House closes for the regular season on Saturday, October 31st at 4 p.m.   Our thanks go to who have visited over the summer months and to all our hospitality partners that sent visitors our way.  We will be closed for the month of November to prepare the Black House for the holidays and our annual Christmas at Woodlawn celebration for the community.

You are always welcome to share The Woodlawn News with family, friends and co-workers.  If they would like to receive a copy directly, they can do so through the button below.
5th & 6th Grade Fall Field Days - An Annual Favorite for Area School Children
 
It was another fantastic 5th & 6th Grade Fall Field Days on October 6th and 7th according to students, teachers and our planning team partners.  A big thank you to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteers and 4-H Program, Healthy Acadia, College of the Atlantic, and the Abbe Museum for helping to develop and deliver the program.

Students from Connors Emerson, Ellsworth Middle School, Dedham, Penobscot
and Cave Hill participated in a full day program with curriculum that included Maine history, soil science, the history of apples, cider pressing, nutrition, and physical activity. 

To read
more about Fall Field Days, visit the Woodlawn Press Room.
Woodlawn Croquet Program Holds Instructional Clinics for Outer Island Croquet League

The Woodlawn Croquet Program held several instructional clinics to help get the croquet balls rolling for the Outer Islands Croquet League.

This recently formed league was established to develop croquet programs at nine island schools, Monhegan, Isleboro, Vinalhaven, North Haven, Isle au Haut, Swan's Island, Frenchboro, Islesford and Matinicus. On October 8th several of the island croquet coaches came for instruction and on October 21st Monhegan and Isle au Haut sent students, teachers and parents to work with the Woodlawn players.

To read more on the Outer Island Croquet League, visit the Woodlawn Press Room.
Woodlawn Receives a Bravo! from TripAdvisor 

In early October, TripAdvisor alerted us that we had received a "Bravo!" with twenty guests having reviewed us and rated their experience as "Excellent".
In the TripAdvisor category, "Things to do in Ellsworth", Woodlawn is currently listed in 5th place out of 17 listings.  We'd love to see our listing shoot up to #1. So, please remember after you visit Woodlawn whether to take a tour or enjoy the grounds, log on and let the world know about your experience.  You can use the convenient link to TripAdvisor on our website.
Students Enjoy Curriculum Developed at Woodlawn Teachers Institute 

On September 23rd, Woodlawn welcomed the 8th grade class from Blue Hill Consolidated School to experience a multi-faceted curriculum, Time Traveler Integration created by 8th grade teacher Kat Hudson who attended the last Woodlawn Teachers Institute.  On October 14th, the 6th grade class from the Ellsworth Middle School came to Woodlawn for Then and Now, a "hands-on an object" analysis and photography lesson created by their teacher Becky Anderson, also a graduate of the Institute. To read more details, click here. 
 
Create Some Unique Ornaments at Our December Workshops

Click on the links and read about two programs being offered in December.at 
Woodlawn. All materials are included in the workshop fee. Space is limited. Register today. 
 
DECEMBER
Beginner Needle Felting Ornaments with Heidi Jai
Sat. 12/12, 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 PM
Alcohol Ink Painting on Christmas Ornaments
Sat. 12/12, 1:00  - 4:00 PM

Reservations are now open for the December Holiday High Teas and the Traditional Feast.  These fill up fast, so call today to reserve your tickets. Visit woodlawnmuseum.org for dates, times and pricing. 

For more information and to register for programs call 667-8671 or email
George Nixon Black, Jr.
Age 11
From the Woodlawn Collection 

It was in October 1928 that George Nixon Black, Jr. died, leaving his beloved Woodlawn estate to the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations to be conserved as a public park.  

Nixon, as he was called by family and friends was born in Ellsworth on July 11, 1842. He lived in Ellsworth until the late 1850's when his father, George Nixon Black, Sr. moved his family to Boston. Nixon worked with his father until his death in October 1880 and then inherited the family business. By then, he was a very wealthy man and was able to pursue his many interests which included art, travel, horticulture, history, dogs, horses, cars, family and philanthropy.

For a number of years before his death, Nixon prepared Woodlawn for its future as a public park and museum.  It is through photographs and handwritten notes that he gave us a deeper understanding of the significance of many objects in the collection and the connection they had to his family. 

For more Woodlawn history, visit us on the web at woodlawnmuseum.org  
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