William Clapp House Dining Room
12356
Portrait of Lucy Pope Battles
Oil on canvas by John Pope, circa 1850. Pope was Lucy’s cousin.
Lucy Pope Battles, shown at about age 35, was the daughter of William Pope for whom Pope’s Hill was named. Lucy was the wife of the Honorable Jonathan Battles, headmaster of the Edward Everett school house here in Dorchester. He was a graduate of Harvard College. Lucy traced her descent from some of the most prominent Dorchester families – the Blakes, the Pierces, the Clapps and the Popes. She had three children, only one of whom survived her.
12306
Banjo Clock
Made in 1815 by Simon Willard for the marriage of a Wyman family
member of Dorchester.
Gift of Miss Margaret Wyman , a descendant in 1972..
In 1802, Simon Willard (1753-1848) of Boston obtained a U.S. patent for a timepiece as original as it was successful. The banjo clock, nicknamed for its characteristic shape, established the independence of American clockmaking from European traditions. Its design was perfect from the beginning. Vast numbers have been manufactured without notable modification, and its production continues today.
Willard’s banjo clock was a lightly built, compact wall timekeeper, about three feet tall, accurate and dependable. It was economical to produce, graceful in appearance, and usually lacked hour-striking and alarm mechanisms. Weight-driven, it contained a small brass movement similar to that of the Massachusetts shelf clock, but further reduced in size and weight. The movement had been calculated so that a small drop of the weight (only fifteen inches as compared to about six feet for a tall case clock) would keep it running for eight days. For ease of maintenance, its pendulum was hung in front of the movement, not behind, as in tall case or Massachusetts shelf clocks, an arrangement that American clockmakers soon widely adopted.
25014
Portrait of Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson was president of the U.S. when the William Clapp House was built. The painting was found stored in the barn. Robert Severy paid for its cleaning. The Clapps or some of their relations knew the Jeffersons.
1298
Photograph of the Lemuel Clap House
25009
Girondoles – Two single stem
25010
25006
Girondoles – Two with three arms
25016
Edward Everett Clock
Clock that belonged to Edward Everett; made of marble and malachite
Clock owned by Edward Everett
Gift in 1957 of Georgianna Cushing, granddaughter
of Edward Everett.
Made of marble and malachite, this clock was stolen from the Dorchester Historical Society in the late 20th century and subsequently does not work. Restore through the generosity of Robert Severy.
8042
Painting of 16 of Harley Street
By Frank Henry Shapleigh circa 1875
Gift of Earl Taylor
Sideboard
25012
Stoneware jug
25000
Majolica-ware Centerpiece with Lemons
24999
Dining table
25001
Jardiniere
25003
Wooden box
25008
19th-century Tilt-top table
24986
Fireplace insert
Fireplace – faux marble surround
25004
Print of Klapps Liebling Pear (Clapp’s Favorite)
25005
Photograph of Baker Chocolate’s Pierce Mill
12324
Pear bas relief
Supposed to represent Clapp Favorite Pear, similar to the one carved for Thaddeus Clapp’s gravestone in Forest Hills Cemetery
KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA
25002
Three Plaster pears
250
13
Gleason Coffee Pot
Roswell Gleason Coffee Pot and Strainer
Gift to the society in 2013 from David Kilroy of Lexington,
MA, pewter specialist and dealer, after a talk he gave to
the Society about Roswell Gleason.
Born in 1799 in Putney, Vermont, Roswell Gleason came to Dorchester n 1818 and worked in the tin-ware trade. In the 1830s, he turned his attention to pewter making.His company grew to over 120 men and produced a shiny pewter called Britannia ware and some silverplated tableware. The business continued until 1871, when Gleason retired. He died in 1887.
We invite you to view the Gleason collection in the basement display.
16347
Clapp Farm Milk Bottle