Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
68.C75 |
Object Name |
House Coat |
Year Range from |
1950 |
Year Range to |
1960 |
Features |
House coat of green velvet long sleeves with zipper at wrists. 2 matching buttons to close the house coat with an inner clasp to secure. |
Object Story |
This velvet house coat was worn by Norman Hutchison in Bath likely around the 1950s or 1960s. He eventually donated it to the Lennox-Addington Historical Society due to the involvement of his family in the organization due to his wife, Helen. Helen L. Hutchison was a very active member of the Lennox and Addington Historical Society donating most of her collection to the organization in life and in her estate after death. Within the historical society Helen became a key leader in their projects, becoming the vice-president of the organization in 1962 and then president of the organization in 1973. It was during her vice-presidency where she and other members began the restoration of the MacPherson house with the help of associates from Upper Canada Village. The wider Napanee community also pitched into the project with fundraisers organized by Helen, as well as volunteers from the Napanee District Secondary School coming to their aid. Norman also pitched in at the house completing maintenance for the entirety of the restoration. After 6 years of work the MacPherson House opened on August 5, 1968 becoming the community hub that the historical society had hoped for. Beyond the restoration of the Macpherson house Helen and Norman took to other endeavors. Norman worked at Napanee District Secondary School, becoming a department head in 1964. Meanwhile Helen became a curator at the Lennox and Addington Museum and Archives. She also found the time to write an unpublished thesis, "A Study of the Napanee River Improvement Company", which discusses the industrial use of water on the Napanee River. In 2014 the historical society transferred the Macpherson house and its collection to the Lennox and Addington Museum and Archives where it is now used for summer events continuing its legacy as a community space as Helen and Norman had hoped. The couple lived into their old age with Helen passing away in 1992 at the age of 80. Her funeral was held at Grace United Church on June 10th, 1992 after which she was buried at Riverside Cemetery. Norman passed away two years later in 1994 at the age of 84, where he was then buried alongside his wife at Riverside Cemetery. |
People |
Hutchison, Helen L. Honey, died 1992 Hutchison, Norman |
Subjects |
Clothing & dress Costumes Historical societies People associated with education & communication Teachers Donations Collectors |
Search Terms |
Bath Grace United Church Lennox and Addington County Museum and Archive Lennox and Addington Historical Society Macpherson House Napanee Napanee District Secondary School Napanee River Napanee, Grace United Church Napanee, Macpherson House |