Although the Sawin Museum is closed for the winter, it has never been busier.  New projects abound on every floor as the museum looks ahead towards re-opening to the public in September.  

A new 19th century Dover one-room schoolhouse exhibit is being constructed in the hands-on Lower Level.  Inspiration for this exhibit came from a very generous donation of original desks, chairs and a bookshelf from Ms. Caroline Blake Whitney, whose family owned and preserved Dover’s East District School for many years. This one-room schoolhouse was built in 1850, closed in 1910, and moved to 19 Strawberry Hill Street at some point before 1920.

Additionally the exhibit features a Dover schoolmaster’s desk c. 1795. This desk is said to have been used by Caleb Wight, probably at the West District School.  It was donated to the museum by the Maurice W. Mann estate in 1949.

The museum has many schoolbooks, slates and pen-and-ink workbooks from the original Dover schoolhouses.  Some items are signed by students with recognizable Dover family names such as S.N. Sawin (1869), Ellis Mann, Emma E. Battelle, and Rufus Battelle (1815).

One book contains the inscription, “ Francis A. Bartlett – Dover, Aug 2nd 1860.  Forget not dear Frank, the summer of 1860, nor the parting wish of your teacher, C.M. Gamwell.”  Celia Gamwell, the schoolteacher at the East District School, was only 17 years old and living in Needham at that time.  Francis Bartlett was 13 years old and lived on Strawberry Hill Street.  He most certainly sat at the desks that we are exhibiting today.

By Lori Carbone