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AMESBURY — From this point on, those entering the John Greenleaf Whittier Home on Friend Street will be greeted by the piercing eyes of the beloved 19th-century poet who made Amesbury his home for much of his life.

Gus Reusch and Cynthia Costello at most recent Whittier Tea

Whittier’s powerful eyes are featured prominently on a century-old bust that was donated to the Amesbury Public Library by the high school Class of 1912. It had been kept in storage for 10 years, up until yesterday.

Around 2:30 p.m., Amesbury Public Library director Patty DiTullio and assistant director Erin Matlin wheeled the roughly 40-pound bust on a hand truck from the Main Street library to the poet’s home. Meeting them there were several members of the Whittier Home Association, who are charged with the preservation of the historic home.

Wrapped in protective blankets and secured with twine, the bust was lugged up the front steps by DiTullio and Matlin and brought into the house’s foyer. After carefully removing the protective layers, they placed the bust on a small table bedecked with Christmas greens. “We will have him welcoming everybody,” Whittier Home Association member Cynthia Costello said. Whittier moved to the Friend Street home in 1836, where he wrote his most famous poem, “Snow-Bound.” He lived in the home until his death in 1892. The home has since become a permanent memorial to his legacy.

The bust’s journey from the Amesbury Public Library to the Whittier Home took about eight months after DiTullio decided that it would be better off if displayed inside the Whittier Home, where generations of the influential poet’s admirers could appreciate it.

After being contacting about its discovery, Costello said she was about to pick it up and bring it the Whittier Home herself. But those plans were put to a halt when she was reminded that the bust belonged to the town and that the Whittier Home Association had to go through official channels before it could be handed over.

After many months, the town, via Mayor Thatcher Kezer and chief financial officer Michael Basque arranged to have the bust permanently loaned to the association. As part of the process, the bust was appraised by local auctioneer John McInnis. Costello declined to comment when asked how much the bust was worth. The timing of the bust’s transfer couldn’t be better as far as the association is concerned, considering Whittier’s 204th birthday is Dec. 17. “We’re having a big party at (Ristorante) Molise, but we’re not bringing the bust,” Costello joked. “I’m just so excited to see him here.”

Also excited about the transfer was DiTullio, who said it made more sense to hand over the bust, rather than have it rest in a place where no one could see it. “We are glad that he’s finally somewhere he can be appreciated,” DiTullio said.

DiTullio said it’s likely the bust was placed in storage as the library was running out of space due to its increased use by Amesbury’s residents. DiTullio pointed out that for many years, the library was itself a museum of sorts with a full-fledged gallery upstairs.

On Sunday, the bust is likely to be seen by hundreds of people as the Whittier Home Association hosts a holiday open house around 3 p.m. For more information on the open house or the Whittier Home Museum, call 978-388-1337 or visit whittierhome.org.

A CHRISTMAS CARMEN

I.

Sound over all waters, reach out from all lands,
The chorus of voices, the clasping of hands;
Sing hymns that were sung by the stars of the morn,
Sing songs of the angels when Jesus was born!
With glad jubilations
Bring hope to the nations!
The dark night is ending and dawn has begun:
Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun,
All speech flow to music, all hearts beat as one!

II.

Sing the bridal of nations! with chorals of love
Sing out the war-vulture and sing in the dove,
Till the hearts of the peoples keep time in accord,
And the voice of the world is the voice of the Lord!
Clasp hands of the nations
In strong gratulations:
The dark night is ending and dawn has begun;
Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun,
All speech flow to music, all hearts beat as one!

III.

Blow, bugles of battle, the marches of peace;
East, west, north, and south let the long quarrel cease
Sing the song of great joy that the angels began,
Sing of glory to God and of good-will to man!
Hark! joining in chorus
The heavens bend o’er us!
The dark night is ending and dawn has begun;
Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun,
All speech flow to music, all hearts beat as one!

– John Greenleaf Whittier, 1875

House of Representatives, 7th Essex Salem, John D. Keenan, Chairman of the Committee on Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development congratulated the members of the Whittier Home Association at the Whittier Home Museum recently in a letter stating that they were named one of the “1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts”. He also thanked them for making it a special place to live, work and visit.

For over 100 years the Whittier Home Association has been steward of the Whittier Home Museum & Gift Shop on 86 Friend Street in Amesbury, maintaining the property and collections, and striving to educate others about John G. Whittier. It is the house where John Greenleaf Whittier lived from 1836 until his death in 1892. As a Quaker, creative thinker, environmentalist and freedom lover, Whittier published poetry most of his life and is famed for “Snowbound” in addition to his anti-slavery activism. It has been a resource for researchers and students from the local schools for many years. Visit the home to see the family furnishings, artifacts and memorabilia, along with the Gift Shop’s publications of Whittier’s works and history.

Our regular season and hours are listed below. However, if you are interested in conducting research, an interview, or any other activity that is time-sensitive, please contact us and someone from the Home will make every effort to accommodate you.

Thank you for your interest in the Whittier Home. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Hours: Open Saturday May 7th  through October 29th. Guided tours Saturday, 10:00 am to 3:30 pm.  Otherwise by appointment by calling 978-465-5964 or 978-388-1337.

Admission: Adults $6; seniors $5; students (age 7-17) $3 and children (6 and under) free. Group rates on request.

Although the Whittier Home closes its museum doors to the public during the winter, our amply stocked  gift shop is now “open” year round on-line. Please feel free to browse our selection, and use us as a resource for your cultural and historic research.  The items for sale include books of Whittier verse, biographical works, pictorials, unique published works and illustrated notecards. The shipping cost is inclusive in the price. Massachusetts tax calculates for residents separately.

Dear Friends,

For more than 100 years, the Whittier Home Association has preserved the writings and home of John Greenleaf Whittier. It was in this house that Whittier met with abolitionists, wrote his wonderful winter poem, Snowbound, and served as a congressman from Massachusetts.

This year the Whittier Home Association received one of the nation’s most prestigious grants: an award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to develop school programs for children, offer writing classes and work with community leaders to attract new audiences and support for Greenleaf’s work. In the coming year the Association will offer more writing classes for its adult audiences and work with local teachers to develop additional programs for older children.

In this time of economic recession, it is important to support those cultural activities that remind us of why we are Americans. John Greenleaf Whittier’s life and writings are the very embodiment of what we hold dear in a democratic nation. By contributing to the Whittier Home Association’s Annual Appeal, you allow his writings to continue to inspire others.

In this season of giving, your gift of $50 provides support for a teachers’ meeting to learn how to incorporate Whittier’s writings and beliefs into the curriculum standards. Your gift of $100 provides the transportation to bring one class to visit Whittier’s home. Your gift of $1,000 provides for the development of one school program for middle school students. Please take a moment to seriously consider how you can help others to know his legacy. Your contribution is fully tax deductible as allowed by law.

Thank you for your continued support of the Whittier Home Association! (For your convenience, you may donate online using your preferred credit card.)