Sarah Orne Jewett Tea Party for Children and Dolls Held at Little Hat Company

Children who love dolls and imagining “the olden days” attended a party hosted by the Little Hat Company and the Old Berwick Historical Society on Saturday, November 24.

The party was held at the Little Hat Company's upstairs room overlooking Central Square at Main and Portland Street, South Berwick, Maine. Children brought their dolls and listened to poems and stories. Old fashioned punch and scones were served.

 

 

Mary Vaughn of the Old Berwick Historical Society was dressed in a costume, talked about author Sarah Orne Jewett and read some poems Jewett wrote for children. Jewett was born in 1849 and lived in both the Jewett House and the Jewett Eastman House, which today houses South Berwick Public Library.

The shop that today houses the Little Hat Company is about 200 years old and was known as the Jewett Store. During Jewett's childhood, her sea captain grandfather sold goods brought in by sailing ships from around the world.

The Little Hat Company recently renovated the upstairs room above the toy store and exposed the old timbers. The space is now used for activities and can be rented for birthday parties.

 

 

 

 

Illustration for the Sarah Orne Jewett poem, "Only a Doll,"  from St. Nicholas Magazine, 1878.

Old Berwick Historical Society Homepage
Read about the Little Hat Company's building, the historic Old Jewett Store