Save the Date! Announcing the Glocester Heritage Society Gala

Wednesday April 28,  2010

Dorr Rebellion Museum Gala

Honoring

Henry and Glennis Beltram:

Citizens Extraordinaire

Silent Auction

Dinner

Presentation of Awards

A Great, Fun Night

Contact Person:  Rose Lavoie

401-568-5306

Candlelight Shopping

Traffic lines up and down both sides of Route 44 in Chepachet, Rhode Island.  A sprinkling of tiny lights across window fronts contradicts the blue and red flashing lights from the Glocester Police Department as they slow cars and usher visitors to the Village into crosswalks.  Pedestrians’ footsteps are a pattern of crunching and squeaking, as snow pinches the sidewalks.  Cigar smoke wafts and dances on the 33 degree breeze that pulses off the Chepachet River.

It is a Thursday evening in December, and Chepachet is alive with the annual celebration of holiday buying sprees, called Candlelight Shopping.

White bags called luminaries are flickering with their sheltered candles before the Job Armstrong Store (JAS), the headquarters of the Glocester Heritage Society.  The two 7 x 7 paned windows that flank the JAS front door are wrapped in green roping and decorated with red ribbon.  The JAS heavy door eases open, and a crowd of about 35 people come into view.  The notes of live folk music welcome in visitors and create a pulsing, upbeat, and carefree backdrop to the conversations and laughter.  As the notes of the guitar, accordion, and hand-brushed drum grow louder, voices build, too, in a gestalt of warmth and sharing. 

There is no corporate presence, no neon glow of advertisement, no persuasive and slick slogans. A spray of silver queen, a basket of holiday dried herbs, a tabletop Christmas tree adorned with ornaments of silk threads:  these are some of the many authentic, handcrafted items for sale this candlelit evening. These are Rhode Islander artists cherishing the talents that have been handed down by generations of Rhode Islanders.

Plaid-covered tablecloths provide a backdrop to wool products from Chepachet Sheep Farms.  A woman with gray and black speckled hair knits.  Her hands are covered with black, arm-length pseudo-mittens known as wristers, which allow her fingers to peek through.  Seldom Seen Farm is here, too, as are the Crafts by Danielle that include hand-painted birdhouses and button bouquets.

Across the room, decorative bottles wrapped in tiny white lights and wound with red or white ribbons sparkle and beckon from the rear of the JAS. Tea-stained, handsewn pigs perch in their own wooden chairs while dressed in their Sunday-go-to-meeting best attire of crimson pantaloons. Of the many items for sale are cottony-bearded Santas, round-faced snowmen, matching cap and scarf sets, quilts, and decorative wine bottles. 

 A stern-faced portrait of Job Armstrong stares down at shoppers.  The oversized GHS flag stretches across a broad wall.  A hand-crafted pine cone wreath hangs in celebration of season.   Edna Kent, president of the Glocester Heritage Society, is dressed in a dapper red knit scarf and matching vest.  She roams the room, smiling at guests, offering a historical commentary, and remembering visitors' family members.  Roland Rivet, membership co-chair and Candlelight Shopping vendor, looks outward with hands resting on his hips and a satisfied grin on his face.  The wrought iron chandelier overhead bathes him and his antique coins in clear light.

Outside, Santa looks a bit underfed, which he ascribes to the necessity of meeting the needs of the economy.  The JAS "Open" flag waves bruskly behind him as he hands out coupons the Clementine's Closet up the way.  The sounds of life, love, and laughter surround him as a group of happy holiday shoppers moves down the sidewalk.

"Everybody get in the picture with Santa!" a woman beckons with glee.

"Santa!  Cheese!" they cry into the glistening night.