By Beth David, Editor

The Colonial Club’s Coggeshall Memorial House. Photo by Beth David.
The Fairhaven Colonial Club held its annual Open House and Historical Tea on Sunday, 2/26, at the Coggeshall Memorial House in Fairhaven.
The private organization was founded in 1912 from a group of women who took part in Fairhaven’s centennial celebration, with the mission of preserving the town’s historical artifacts. In 1916, Martha Coggeshall left the Coggeshall Memorial on Cherry Street in a trust to the club.
The club meets regularly and holds the annual tea each February to celebrate its anniversary.

Photo by Beth David.
“It’s a lovely tea,” said Christine Craig. “It’s nice to see the old place full.”
More than 30 people attended the tea, enjoying tea and coffee served on both elegant china and paper plates. From shrimp cocktail and finger-sandwiches to a variety of homemade desserts, the tables were carefully appointed with flower centerpieces and white tablecloths.
The property overlooks the Acushnet River at Poverty Point in Fairhaven, and is across the street from Cooke Memorial Park which celebrates both John Cooke, the only Mayflower passenger who lived in Fairhaven, and Capt. Joshua Slocum, the first person to sail around the world alone.

The women of the Colonial Club, FRONT ROW, L-R, Barbara Souza, Doreen Nelsen, Cindy LeBlanc, Nancy Perry; BACK ROW, L-R, Dot Gammans, Debbie Davis, Cherri Johnson, Alice Cooney, Ellie Mayo. Photo by Beth David.
Click here to download the entire 3/2/17 issue: 03-02-17 CoggeshallHouse_REV