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Date: 3/2/2022
AMHERST – In a show of support to kick off the Emily Dickinson Museum’s 20th anniversary fundraising effort, $600,000 has been committed for the reconstruction of the Evergreens carriage house on the museum’s property.
Former museum board members John and Elizabeth Armstrong made the six-figure commitment for the design and reconstruction of the carriage house that once stood to the east of The Evergreens, the home of Emily Dickinson’s brother Austin and his wife Susan. The project stems from a long-range plan that maps programmatic and capital enhancements over the next decade at the museum’s historic downtown Amherst location.
“We feel so fortunate that John and Elizabeth Armstrong have been such dedicated supporters for many, many years, and we are thrilled that they see the future of the Emily Dickinson Museum becoming a reality and offering this kind of gift to inspire others,” said Jane Wald, director of the Emily Dickinson Museum.
The fundraising initiative, called “Twice as Bold” after one of Dickinson’s poems, has a goal of $3.5 million to help in operating, programming and capital support on reconstruction projects on the property. The initiative aims to raise awareness and support for the museum at a pivotal time in its history.
“Elizabeth and I are delighted to be able to pledge our support to this important project,” said John Armstrong in a press release. “Emily Dickinson’s poetry and the place she called home have proven themselves to be enduring gifts to the world. It is both our pleasure and responsibility to give back, and to invite others at every level to join us.”
By expanding access to the museum and its programs for both onsite and virtual visitors, the changes look to firmly establish the museum as the premier center for the study and celebration of Dickinson’s life and work, and as a source and site of inspiration for new generations of poets, artists, writers and thinkers.
Wald said the Armstrong’s gift allows the museum to reconstruct the Evergreens carriage house that once stood to reestablish the architectural feature on the landscape. She added one of the goals of restoration is to provide a unique experience to the Dickinson property.
“One of the principles we’ve used for restoration is to provide visitors with an experience of the environment that Emily Dickinson herself knew. That includes things we’ve already done like restoring her own room, restoring the homestead, but also paying attention to how the landscape appeared during her lifetime,” Wald said. “Reconstructing the carriage house reintroduces one of those important landscape features and it also provides us with some space.”
The reconstructed Evergreens carriage house is scheduled for completion in early 2024 and will initially serve as a much-needed site for visitor welcome, orientation and services while a third and final phase of the Dickinson Homestead restoration finishes. The first two phases of the Dickinson Homestead restoration have been going on over the last two years with restorations of areas within the Dickinson home to reflect what it looked like when Emily Dickinson lived there.
Wald said the Evergreens carriage house will ultimately serve as an area for students and education as well as being a flexible space for different events and discussions on Dickinson’s work. She also added that taking care of the collections of work and the grounds of the property are important in creating an atmosphere relative to the one Dickinson lived in.
“The Evergreens itself was just full of Dickinson family possessions so we are in the middle of cataloging all of that collection,” said Wald. “Dickinson herself and her whole family, in fact, where each in their own way really interested in the natural world and gardening, landscaping, architecture and the New England natural landscape so that’s another area for us. Taking care of that historic landscape is also part of this.”
Wald also added that ultimately there will be another reconstructed building in the Homestead barn as the museum intends to use ,the space as the final space for visitor amenities and services.
The museum is currently closed to the public while it completes the second phase of a three-part restoration project at the Homestead. Its much-anticipated reopening later this year will mark the start of the museum’s 20th anniversary celebration.