The weather forecaster predicted a cold, damp weekend. At the end of April, most New Englanders are depressed to hear about even one more day of poor weather, especially a weekend, but on this particular weekend, I was somewhat happy about inclement weather. The students who registered for my rug hooking class would most likely choose to join me for the class instead of heading for their gardens. This 2-day class was sponsored by the Eliot School in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, which is a close suburb of Boston.
The Eliot School was founded in 1676, and is one of the oldest, continuously running educational institutions in the US. Originally established as a grammar school in the 17th century, changes in the late 19th century opened a new path for the Eliot School, and administrators and teachers turned their focus to teaching the manual arts. This local, non-profit gem now offers classes in a variety of crafts including wood-working, painting, sewing, knitting, (rug hooking, of course) and many other crafts. When I visited the school, I observed an upholstery class and wondered how I could join! Classes are held in the school itself, but teachers also travel to surrounding public schools to augment the art programs that have been diminished due to school-funding cuts. The Eliot School has an excellent reputation, and has established a tradition of diverse classes for the young and old; has a talented faculty; a welcoming atmosphere; and small class sizes.
I’m pleased to continue my association with the Eliot School and to support their tradition.
My class met in the historic Loring-Greenough House just down the road from the Eliot School.
