Oliver House hosts tea party in revolutionary home
Jan 22, 2023
Joyce Gerraughty, left, Chris Maiorano, center, and Carol Price have become regulars at Oliver House tea events. Photos by Rusty Gorelick
Carolyn Alenci, left, Barbara Alenci, center, and Diana Hunt host Oliver House events. The Alencis bake pastries and bread, and Hunt makes tea sandwiches.
The homemade pastries were arranged elegantly. Photo courtesy of Oliver House
MIDDLEBORO — It was tea time on Sunday afternoon at the Oliver House.
There wasn’t a chair to spare as guests gathered for sandwiches, pastries, and cups of tea at the historic estate where Founding Fathers including Benjamin Franklin spent time. The estate was developed between 1744 and 1775 by Judge Peter Oliver and his son, Peter Oliver Jr.
Diana Hunt, Barbara Alenci, and her daughter Carolyn Alenci hosted the tea. They raise money through events to maintain Oliver House since taxpayer money does not cover those expenses.
In 2018, around 20 gardeners including Hunt and the Alencis joined up to clean up the land, which took three years in total.
“It’s all a fundraiser,” said Barbara. “Any expense from the house comes out of the money we raise from fundraisers. That’s how we started doing these events.”
The historic site has long been a popular destination for ghost hunters, and it made most of its money from such tours.
“This is a friendly house,” Hunt said. “We’ve had psychics come and they say they love the atmosphere. I think the spirits enjoy having the company.”
Lately, the Oliver House has diversified its attractions to include afternoon tea and Goodies in the Garden, which is an outdoor tea with a guided tour of the Oliver House. The tea experience cost $30 per ticket and was limited to 24 guests.
When hosting an afternoon tea, the Alencis bake while Hunt makes the sandwiches. Barbara even made the bread for the sandwiches herself.
The hosts said they do their best to accommodate guests with dietary restrictions, including making gluten-free food.
Sandwiches on the menu include cucumber with herb spread, ham and cheese with honey dijon mustard, and egg salad on white bread.
Barbara bakes carrot cake, ginger snap cookies, and french vanilla cookies, among other delicacies. The ginger snap is the official cookie of the Oliver House, which sells bags of six for $5 at events to benefit the estate.
On a trip to England, the Alencis discovered Bakewell Tart, an intricate pastry with flaky dough and a hard crust with almond-flavored cream and raspberry jam.
Of all the delicious pastries, that’s the show-stealer.
