April 2008 |
Artifacts
and Fiction Montgomery Historical Society P.O. Box 47 Montgomery, VT 05470 e-mail pratthall@gmail.com www.montgomeryvt.us/mhs.htm Click here for a pdf version that will print with correct pagination |
Number 14 |
| Scott Perry - Chair/Editor Bill McGroarty - Vice Chair Marijke Dollois - Secretary Sue Wilson - Treasurer The MHS Board meets the third Wednesday of the month at 5:30. Pratt Hall in the summer, Public Safety Building Conference Room in the winter. Check out the History For Sale link for DVDs, Xmas
decorations, cards and Frig magnets.
History Quiz: Montgomery was chartered by VT’s unicameral legislature in March of 1780. When was the Charter approved by the Governor's Council and signed by Governor Thomas Chittenden? A. 1780 B. 1782 C. 1789 D. 1795 (Statehood) Bonus ? When did VT's legislature become bicameral? |
Chairman's Message
Twenty years is a long time to do anything. The Society has been
in existence for 34 years and for 20 of those years we've hosted summer concerts.
Past President and Board Member emeritus, Steve Hays has organized
the "Concerts By The Common" for 19 of those years. He's
written the grant applications, solicited sponsors, booked the performers,
and hung the banners. In recent years he's had to work around the unavailability
of a concert quality piano. Some years he's had help, others he's been
a proverbial one man band (please forgive the mixed metaphor).
He's also had to put up with my harping about the program being
revenue neutral. Last year we made a profit. For our concert
patrons, the music's intrinsic value is enough.
But there is more. Our Society Bylaws mandate us, in part, to make Pratt Hall available for events that preserve the culture and foster a sense of community in Montgomery. Pratt Hall is a living artifact, serving as a venue for concerts, speakers, dramas, weddings, wakes, art shows, quilt shows, crafters and holiday observances. Every event helps fulfill our mission, and contributes to the people and place we all love. We all owe Steve our gratitude for all of his contributions over the years. He's put together another wonderful program of concerts for us this year and I hope you'll come and enjoy the artists he's lined up for us. Help us build community and make history in the process. Thanks for your support, Scott Perry Chairman |
Montgomery Historical Society Events and
Programs
(Reminder: All MHS events are listed on the Town's Community Events Page and the Society's Calendar Page)
(Reminder: All MHS events are listed on the Town's Community Events Page and the Society's Calendar Page)
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Concert
Series Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary
The Society is pleased to announce the following "Concerts By The
Common" schedule / artists:
July 5th, 8pm: Jenni Johnson and Friends July 19th, 8pm: Nisht Geferlach Klezmer Band August 17th, 7pm (a Sunday): The Diller Quaile String Quartet We will also be hosting post concert wine and snack receptions with the artists after each concert. All concerts are at Pratt Hall, Montgomery Village. Call Lutz Automotive (802) 326-4528 for tickets. Concert tickets are $12 each ($10 for MHS members). You can purchase the entire series, a season ticket, for only $30 ($25 for MHS members). Pratt Hall is accessible to the handicapped. Elders Night II Annual
Meeting 2008
This year's Annual Meeting will be Friday, June 27th at 6:00 p.m.
at Pratt Hall. It will include hors d'eurves and the Chairman's
Report. We will also display our VT History Expo exhibit. |
2008 Membership Drive Underway
Our 2008 Membership drive kicked off late last month. We
appreciate your support and hope you will be able to continue your membership.
Please don't forget to renew. You will be receiving a letter
and donar card in the mail, but if needed, you can find a renewal donor
card on our web site.
VT
History Expo Update
This year's theme is "Industry and Innovation: Vermont Ingenuity" and our exhibit will feature the Atlas Plywood Company's, Nelson & Hall crate factory in Montgomery Center. We are making progress on our exhibit but would love to find someone who worked at, or knew someone who worked at, the plant so we could interview them. Please let us know if you have recollections or know someone who does. We hope to show the exhibit at our Annual Meeting, The Library, and at Pratt Hall as well. The Expo at Tunbridge is June 21st and 22nd. We are looking for volunteers to set up on the 20th and man our booth on the 21st and 22nd. We usually ask you to cover a half day, which leaves plenty of time for you to take in the rest of the exhibits and activities. Admission is free for volunteers. Memorial
Day Commemoration
This year's commemoration is Monday, May 26th at 10:00 a.m. at the
old Montgomery Center Cemetery. It will consist of the usual honors
and a short speech, followed by refreshments. Please spend a moment
honoring the memory of Montgomery's fallen military.
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Other News...
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Pratt
Hall: Bugs & Beetles & Ants, Oh My!
The evaluation we received from Vt Historic
Preservation and Architect Michael Gohl is now posted to the Society's
web site. One recommendation was to get an expert on pest
control to do an evaluation of the building.
We met with an exterminator in March and confirmed the presence of Powder Post Beetles in some of the timber framing, especially in the tower, and Carpenter Ants in one location in the basement. We will probably be treating for them in the fall. The clock seems to be doing well. (Knock on wood!) Thanks again to the team of folks that helped make the repairs. Art Show & Sale Our 10th Annual Art Show and Sale will
be Saturday, August 23 from 9:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., and Sunday, August
24th from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. this year.
Our Member Appreciation Reception with the artists is scheduled for Friday, August 22nd at 6:00 p.m. |
The Speakers Are Coming
Sally Newton and Charles Henderson are
planning two speakers probably in late summer/early fall. One
program will be on the Abenaki and the other on Mark Twain. We'll
have more details soon.
2008 and 1896 Town Report The 2008 Montgomery Town Report contained
pictures of the cover and Warning for Montgomery's 1896 Town Report,
and a short article summarizing it's contents. The photos and
article were provided by the Society and included a paragraph asking
folks to consider donating items to us. The article is on the
Society's web site, just click the History link on our home page. BTW...Montgomery
posted all of the 2008 Town Report on the Town web site for the first
time this year.
Work Day(s)
The Board has scheduled a Work Day on Saturday May 3rd beginning
at 9:00 a.m. We will police the grounds, open the buildings, clean
them, and assess the work that needs to be done in the future. Please
join us.
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This and That
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VT History Quiz Answer
Montgomery's Charter was approved and signed in October 1789,
nine years after the legislature acted.
Vermont's legislature became bicameral in 1836. Board Members
The Montgomery Historical Society
Board is... Scott Perry, Bill Branthoover, Marijke
Dollois, Sue Wilson, Bill McGroarty, Parma Jewett,
Sally Newton, John Beaty, Jo Anne Bennett, and Pat
Farmer.
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Treasurer's
Report Summary
As of March 19, 2008 Assets Checking account
$ 904.42
Lalia Pratt
Hays CD $ 6,746.78
Capital
Imps & Rps CD $ 1,846.25Stained Glass Fund CD $ 5,458.87 Liabilities Mortgage Heaton House $ 24,206.76 |