October 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 |
Detail
From Pratt Hall Stained Glass WindowNumber 16 |
| 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.
Montgomery History Quiz: In 1874 at the Montgomery Baptist Church, withdrawing the “hand of fellowship” meant. A. Sinning against Christ B. Excommunication from the Church C. Changing assigned seats to the back of the church. D. Divorce. |
Chairman's Message
I love this time of year. Changing foliage, baseball playoffs, apple cider... and yes snow on the way soon...but I shouldn't get ahead of myself. My wife and I have a large clump of blueberry bushes on our property and have enjoyed picking through the months of August and September for the last 10 years. An average year yields about 15 gallons, we've picked as many as 25. This year we've harvested about 22 and the freezer is full. Sometimes it seems like they grow as fast as we can pick them. My Yankee heritage makes me want to get every last one... ah the satisfaction of a good crop. Likewise I was reminded of our organization's good fortune recently as I made a presentation on the MHS to one of the Vermont Historical Society's "Connecting To Collections" workshops. The group was astounded by our membership and budget numbers and wanted to know our secret. No secrets I said, just hard work by the Board, a generous membership, and a supportive community. In that vein I'm thrilled to announce we exceeded our 2008 goals of 200 memberships and $10,000 in membership revenue for the second year in a row. A wonderful crop from which we can all take a good measure of satisfaction. Thank you all and a special thanks to membership guru, Marijke Dollois. I gotta go change the oil on the snow blower. Anybody know of a good deal on a wood splitter? See you next year... Scott Perry Chairman |
PAGE TWO
(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)
| Candles and Carols
Mark the date... Our annual community sing along is scheduled for Sunday, December 21st at 5:00 p.m. We hope to have Maestro Andrew Massey once again lead us in a fun evening of caroling. Pratt Hall will be decorated and we will include storytelling, dancing, and even a few seasonal and family appropriate jokes.
The 2008 "Concerts By The Common"
series wrapped up it's 20th season with the Diller Quaile String
Quartet in August. Strong attendance and sponsorship resulted
in a modest profit of about $250.00. Thanks to Steve Hays for his excellent
stewardship of the series. Thanks also to the Vermont Arts Council,
the Eastman Foundation, and to our sponsors and patrons:
Sponsors
Lisa and Alan Cennamo/Sylvester’s Market The Laura Crane Family Fairpoint New England Steve & Catherine Hays Ann and Jim Lackner-Graybiel Lutz’s Automotive Bill and Noela McGroarty People’s Trust Company Rock-Tenn Company TD BankNorth Patrons Michael and Lee Forman/The Inn on Trout River Chantal and Marty Lumbra/The Belfry Marijke Dollois and Charlie Fichman Mr. and Mrs. William Hays Betty Stanton Deb and Bob Winders 
2008 Art Show Photo Courtesy Charlotte Rosshandler |
35th
Anniversary Coming
2009 will mark 35 years since a small group of concerned citizens organized
and formed the Montgomery Historical Society. They saved what was then
called St. Bartholomew's church from demolition and began a labor of love
that remains vital today. The Board hopes to mount several special
events to celebrate our anniversary next year. (By the way, for those
of you in a gift giving mood the traditional gift is Coral, and the modern
is Jade!)
VT
History Expo
Some final thoughts on the exhibit... The packing case
arrived in September and is now on display at Pratt Hall. Thanks to
Gary Wetherbee for picking it up in Ohio and to Matt, Mary and John Leonbruno
for helping us secure it once we won the Ebay auction.
We also have added some tokens, used as pay, and redeemable in the Company Store which was located where the present day Snowshoe Pub is located. Thanks to Lauri DeCiucies for donating them. We also have a one page memoir based on a discussion with Gaston Begnoche who worked in a sister mill in Richford. He also owns the farm where the Montgomery mill was located. We will be sharing all of this with the school and show it to others by appointment through the end of November. Please call a Board member if you would like to arrange a showing. Art Show & Sale
This year's reception and show was well
attended and the feedback very positive on the new lighting and display
boards.
Noela McGroarty did a magnificent job spearheading this year's event, and wants to thank all the participating artists. Special thanks to Bill McGroarty, and Marijke Dollois for assembling and painting the new displays, and to Parma Jewett for super refreshments and the foil painting donated for the the raffle. |
PAGE THREE
Abenaki Baskets and other items Pratt Hall Rental Fees and Policy
The Board agreed to raise the rental fees and updated the rental
policy in September. Rates are now:
May-September: Member - $275/event comprised of the following: $175 + $100 refundable reservation and cleaning/damage deposit. Non-member - $325/event comprised of the following: $225.00 + $100.00 refundable reservation and cleaning/damage deposit October-April: Member - $325/event comprised of the following: $225 + $100 refundable reservation and cleaning/damage deposit. Non-member - $375/event comprised of the following: $275 + $100 refundable reservation and cleaning/damage deposit. The policy is posted on line at www.montgomeryvt.us/mhs.htm or can be obtained by contacting any Board Member. Acquisitions & Donations
We continue to benefit from donations of artifacts, funds,
and services. In addition to the donations already mentioned, thanks
to Fern Perley who donated a signed photograph of Gov. Madeline Kunin and
Merrill Perley at the signing of Housebill #8665 which settled the boundary
line dispute of Avery’s Gore between Enosburg and Montgomery – most of Avery’s
Gore went to Montgomery.
Additionally, Betty Stanton made a $1,000 donation to the general fund to help us make progress on a new exhibit and storage space. Thank you for thinking of us! |
Jeanne Brink: The Western Abenaki
About 25 people enjoyed the presentation by Azoniz (aka Jeanne Brink)
on Western Abenaki culture and tradition. She displayed and explained
baskets, rattles, and clothing; and taught us some Abenaki vocabulary. Thanks
to Sally Newton and Charles Henderson for bringing her to us and the Vermont
Humanities Council for sponsoring her visit and presentation.
Early
Montgomery: A Conversation with Betty Stanton
The August 9th program with Betty and members of her family was a grand success. She shared stories of her, and her ancestors experiences in Montgomery accompanied with photos, original letters (with transcriptions), quilts, fabrics, china, and other ephemera, most of which she donated to the MHS!! Thanks to Betty for a fun evening, and her enthusiastic support of Montgomery and the MHS. Bugs
The pest treatment work for Pratt Hall will be done next June. This
will include the basement, tower, and the attic spaces. In the meantime
Bill McGroarty, John Beaty, and Pat Farmer have begun the tedious and sometimes
nasty work of cleaning the cobwebs, dust and other debris out of the tower,
a prerequisite to spraying for powder post beetles. We may ask you
to give us a hand if you can and we will work to get a grant to help finance
that project.
Pratt
Hall Evaluated By Timber Frame Expert
The Board took the next step in the process of evaluating Pratt Hall for structural repairs. Following the evaluation by VT Historic Preservation and architect Michael Gohl, we were urged to have expert timber framer and historian Jan Lewandoski take a look. He was able to confirm much of the earlier assessment, identified other issues, and gave us costed estimates of the recommended repairs. His report will be used for further grant writing. |
PAGE FOUR
|
Videodrome
Thanks to the technical assistance from
member Ave Leslie, we now have Elders' Nights I and II, and the recent
Betty Stanton program on DVD and included in our archive for posterity.
Montgomery History Quiz Answer
B. Excommunication. Parishioners could be removed on recommendation
of the Committee of Investigation for any number of offenses, including licentiousness,
profanity, continual neglect of religious culture, drunkenness, and/or general
looseness of daily living that dishonors the name of Christ.
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.
Meetings are the third
Wednesday of the month and are open to all MHS members.
|
2008 League of Local Historical Society
(LLHS) Awards
The MHS has three nominations for
this years awards. Sue Wilson was nominated for Excellence in Individual
Achievement for her work as our Treasurer and financial maven. The
"Concerts By The Common" program and Steve Hays were nominated for
Excellence in Society Operations. Finally the MHS's VT History Expo
exhibit was nominated for Excellence in the Exhibits/Museum Techniques
category. Winners will be formally announced at the LLHS Annual Meeting,
November 7th, in Bellows Falls (they are all winners already in our opinion!)
Web Site Has More Content
If you haven't recently, may we suggest you check out our web site. We continue to add content, like the 1985 National Register of Historic Places Nomination for Pratt Hall, and are eager to hear your feedback. |