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4
 In case we haven’t mentioned it lately,
We LOVE Our Volunteers
BY TOM STOCKTON, PRESIDENT
What a busy and event-filled
summer it has been and fall looks even busier!
Our
Opening Day celebration
was a success with better weather this year. There were
“Made In Belchertown” crafters, our “Old Bag” sale (where many found
bargains), a raffle and sales table, a terrific plant sale, and, of
course, tours of the Stone House Museum. How can we give enough thanks to
the volunteers who worked tirelessly to bring off the separate elements
that made this such a wonderful day for our organization. Special thanks
are due to
Sally
Shattuck who headed up our Plant Sale,
Mary Ellen Kuzmeski who headed up the bags,
Gerri
Amprimo who organized the crafters,
Carol
Mierzewski who rounded up volunteers and worked
on the raffle and sales table, and
Becki
Smith and Millie Harrington for all their work
to make the grounds so beautiful. Many thanks to all!
We also thank
Marnie Henneman and Louise Butler for
representing the Belchertown Historical Association at the annual
Memorial Day commemoration at the Quabbin
Cemetery.
A great time was had by all at our
annual Members Only Cocktail Party
and many people went home with door prizes.
We are pleased this year to have a
new display in our exhibit room on the
Belchertown-China connection. Many thanks to
our dedicated Museum Committee for all
their fine work throughout the
house displaying our artifacts.
AROUND THE GROUNDS: Many things have been
happening around the Stone House this summer, and many thanks are due to
Becki
Smith for the incredible amount of organizing
she has done. Thanks are also due to our Remembrance Garden volunteers
who have kept this portion of our grounds looking fresh and lovely during
a hot summer, and to
Peg
and Lew Louraine for the work they have done to
bring historic gardening methods to life in our herb garden.
If you’ve driven by the Stone
House after dark, I hope you notice that the spotlights are again shining
on the house’s gracious exterior. This year has seen the removal of
several dead trees in our yard, and we continue to work toward renovating
our stone walkway to make it more even.
We are busy planning for our
annual presence at the
BELCHERTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION BOOTH
at the
Belchertown Fair where we will present a photo
display from the archives from fairs gone by. We will offer the
traditional “straws” game and sell raffle tickets and gift items. In
honor of this year’s Fair Theme (Poultry in Motion) we invite you to try
to win a “Turkey in the Straw”! Many thanks to
Becki
Smith for the painted decorations for the
booth! And although the Stage Coach will not be in the Parade this year,
Cat’s Meow figures of the Stagecoach are still for sale at the Stone
House.
October is a busy time this year,
and we invite all to come to our October activities, which this year
include
Archaeology Day and Cemetery Tours October 28.
We invite all to come to our fifth fun-filled
HALLOWEEN EVENT, which will be Sunday, October
28 from 6:00 – 8 PM and will again include our “Ghosts and Goblins”
walking tour in the Mount Hope Cemetery (with live appearances by historic
Belchertown “ghosts”) and activities in the Old Town Hall. This is a
great early-evening family event, and we encourage everyone to celebrate
the season with history and come on out!
Our
Yuletide event (November 3) is one of our most
important fundraisers and will conclude with our Historic Poster raffle
drawing. Equally as important, it is a great time to come visit and renew
friendships at the beginning of the New England Holiday season. We are
still looking for CRAFTERS and people to donate THEME BASKETS. If you
have a hobby and can help, please call
Tom
Stockton (323-0946). Our baskets are considered
by many to be the nicest and most elegant of all the Yuletide events in
town, so we can use your help keeping up our holiday tradition.
YULETIDE RAFFLE: Our raffle this year is of a
professionally-framed HISTORIC BELCHERTOWN FAIR POSTER, donated by Moulton
Insurance. This would be a lovely display on a wall, to give your art a
rotation, a nice house-warming gift or a gift to someone who has moved
away. Tickets are only $1 (6 for $5), and the prize will be drawn at the
end of our Yuletide event.
December’s events will include a
fun day-long
BUS
TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY on Dec. 1. Come see the
festive Holiday displays in the city, and shop or sight-see to your
heart’s content. To make early reservations call
Marnie (323-5211).
We appreciate everyone’s continued
interest and support, and look forward to seeing you all this fall. And
remember: for friends, new neighbors, and “old townies” who have moved to
distant cities, Gift Memberships make great holiday presents, are a
wonderful way to stay connected, and hardly cost more than a
“store-bought” card! See you soon!
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