Fiona Breslin reports from Monterey.One of the assets of life in the Rural Intelligence region is the rich cultural heritage that surrounds us, dating back to the Colonial era and beyond. Fortunately, much of this history has been preserved, including the Deacon Hale House, built in 1747, which was the setting for the Bidwell House Museum’s Colonial Garden Party on Saturday, August 11. State Representative Smitty Pignatelli and museum executive director Barbara Palmer, (at left with Salisbury Bank's Rich Aldrich and Tonio Palmer); were among those who offered welcoming remarks, while intrigued guests toured the beautifully restored Deacon Hale House, participated in live and silent auctions, enjoyed cocktails and appetizers, and walked the grounds, peering at artifacts. Berkshire Brewery whipped up a special batch of “Bidwell Brew” for the event; old wooden swings provided old-fashioned fun; and the band Dublin Porter enlivened the scene with 19th-century inspired Irish folk music.
Michaela White, Katherine White, and their mother, the gala committee's Rachel White; artist Marilyn Kalish, who contributed a painting for auction, and Michael Keith;
Gallery owner Alan Kalish with Bidwell descendants Marie Bidwell Leuchs and trustee Paula Moats; Mayra Rodriguez and gala committee member JoAnn Bell.
Stuart Steiner, Dominique Steiner, Sheila Steiner, Kathryn Roberts, and the evening's hosts and Deacon Hale House owners, Julie and Frank Kern.
Dan Bailly, Michael Chamberland, and Debra Chamberland; realtors Nancy Kalodner and Mary R. White.
Tess Fedell and Tom Brazie watch a video about the restoration; trustees Nancy Jones and Christine Goldfinger with the David Grover Band's Stephanie Rothschild.
Ron Goldfinger, Rocky Greenberg, board president Rob Hoogs, and Susan Popper peer into an old well.
Barbara Hazentakes a swing; gala committee member Elizabeth H King, with incoming Bidwell House intern Sophie Weil-Roth, Kari Weil, and Michael Roth.
State representative Smitty Pignatelli greets Freema Shapiro and her niece, Lynne Leavitt; guests were led on tours of the restored Deacon Hale House, originally built in 1747.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
