(June 1, 2017) The Calvin B. Taylor House Museum will host its largest fundraiser of the year on Sunday, the second-annual Afternoon on the Lawn, from 3-6 p.m.
The gala will include food from Berlin restaurants and shops in a cocktail party setting. Live ragtime music will be provided by Earl Beardsley.
Participating restaurants last year included Blacksmith Bar & Restaurant, the Atlantic Hotel, Rayne’s Reef, Burley Inn Tavern, Siculi Italian Kitchen, the Globe, Bake Dessert Café, On What Grounds and Main Street Sweets.
This year Fin’s Ale House and Raw Bar, the Waystead Inn and Gilbert’s Provisions will also contribute, bringing the total number of food providers to more than a dozen.
Carol Rose, a member of the museum board, said the event would include beer and wine, along with champagne punch, similar to the setup last year.
“And I am going to make six gallons of that homemade lemonade instead of three, because we ran out so early last year,” she said.
Last year, the event drew about 100 people. Organizers hope to double that number on Sunday.
“The theme is going back to when the property was bought and honoring those who worked [to bring the museum to life],” Rose said.
The Town of Berlin bought the property in 1981.
“Ed Hammond spearheaded the fundraising and the community contributed $100,000 to start the renovations of the home,” Rose said. “That’s very important – everything is community related and everybody helped. Numerous citizens even helped to scrape paint off the outside of the building. So we’re honoring the volunteers who worked to get it where it is now, the docents that are there now and the community that still support us.”
Rose said the town government is hugely supportive of the museum and has been from the start.
“They keep the grass cut and help out with anything we need,” she said. “They’re very helpful and very involved.”
The museum highlights the historical significance of the town, its citizens and its industries, including the Harrison Brothers Nurseries, once the largest grower of peaches in the United States, and former Mayor Calvin B. Taylor, who lived in the house from the 1890s until his death in 1932.
New in the museum this year are dozens of artifacts collected from the World War I era. Patricia Dufendach led the exhibit and continues to add items as they are brought in by people in the community.
The Taylor House also introduced expanded hours for the season, which started last Saturday. The new hours will be Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., through October. Previously, the museum was open from 1-4 p.m.
“We’re really excited. We think more people will go through the museum, which is our top priority,” Rose said. “People from the bed and breakfasts and the Atlantic Hotel can come after breakfast, before they go to the beach, and walk around. The Berlin Visitor’s Center has been wonderful about sending people to us, and Randy with his horse and carriage tours has been wonderful about getting people here.”
Rose said tickets would be available for Afternoon on the Lawn through Saturday at 4 p.m. The cost is $50 and includes all food and drinks.
For tickets, call Rose at 410-430-7540.
“It’s our major, major fundraiser and it does pay the bills,” Rose said. “We have two employees [one part time] and ticket sales will go to maintain the building and help keep the lights on.
“We work very, very hard to have this be a special event,” she continued. “The food will be wonderful, the music will be wonderful and we’re just hoping people will come and enjoy an afternoon on the lawn.”
Event organizers have reserved a large tent for the museum lawn, in case of inclement weather.
For more information on the museum or to inquire about volunteering, call 410-641-1019 or email taylorhousemuseum@verizon.net.
Visit the museum on 208 North Main Street in Berlin, or on the web at www.taylorhousemuseum.org.
The gala will include food from Berlin restaurants and shops in a cocktail party setting. Live ragtime music will be provided by Earl Beardsley.
Participating restaurants last year included Blacksmith Bar & Restaurant, the Atlantic Hotel, Rayne’s Reef, Burley Inn Tavern, Siculi Italian Kitchen, the Globe, Bake Dessert Café, On What Grounds and Main Street Sweets.
This year Fin’s Ale House and Raw Bar, the Waystead Inn and Gilbert’s Provisions will also contribute, bringing the total number of food providers to more than a dozen.
Carol Rose, a member of the museum board, said the event would include beer and wine, along with champagne punch, similar to the setup last year.
“And I am going to make six gallons of that homemade lemonade instead of three, because we ran out so early last year,” she said.
Last year, the event drew about 100 people. Organizers hope to double that number on Sunday.
“The theme is going back to when the property was bought and honoring those who worked [to bring the museum to life],” Rose said.
The Town of Berlin bought the property in 1981.
“Ed Hammond spearheaded the fundraising and the community contributed $100,000 to start the renovations of the home,” Rose said. “That’s very important – everything is community related and everybody helped. Numerous citizens even helped to scrape paint off the outside of the building. So we’re honoring the volunteers who worked to get it where it is now, the docents that are there now and the community that still support us.”
Rose said the town government is hugely supportive of the museum and has been from the start.
“They keep the grass cut and help out with anything we need,” she said. “They’re very helpful and very involved.”
The museum highlights the historical significance of the town, its citizens and its industries, including the Harrison Brothers Nurseries, once the largest grower of peaches in the United States, and former Mayor Calvin B. Taylor, who lived in the house from the 1890s until his death in 1932.
New in the museum this year are dozens of artifacts collected from the World War I era. Patricia Dufendach led the exhibit and continues to add items as they are brought in by people in the community.
The Taylor House also introduced expanded hours for the season, which started last Saturday. The new hours will be Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., through October. Previously, the museum was open from 1-4 p.m.
“We’re really excited. We think more people will go through the museum, which is our top priority,” Rose said. “People from the bed and breakfasts and the Atlantic Hotel can come after breakfast, before they go to the beach, and walk around. The Berlin Visitor’s Center has been wonderful about sending people to us, and Randy with his horse and carriage tours has been wonderful about getting people here.”
Rose said tickets would be available for Afternoon on the Lawn through Saturday at 4 p.m. The cost is $50 and includes all food and drinks.
For tickets, call Rose at 410-430-7540.
“It’s our major, major fundraiser and it does pay the bills,” Rose said. “We have two employees [one part time] and ticket sales will go to maintain the building and help keep the lights on.
“We work very, very hard to have this be a special event,” she continued. “The food will be wonderful, the music will be wonderful and we’re just hoping people will come and enjoy an afternoon on the lawn.”
Event organizers have reserved a large tent for the museum lawn, in case of inclement weather.
For more information on the museum or to inquire about volunteering, call 410-641-1019 or email taylorhousemuseum@verizon.net.
Visit the museum on 208 North Main Street in Berlin, or on the web at www.taylorhousemuseum.org.