Friends of Connetquot Gala 2009

A sun-warmed, radiant day greeted the guests of our 12th annual Gala on October 4, 2009. Over one hundred Friends and supporters enjoyed the beautiful surroundings of the Connetquot Preserve. Traditional folk music played by the Red River Ramblers set the tone of the affair. Carriage rides and al fresco dining under a tent allowed the guests to sample a little bit of the rural but gracious amenities the members of the former Southside Sportsmen's Club might have enjoyed in years past.

At a time when the Friends are focused on their goal of bringing history alive for the families in the community by restoring the Grist Mill to working condition and developing exhibits that will interpret the history of the surrounding area, we wanted the Gala to celebrate the Preserve's past by displaying some of the archival materials in the Friends' collection. Gala guests were offered an informal exhibit consisting of reproductions of old photographs of some of the members of the Southside Sportsmen's Club as well as three guest books containing signatures of prominent men of the 19th century who after toiling to build up their great fortunes came to the Club for the abundant fishing, hunting, and socializing that the place offered them.

Past times were also represented in the Gala's Live and Silent auctions, which featured Victoriana and other collectibles. One of Jamie Reason's contributions, his "River Spirit" carving, evoked a more remote time when the Eastern Woodland Indians fished in the Connetquot River with its representation of a spirit fish and an Indian fishhook made of deer toe and carved in each stage of its construction. The carving is mounted on a base made of wood from the original foundation of the Grist Mill.

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR GALA SUPPORTERS
The help and generosity of our contributors made a success of yet another Gala.  All the individuals, organizations, artists and merchants listed in the list below donated money, food, beverages, prizes or their valuable time.  Please patronize the businesses and artists listed here and thank them for their support of the Friends.