Worcester County Mechanics Association 177th Annual ...€¦ · Mechanics Hall Worcester County...

Mechanics Hall

Worcester County Mechanics Association177th Annual Meeting

Tuesday, September 22, 2020hosted virtually through Zoom

A 501c(3) not-for-profit organization. Established 1842. Mechanics Hall constructed 1857. National Register of Historic Places.

Carlos Ordia, Brown Bag Concert Yoga at the Hall

Wynton Marsalis, Music Worcester

St. Olaf College Choir Jarrett Krosoczka

Worcester County Mechanics Association ▪ 177th Annual Meeting ▪ Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Table of Contents Page

Agenda ..................................................................................................... 3

Message from the President ............................................................ 4

Greetings from the Executive Director ....................................... 5

Meeting Minutes, September 2019 .............................................. 7

Required Votes ...................................................................................... 8

Financial Summary ............................................................................. 9

Governance Committee Report

Recommended Slate for Election ................................. 10

2020- 2021 Trustees ......................................................................... 11

Mechanics Hall Portraits Project .................................................. 12

About the Mechanics Hall Portraits ............................................ 13

Mechanics Hall Donors (July 2019 - June 2020) ................... 15

Norma J. Sandison Society Members .......................................... 17

OUR MISSION To serve the community by offering

Mechanics Hall as the gathering place for experiences that Inspire, Enrich and Enlighten

generations.

13th Annual ACE Gala

Worcester County Mechanics Association177th Annual Meeting

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

AGENDA

Welcoming Remarks Stacey Luster, President

Call to Order & Required Votes Stacey Luster

Financial Report Tom McGregor, Treasurer

Governance Report Deborah Packard, Vice President

President’s Remarks Stacey Luster

Video Presentation

Executive Director’s Remarks Kathleen Gagne, Executive Director

Video Presentation

Closing Remarks & Adjournment Stacey Luster

Worcester Youth Orchestras' Holiday Concert


Message from the President

Dear Members and Friends,

As a third generation Worcesterite, who has lived and served our community for my entire life, I am honored to be completing my first year as President of prestigious Mechanics Hall.

While some consider, the days of roller skating in the Hall to be the “dark days” when the Hall endured disrepair, I consider those days to be the highlights of my childhood! As my interests matured, Mechanics Hall remained my favorite place to enjoy runway fashion shows, political heavyweights including Bella Abzug and Bill Clinton, and magnificent concerts ranging from Yo-Yo Ma to the Boys Choir of Harlem. Mechanics Hall is where the best of my life happens!

Even in the midst of the Pandemic of 2020, Mechanics Hall is the place where the best come to record; where those who insist on the best, reserve their 2021 events. As Mechanics Hall plans for the year ahead, we will address the racial injustice which excluded Black leaders from American History as well as from the portraits in the Great Hall. Soon, Mechanics Hall will be where people of all races and ages will be inspired by Frederick Douglass and William Brown, whose portraits will be included in their rightful place in Mechanics Hall, where the best of Worcester happens!

Sincerely,

StaceyStacey LusterBoard President

Adelente Holiday Celebration


As I have said many times over the years: it is never dull at Mechanics Hall!

The first three quarters of FY 2019-2020 buzzed along smoothly and excitedly. Mechanics Hall was having a very good year. Beginning March 14th, the pandemic precautions dramatically impacted the rest of the year. Typically spring events generate the highest revenue of the year but COVID-19 precautions mandated by the state have kept Mechanics Hall closed for nearly seven months. Right now, we are accepting limited bookings of recording and streaming sessions, and we can consider events that include a maximum 25 individuals, including our own staff. As you can imagine, the limited capacity has strangled our ability to serve the community.

Last year at this time I announced the launch of the Mechanics Hall Many Voices Project. We have laid the groundwork for our youth chorus and are eager to begin the music! We hosted a three-event creative engagement with graphic artist Jarrett J. Krosoczka which touched families, budding artists, and children with the message: exercising our creative muscle positively affects our quality of life.

Pre-COVID, music filled the Hall on a regular basis.

Our February Concerts for Kids: Conversations in Jazz included every Worcester Public School 6th grader. The Conversations in Jazz program began 18 years ago and has been offered free of charge to many thousands of students. Our partner, WPI, demonstrates musical chops as well as role models.

We also presented a unique ensemble of human and robotic performers making music together—another partnership with WPI, which showcased the ways

in which technology can be incorporated in creative expression.

One of the last performances before closing was a presentation of the Worcester Youth Symphony Orchestra called WYSO at The Movies! Accompanied on the historic Hook Organ by Will Sherwood, Mechanics Hall Principal Organist, the WYSO performers entertained us with silent film shorts and iconic movie music through the decades.

Music Worcester's 161st season brought dazzling performances to our stage, including Audra McDonald, Wynton Marsalis & Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with pianist Garrick Ohlsson, the vocal ensemble Chanticleer, and the Worcester Chorus’ Messiah.

The St. Olaf College Choir, nationally recognized for artistic excellence performed in February under the baton of Dr. Anton Armstrong, who retired soon after from a remarkable career.

Other notable events included the UMass Winter Ball, the African Community Education Program Gala, Be Like Brit Foundation Gala, Marine Corps Birthday Ball, WXLO Radio’s Acoustic Xmas show featuring Adam Lambert. Worcester’s Best Chef and Comedian Bob Marley are always Mechanics Hall sell-outs. We again hosted Civic Debates, and the Shine Initiative and MA March of Dimes, along with Family Health of Worcester, CASA and others, raised needed funds to further their missions.

Our partnership with WICN Public Radio continued producing the Brown Bag Concerts for the 37th year (!) and we continue to present Hook organ concerts that showcase our magnificent 1864 tracker pipe instrument and the incredible talent of Worcester’s organists.

Greetings from the Executive Director

(continued)


It was a very good year. Until it wasn’t.

Just as we were about to unveil the beautiful improvements to our Main Street entrance, the first floor Promenade and the Washburn Lobby, we were forced to close the building! We are eager to show off the improvements, which include the “walls of fame” in the Main Street vestibule. Graphic wallpaper now honors the individuals and organizations that have contributed to the fascinating story of Mechanics Hall. It includes founders, performers, donors, directors, clients—who, together, have created the unique legacy of Worcester’s Hall. Other improvements include digital signage, and we added graphic elements in the Promenade that touch upon the variety of activities that take place in the Hall. On the Washburn level, the display cases have been elegantly improved and include images that remind us of the voices and innovations that have long been celebrated in Mechanics Hall.

In spite of the abrupt closure, however, the music hasn't stopped!

Blessed to be a prime recording venue, we have been able to book recording sessions that are filling our fall calendar. Once the word was out that recording sessions were possible under state and local guidelines, musicians and producers have scrambled to schedule dates and make the music they have been unable to perform in public. The Worcester Chamber Music Society was the first to live-stream a performance from the Hall. Boston Baroque, the Handel & Haydn Society, pianists Orli Shaham, Don Berman, Ron Squibbs and Simone Dinnerstein are booking sessions. Boston’s famed Black Nativity, celebrating its 50th year, held a session to commemorate its history , and they plan to be back to record and to perform. Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott will soon be recording in a week-long session. Music

Worcester is recording performances to broadcast, including a chamber ensemble and another great pianist, Asiya Korepanova.

We have the history-making portraits project ahead of us. We’ll be exploring ways to incorporate new technologies into event-hosting. We have lots of brides and grooms waiting for their time to celebrate. And, as ever, we are looking forward to opening our doors to you.

Nearly all of our staff is furloughed and those who are working are on severely restricted hours. It will be quite some time before we can welcome you all into the Hall for special occasions and musical performances. But welcome you we will. Mechanics Hall will emerge from the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic with renewed vigor and strength. Do we need your support? Absolutely. Every day of every month of every year. It is crucial that all of us, together, steward our iconic 19th century Hall through the coming years and keep it healthy, strong, and vibrant. We need this inspirational space and so will future generations. We need to be reminded of the Mechanics’ message: with a big vision, creative innovation, and a can-do attitude, we can change the world.

Finally, I extend warm thanks to my stalwart staff for braving these unfortunate circumstances with me. I thank our incredible Trustees, who generously share their time and talents, along with their treasure. I thank the community of Worcester for supporting Mechanics Hall for 163+ years and for ensuring that it will be actively engaged in Worcester’s great future.

Be well and strong,

KathyKathleen GagneExecutive Director

Greetings from the Executive Directorcontinued


The 176th annual meeting of the Worcester County Mechanics Association, which owns and operates Mechanics Hall, was called to order at noon on Tuesday, September 24th in Washburn Hall. A quorum of members was in attendance and a light luncheon was served.

President Margaret Wong opened the meeting and asked for votes of approval of the Minutes of the 2018 Annual Meeting and of the actions of the Board of Trustees, Executive Committee and Officers for the 2019 Fiscal Year. Such votes were passed unanimously.

Treasurer Tom McGregor gave the Finance Report. Financial highlights of the Association for fiscal year 2019 include gross revenue of $1.7 million including $1.4 million from rental activities. The total value of investment portfolios held at U.S. Trust Bank of America and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation was $3.6 million. Overall grant and donor support used for capital improvements and to produce the Mechanics Hall outreach programming totaled over $225,000. In addition, the Bob Kennedy Legacy Fund donations added $290,000 to the investment portfolio. The Hall hosted 230 events in 2019, 30 fewer than in 2018, causing a dip in rental income. The Hall has adjusted its financial reporting to provide a better view of the cost of doing business. Overall, the financial health of Mechanics Hall is good.

Upon motion duly made and seconded, officers unanimously elected to serve included the Association’s first African American President of the Board of Trustees, Stacey Luster, General Counsel and AVP at Worcester State University. Other officers elected: Thomas McGregor of United Bank is First Vice President and Treasurer and Ellen Conte of UMass Medical School is Vice President and Clerk. Other Vice Presidents elected include Bruce Ellis of R.P. Masiello; Bob Goodell of Cumulus Media; Deborah

Packard of Preservation Worcester; and Margaret Wong of Quinsigamond Community College. Trustees elected to first terms include Melanie Bonsu of Girl Scouts of Central & Western MA; Erwin Miller; Alan Osmolowski of Blum Shapiro; Lindiana Semidei of Greater Worcester Community Foundation; David Smith of Merrill Lynch, and Betsy Zuegg of Quinsigamond Community College. Trustees Paul Buono, Kim Ciborowski, Kyla Pacheco, Mike Refolo, and Adi Tibrewal were elected to second terms.

Further, David Smith, Chair of the Governance Committee, presented the proposed changes to the bylaws. A motion was made and seconded. The bylaws and changes were distributed to the meeting attendees, who accepted the changes by unanimous vote.

Executive Director Kathleen Gagne announced that a new planned giving society has been formed and named after the Hall’s second Executive Director, Norma J. Sandison. Ms. Gagne also announced the Hall’s new programming initiative called The Many Voices Project. The Project is directed at Worcester’s youth and through it Mechanics Hall will offer cultural programming in music, literature, art, and discourse. A Mechanics Hall youth chorus will anchor The Many Voices Project and Ms. Gagne reported that the program is gaining enthusiasm and support from musician educators, the Worcester Public Schools, higher education institutions, faith communities and youth organizations.

City Manager Ed Augustus addressed the meeting by updating the progress of new development in the city. The meeting adjourned at 1:10 p.m.Respectfully Submitted

EllenEllen ConteClerk

Minutes of the September 24, 2019 Annual Meeting

Audra McDonald, Music Worcester


Required Votes

First,

Vote to waive the reading and place on file the minutes of the 175th Annual Meeting which took place on September 24, 2019.

Second,

Vote to approve and ratify the acts of the Officers and Trustees for the past year.

Victoria and Albert Ball


For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, the Worcester County Mechanics Association weathered the devastating impact of COVID-19-related shut-down brought upon the Hall, our industry, and the entire world. What began as a promising year, leveraging the fiscal tightening of the prior year, FY20 ended with survival strategy as we wait for the opportunity to resume our normal services.

FY20 operating revenue was $1.13 million versus expenses of $1.58 million, a loss of $441,000. In the prior year, FY19 operating revenue was $1.77 million versus expenses of $2.17 million, a loss of $401,000.

Operating revenue was down $631,000 from FY19 — primarily the result of the impact of COVID precluding us from hosting events in our fourth, and typically busiest, quarter. FY20 rental revenue supported only 53% of the Hall’s annual operating expense, whereas it typically supports 70%.

Operating expense was reduced by $590,000 from FY19 — largely due to COVID’s impact on our operations, reducing the costs needed to support events.

Prior to mid-March, FY20 results were tracking well to meet our breakeven budget of $1.9 million. Year-to-date operating income and expense as of the end of February were in line with budget – net operating income projections showed a $27,000 surplus.

Community Support has been paramount to our ability to meet this year’s challenges. Annual giving — a testament to the historical support for the Hall — along with the earnings from our investment funds, provide

the lifeblood we need to survive this test and continually invest in structural and operational upgrades.

The Association remains committed to investing in our prime asset, Mechanics Hall. Funds raised in prior fiscal years helped pay for over $200,000 of completed capital improvements in FY20. We have completed our Main Street Project thanks to the generous support of the Ciborowski Family Foundation. Thanks to a technology grant from Hoche-Scofield, we were able to upgrade our remote-work capabilities just in time to meet the increased demand that COVID placed upon us. We also established a preservation fee in FY20 that will support the Hall’s routine maintenance expense. As always, we continue to solicit financial support for necessary functional and event-driven capital and equipment needs as well as to address the occasional miscellaneous equipment failure.

Although the past year’s challenges have set us back in our goals, our overall financial health remains strong. Despite the increased draw needed to sustain the impacts of COVID, the value of the investments held by the Association at Bank of America and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation remained flat, ending the year at $3.6 million.

I am pleased to report that the overall financial health of Mechanics Hall is good.

Respectfully submitted,

TomTom McGregor1st Vice President & Treasurer

Shine Iniative Keep Your Mind Open Gala

Financial Summary


Report of the Governance CommitteeRecommended Slate for Election

OFFICERS (1-YR TERM):

President Stacey Luster First Vice President & Treasurer Tom McGregor Vice President & Clerk Ellen Conte Vice President Bruce Ellis Vice President Peter Thomas Vice President Jamie Leehy Vice President Margaret Wong

TRUSTEES PROPOSED FOR A Libis BuenoFIRST 3-YR TERM: Anthony Consolmagno Bob Goodell Deborah Packard

TRUSTEE PROPOSED FOR A Peter Alden SECOND 3-YEAR TERM Che Anderson Satya Mitra Jessica Morris TRUSTEES WHOSE TERMS ARE Paul Buono COMPLETED: Christina Santana Tom Moschos

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEEDeborah Packard, ChairJamie LeehyErwin H. Miller

David SmithAdi TibrewalKathleen Gagne, ex officio

Concert for the Orphans of Saint Josephs, SONGArtist: Cliff Goodwin


Trustees:PETER ALDENBay State Savings Bank

CHE ANDERSON City of Worcester

KELLY M. BARTHOLOMEWSmith Sullivan & Brown, P.C.

MELANIE BONSUGirl Scouts of Central & Western MA

LIBIS BUENODomitek

KIM M. CIBOROWSKI

ANTHONY CONSOLMAGNOOpen Sky Community Services

KATHRYN CROCKETTLamoureux Pagano Associates | Architects

BOB GOODELLCumulus Broadcasting Worcester/Boston

ERWIN H. MILLER

SATYA MITRAThe Guru Tax & Financial Services

JESSICA MORRISMassachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences University

ALAN OSMOLOWSKIBlum Shapiro

OFFICERS:President: STACEY LUSTER, Worcester State University1st Vice President & Treasurer: TOM MCGREGOR, UnibankVice President & Clerk: ELLEN CONTE, University of Massachusetts Medical School Vice President: BRUCE W. ELLIS, R.P. Masiello, Inc.Vice President: JAMIE LEEHY, Reliant Medical Group, Inc.Vice President: PETER THOMAS, Worcester Polytechnic InstituteVice President: MARGARET WONG, Quinsigamond Community College

Worcester Business Journal 40 Under Forty

Trustees: 2020 - 2021

KYLA PACHECOInThink Agency

DEBORAH S. PACKARDPreservation Worcester

HEATHER PORTERFallon Health

HILDA RAMIREZLatino Education Institute Worcester State University

LINDIANA SEMIDEIGreater Worcester Community Foundation

MICHAEL A. REFOLOMirick, O’Connell, DeMallie & Lougee, LLP

DAVID SMITHMerrill Lynch

ADI TIBREWALEntrepreneur

BETSY ZUEGGQuinsigamond Community College

HONORARY TRUSTEES:Christian BaehreckeJudith CollinsLinwood M. Erskine Jr.Dr. John GoldsberryPatrice M. MuchowskiJoseph N. Stolberg

WILLIAM BROWNBusiness Owner, Inventor, Abolitionist

William Brown (1824-1892) was a successful 19th century Worcester upholsterer and carpetmaker. A free Black man, Brown came to Worcester from Boston, establishing his trade here in 1841. He and his wife, Martha operated the business located in the Central Exchange Building, in the heart of downtown. William Brown was first recognized by the Worcester County Mechanics Association in 1849 for the skill he exhibited at that year’s Mechanics Fair. In 1868, he became the first Black member of the Worcester County Mechanics Association. His son, Charles, also became a member and was an expert draper and interior decorator.

According to family tradition, William Brown was part of the Underground Railroad before the Civil War. Upon the death of his wife, William Brown received a letter of condolence from

Frederick Douglass, which survives in the collection of the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester. Indicating the wide respect Brown held, his family received messages of sympathy when he died from important men, Stephen Salisbury, III; Charles G. Washburn, and Edward Everett Hale.

William was a successful inventor as well. He held patents on his own inventions, including “Browns Patent Fruit Picker” (1867) and “A New Improved Sofa Bed” (1868). The fruit picker was mentioned in an 1867 issue of Scientific American.

It is not unusual that several generations of a family have been Mechanics Hall members. We are happy to note that Dr. John Goldsberry, now an Honorary Trustee of Mechanics Hall, served on our Board for many years. Dr. Goldsberry is William Brown’s great- great-grandson.

FREDERICK DOUGLASSAbolitionist, Orator, Author, Statesman

One of the most prominent civil rights figures in history, Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) escaped from slavery and spent his life advocating for social justice.

Born into slavery in Bay-side Talbot County, Maryland, Douglass, born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, was the son of Harriet Bailey and a white man. Douglass escaped slavery in 1838 with the help of Anna Murray, whom he later married.

In 1841, while attending anti-slavery meetings Douglass met William Lloyd Garrison one of the most outspoken abolitionists in the country. Garrison encouraged Douglass to share his story, catapulting his career. Douglass began giving lectures at abolitionist conventions, quickly

earning a reputation as an eloquent and compelling speaker. He spoke in Mechanics Hall at least once.In 1845, Douglass, with the encouragement of Garrison and Wendell Phillips, another prominent abolitionist, published his

autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave. The work was an instant success. Critics charged that it was so well-written that it could never have been composed by a black man. The narrative made Douglass a widely-known public figure, even beyond abolitionist circles.

During the 1850s Douglass worked tirelessly for emancipation. By the Civil War, Frederick Douglass was the most prominent Black man in the United States. During the War Douglass continually petitioned President Lincoln to make emancipation a focus of the war and to sanction the formation of colored regiments. Two of his sons served in the 54th Massachusetts regiment.

Mechanics Hall Portraits ProjectAdding William Brown & Frederick Douglass to the Great Hall Gallery

PORTRAITS PROJECT COMMITTEE

CHE ANDERSONDeputy Cultural Development Officer, City of Worcester

ROBERT BLAIRRetired Building Manager, Mechanics Hall

SUSAN CECCACCIArchitectural Historian & Historic Preservation Consultant

ERIN CORRALES-DIAZCurator of American Art, Worcester Art Museum

MARITZA CRUZConsultant and Director of Racial & Gender Equity, YWCA of Central MA

DORISTA GOLDSBERRY, M.D. PsychiatryGreat-Great Daughter-in-law of William Brown

GLORIA HALLArtist, Cultural Project Developer, & Co-Founder Worcester’s Art in the Park

JAMES DAVID MORAN Vice President for Programs and Outreach, American Antiquarian Society

DEBORAH PACKARDExecutive Director, Preservation Worcester

HILDA RAMIREZExecutive Director, Latino Education Institute at Worcester State University

BILL WALLACEExecutive Director, Worcester Historical Museum

KRISTIN WATERS, PH.D.Professor of Philosophy, Worcester State University

JONATHAN OSTROWRetired Electrical Contractor

KATHLEEN GAGNEExecutive Director, Mechanics Hall


From the booklet "Portraits at Mechanics Hall"

“The Great Hall of Mechanics Hall may not be an art gallery but the portraits that surround the balcony give it an added dimension as a place of assembly. The portraits have looked upon the concerts, cotillions, lectures, and in the days of the Hall’s decline, the wrestling matches and roller skating. The original 19 portraits in the gallery were installed from 1866 (George Washington and Abraham Lincoln) to 1927 (Senator George F. Hoar). The four women’s portraits were added in October 1999.

At first glance, there seems to be no common ground among these stern looking individuals in their somber clothing: presidents, military figures, politicians, citizens, leaders, and lecturers. Closer research reveals, however, that all (except Washington) were contemporaries and that most were of local interest and importance. Further, those depicted reached the height of their influence during the period leading up to and through the Civil War, years when Mechanics Hall became a viable facility and a valuable adjunct to the social and cultural life of the community.

But why these individuals and not others? To understand their selection, one must first understand the nature of the Worcester County Mechanics Association, and the men who were its founders. Even the women’s portraits abide the intentions of those 19th century Mechanics. The notables in the portraits represent those qualities of enterprise, patriotism, sobriety, and respect for the individual highly prized by the leaders of the Worcester County Mechanics Association.

The founding fathers of the Association, serious, frugal, practical, and a bit provincial, were mostly of humble origin. Their success was a result of ingenuity and hard work. Men of lofty principle, they were dedicated, according to the preamble of their charter: ‘to elevating our moral characters, improving our intellects, and cultivating our social qualities.’

Through presenting lectures, teaching technical skills, and providing a library of technical texts, they hoped to give the Mechanics in their employ a chance of bettering themselves.

Coupled with their desire to instruct, however, was to foster an appreciation of things of beauty. Through fine art, by ‘taking pleasure in things of the mind distinct from that of the senses’ they believed men could achieve a higher moral character. To gain that end, they wished to make their hall a place of beauty and to embellish it with works of art. From the very beginning they began to acquire portraits to decorate the walls and to fill the niches made by the curved arches which surround the balcony.

How the Portraits were Acquired

"To say ‘acquire’ is, perhaps, to give the impression that a systematic program of buying art took place. What transpired, though, proved to be a less selective process. Local citizens and groups eagerly came forward to put their chosen ones upon the walls. And the founders, being thrifty men, gladly accepted their offerings as long as they represented men worthy of such honor. Of the 19 original portraits, only four were commissioned by the Association and one (Senator Hoar) was purchased.

In 1866, Ichabod Washburn and Stephen Salisbury II presented the Association with Thomas Badger’s portrait of George Washington, which was a copy of the Gilbert Stuart painting. The painting was hung in a place of honor over the stage. In the same year, the trustees accepted the E.T. Billings portrait of Abraham Lincoln, a presentation of the ‘lady friends of the Bay State Shoe & Leather Company.’ Lincoln’s portrait was placed in the other place of honor over the stage. The good ladies continued their practice of donating paintings by contributing in 1867 and 1869 the Garrison and Andrew portraits, also done by Billings. The employees of the shoe company showed a marked preference for Billings as an artist and for subjects of national fame.

About the Mechanics Hall Portraits

(continued)


For the next forty years gifts came in. Military organizations presented the portraits of the generals, and relatives supplied others. Francis Plunkett gave the Association the portrait of his brother, Sergeant Plunkett; Mrs. Levis G. White that of her father, Benjamin Walker; Henry W. Miller that of himself; and the nieces of John Gough that of their uncle. The Worcester Women’s History Project proposed the idea of “Honoring Women in Mechanics Hall” to the Association trustees in 1996 and commissioned the portraits of Lucy Stone, Abby Kelley Foster, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton. The four women were chosen precisely because their industry and ideals were a match to the gentlemen whose portraits hung in the Hall for so many years. The women were contemporaries of the Mechanics, were of local importance and some had national notoriety. The women’s portraits were presented in October 1999. In addition to the portraits’ depictions of remarkable women, the paintings are 19th century in style, and are framed in authentic 19th century frames.

Making room for the ladies was no small task. The Worcester Women’s History Project consulted with the Worcester Art Museum and the Association Trustees to recommend which four portraits would be displaced. After much discussion and careful consideration of all factors, the

portraits of James B. Blake and John A. Andrew have been removed from the Great Hall, and now hang on the north and south staircases, respectively, leading to the Great Hall. The portraits of Augustus B.R. Sprague and Josiah Pickett have been re-hung in the Washburn Lobby. In addition, several other portraits were moved from their longstanding positions and placed in other niches to favorably display all of the portraits as one installation rather than as separate statements. We note with amusement that the portrait of beloved Worcester Mayor James B. Blake has been moved out of the Great Hall. The Trustees in 1872 were not enamored of the depiction of their esteemed Mayor and, even after the artist made “some alterations and improvements” to the painting, the trustees moved it at least once, finally settling on a position for it at the rear of the gallery which offered poor visibility.

The portraits in Mechanics Hall represent distinguished and dedicated nineteenth century men and women, who serve as models for the present and future generations. They represent the qualities most admired by the Mechanics, who themselves were the heartbeat of the industrial revolution in America."

About the Mechanics Hall PortraitsContinued

AnonymousJames & Colleen AbramsLinda AcciardoIrene AdamiakMark AdlerPeter AldenAlphaGraphicsMichael & Marie AngeliniLois AngelstenDonald & Sheila AnsleyJennifer AntkowiakRichard & Diane M. AramonyRichard & Wendy ArdizzoneAtlas Distributing, Inc.Edmund & Elizabeth BaconChristian BaehreckeJoseph J. & June BafaroBank of AmericaKaren Barlow & David ReeseKelly BartholomewBartholomew & Company Inc.,

Thomas J. BartholomewBill BartoschBay State Savings BankJane BeckwithJack BellCarolyn & Pierre BellilThomas BellinoRosamond L. BennettBruce S. Bennett & Norma J. SandisonJames & Judith BerginKevin & Kerri BerginRobert & Barbara BierigRobert Blair & Sue HenryLeslie & Susanne BlattDavid BlevinsRobert D. & Betty Blute, IIIMelanie BonsuGuy Bouckaert & Therese AdamsJohn & Maureen BouvierRaymond Boylan

Bozenhard Charitable Fund of the Great-er Worcester Community Foundation

Charlotte BramleyLou Anne BrancheEleanor BrockwayDavid & Jeannie BrooksElizabeth BruhmullerMr. Paul S. Buono, Jr.Robert BurnettFrank CallahanCharles & Deborah CaryDiana CasavecchiaRichard & Kathy CastleEmily S. Castner Charitable Fund, a Donor

Advised Fund of the U.S. Charitable Gift Trust Alan CatalanoLuigi & Susan CeccacciElisha ChanNick & Bobbie ChaseJoseph ChilorioKim M. CiborowskiGeorge ClarkJoseph ClarkCoghlin Service FundCollege of the Holy CrossKathleen ComerJustine ConlonLisa Connelly CookAnn ConnerT.J. & Ellen ConteAndrea CookCountry BankKen Crater & Peg FerraroFrederick G. CrockerKathryn CrockettJoseph CunhaJulianne DahroogePhillips S. & Laurie DavisKatherine DavittDr. & Mrs. Herbert DeanEric DeRivera

Paul & Helen DexterAllen P. DoeJack & Deborah DonovanMargaret DunbarBetty EdwardsBruce & Karen EllisLinwood Erskine, Jr.Fallon HealthDale & Lucette FavreauAllen FletcherWarner & Mary FletcherFLEXcon Company, Neil McDonoughLindiana FloresGeorge FordMark & Janice FullerNatalie GabrielleJohn & Kathleen GagneEdward GardellaDavid & Louise GleasonBryon & Holly GoguenMatthew GounisSusan GoyetteNatalie GrahamTim & Cynthia GrayGreater Worcester Community

FoundationIvan & Noreen GreenJoel Greene & Ann LisiJohn & Barbara GuertinDr. Abraham & Linda HaddadLucy Hale David HallockNicholas HamawiKevin HarbisonTed & Marie HaringaDr. & Mrs. Robert S. HarperF. Stephen Harvey, Jr.Gaelyn HastingsBarbara HawkinsJon & Mary Ann HebhardtRosemary E. Heinold

Blue Bold = Washburn Society (total fiscal year 2020 donation of $1,000+) Gold Bold = $10,000+ We greatly appreciate our supporters and have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this listing. We appologize for any errors or omissions.

Yoga at the Hall (continued)

Mechanics Hall DonorsFiscal Year 2020: July 2019 - June 2020

John HenchJillian HensleyKevin HickeyHoche - Scofield FoundationSheila HokansonThomas & Barbara HollisterAlice Hoogasian Revocable TrustEstate of Mary Ann Horner PervierGregory HutchinsDonald Inglis & Katharine FultonJ. Irving & Jane L. England Charitable

TrustD. Alden JohnsonEmily JohnsonKathleen JordanRobin KantorDrs. Joel Kaufman & Carol Goodman

KaufmanTodd KeeneyNora KeilBrian KellyRobert & Mary KennedyRobyn KennedyTom & Dana KennedySarah KenwardJudith KingTracy Funt KrausEugene J. KredaLamoureux Pagano & AssociatesPaul Dixon & Diane LaskaJamie LeehyPaul LevensonKathi LewandoThomas Logan & Sandy HubbardRobert & Dolores LombardiDanielle LucasStacey LusterRon & Barbara MacaulayCraig MackJohn M MahoneyDonald MaloneyEvan MaloneyPatrick MaloneyEdward MaloufGarland Mann-LambAllegra MartinDavid & Jodie H. Martinson

Margaret MarynowskiMassachusetts Cultural CouncilLinda MaykelMia McDonaldJean McDonoughMindy McKenzieDorothy McLoughlinSusan McMurray AndersonMCPHS UniversityCouncilor Candy Mero CarlsonPriscilla MessingerMr. & Mrs. Erwin H. MillerTaylor MillerMirick Charitable Fund of the T. Rowe Price

Program for Charitable GivingDr. & Mrs. Satya Mitra, The Guru Tax &

Financial ServicesNancy MonahanJohn MonfredoMahroo MorganAnna MorinCarol MoroccoJim & Jessica MorrisDemetrios & Celeste MoschosDavid MoultonMark MummertAnn NallyNational Glass Works, Inc., Alan PandianiReverend Brent A. NewberryNichols CollegeChris NoonanKaren M. NunleyJanet O’NeillSharon OnoratoJasmine OrtizPamela J. OsbornChristine OsgoodOstrow Electric Co.Gloria PachecoDeborah PackardMatthew PanagiotuMartha PappasRose-Marie and Paul PatevDonnell PattersonPaul & Fay Rossley Fund of the Greater

Worcester Community FoundationDrs. James Pease & Janice Hitzhusen

Luis PedrajaCarol A. PelletierDavid & Marlene PerskyNancy PersonStephen & Cynthia PitcherRonald & Mary PlutnickiPolar BeveragesMr. & Mrs. Rick & Joanne PowellPowerOptions, IncPrice Chopper’s Golub FoundationKenneth PrinceDimitrios PtohosQuisigamond Community CollegeChrista RakichHilda RamirezChristopher Ranjitkar & Adrien FinlayJonathan & Rana RappaportMichael & Ann RefoloBarbara RennerChristine RobinsonTodd & Shelley RodmanTimothee & Jennifer RodriqueMr. & Mrs. Henry B. RoseKathie RougeauHenry & Cora Sue RudioRaymond J. SamkoLaurel SandersonJohn & Anne Marie ScaleaLance SchachterleSusan R. SchadeCheryl SchmaltzBlaine SchnarePeter & Anne SchneiderCarol L. SeagerJ. Robert SederLindiana SemideiSusan & Ralph ShapiroPhilip & Judith ShwachmanEdward SimsarianDavid SmithGordon SmithJames SmithBob SnowJohn A. SolapertoPaula SommerAnn StammBessie Stark

Mechanics Hall 2019 Celebration of ExcellenceWorcester Children's Chorus & Burncoat Middle School Chorus (continued)

(continued)

Mechanics Hall Donors

Howard StemplerAlan & Nina StollWilliam StoneKenneth & Elizabeth StromStruck Catering, Barbara Cotter & Derek GrilloSharon StrzalkowskiJames F. SullivanSullivan, Garrity & Donnelly Insurance AgenicesLouis Swan & Elizabeth KunhardtWayne TarkiainenJames & Paula TashjianThe Ruth A. & Warren A. Ellsworth FoundationTheatre CafePeter & Claudia ThomasAdi TibrewalSumner B. Jr. & Martha TiltonLois ToeppnerMary TrainorUMass Memorial Health CareUnited BankHerbert & Jean VarnumAlden & Virginia VaughanCarmen VazquezPaul & Patti VerdereseRobert & Susan VincentElyse WaksmanPaula WallaceDouglas WeeksCharles S. & Gayle Flanders WeissAmy WestMary Whitehead SantosJune WhitneyHenry WhittierStanley WilsonTerrence & Cynthia WindleMargaret WongWorcester Chapter, American Guild of OrganistWorcester Educational Development FoundationWorcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester Youth OrchestrasMargaret WykesWyman - Gordon FoundationJanice B. YostBetsy Zuegg

NORMA J. SANDISON SOCIETY Planned Giving Society of Mechanics Hall

MEMBERSNorma J. Sandison

Joseph Chilorio

Brenda Verduin Dean

Kathleen M. Gagne

James H. Harrington

Donald S. Inglis

Karen Ludington

Stacey Luster

Robert M. Kennedy

Erwin H. Miller

Edward J. Robbins

David Smith

Margaret Wong

(continued)

Sheila del Bosque TrioBrown Bag Concert

Worcester County Mechanics AssociationMechanics Hall321 Main Street, Worcester, MATickets: 508-752-0888Bookings: 508-752-5608www.mechanicshall.org | [email protected]

Worcester County Mechanics Association 177th Annual ...€¦ · Mechanics Hall Worcester County...

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