WESTFIELD - The Chautauqua County Historical Society will host its annual fundraiser and gala on Saturday, June 9.
"Honoring the 9th NY Cavalry" will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the McClurg Museum in Moore Park - located at the corner of Routes 394 and 20 in the village. The fundraiser will feature hearty hors d'oeuvres and wine tasting, along with music by local musical group Doc and Bill.
"This is our single biggest fundraising event of the year," said James O'Brien, Chautauqua County Historical Society president. "It's going to be a wonderful evening designed to support and promote local history in Chautauqua County. We hope to see a lot of familiar faces as well as some new ones during the evening."
Article Photos
Chautauqua County Historical Society President James O’Brien discusses one of the exhibits at the McClurg Museum during the society’s 2011 Gala fundraiser. The 2012 Gala will take place June 9, 2012 and will feature the debut of a new exhibit - “Honoring the 9th.” (Photo by Niles Dening)
As part of the 2012 Gala fundraiser, a group of Civil War reenactors, including members of the 9th NY Cavalry, will host an encampment in Moore Park, Westfield on June 9 and June 10. There is no cost to visit the encampment. (Photo by Niles Dening)
The McClurg Museum in Moore Park, Westfield is the home of the Chautauqua County Historical Society and location for the organization’s 2012 Gala Fundraiser. (Photo by Niles Dening)
Musical duo Doc and Bill will once again provide musical entertainment for attendees of the Chautauqua County Historical Society’s 2012 Gala Fundraiser on June 9. The fundraiser will also feature hearty hors d’oeuvres and wine tasting. (Photo by Niles Dening)
HONORING THE 9TH
Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the McClurg Museum and learn more about the new exhibits that have been added and receive more details about some recent renovations. There will also be the debut of a new Civil War exhibit entitled "Honoring the 9th," which will feature various photographs, artifacts and historic accounts associated with the 9th NY Cavalry, based out of Westfield.
In addition to the gala fundraiser, the 9th NY Cavalry reenactment group will be staging an encampment in Moore Park the entire weekend with activities taking place both Saturday, June 9, and Sunday, June 10. There will also be a special appearance from the 20th Maine Fife and Drum Corp. Their counterparts from Gettysburg will also be in town to perform at local schools on Friday, June 8.
"The theme of the exhibit amplifies the fundraiser event and the reenactment," said O'Brien, who worked on the exhibit. "The exhibit space is too small to tell a large story, so I've concentrated on how the 9th NY Cavalry was honored in the decades following the war. To that end, I'm including about a dozen ribbons and badges, to add reality and dimension."
With the exception of a southern tea event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, which costs $5, all encampment-related activities are free to attend. A complete schedule of encampment events can be found online at www.mcclurgmuseum.org.
The "Honoring the 9th NY Cavalry" fundraiser and gala event Saturday evening, June 9, costs $50 a person with all proceeds supporting McClurg Museum operations. For tickets and reservations, call 326-2977 or contact any member of the board of trustees.
The Chautauqua County Historical Society was established in 1883 and is the oldest historical society in Chautauqua County. Since 1951, the organization has been based out of the historic McClurg Mansion, built in 1818, in Westfield. Annual membership rates are $20. All members are given free access to the museum year-round and a subscription to the quarterly "Time Lines" newsletter. For more information, call 326-2977.