A Perfect Spot of Tea
HONEST HARMONY
August 20th
A centuries-old tradition of afternoon tea endures at the Porter-Phelps-Huntington
Museum with “A PERFECT SPOT OF TEA,” a summer series continuing Saturday,
August 20th with musical guest Honest Harmony. Ever since the house’s
construction in 1752, Hadley residents and other passers-by have visited
the farmstead
for good conversation, a beautiful view, lively music, and a beverage
that, as original resident Elizabeth Porter Phelps once wrote, “cheers
but not
inebriates.” The museum keeps this colonial tradition alive every Saturday
in July and August. Seatings are held at 2:30 and 3:30PM; the grounds
are a smoke-free site. Admission is $10.
Honest Harmony has been performing together for over a decade. The
group’s a cappella performances explore a repertoire of small-ensemble singing
from the 12th-20th centuries, often highlighting historical pieces and masterfully
juxtaposing works of a single style, era, or composer. The ensemble is comprised
of soprano Barbara Matthes, alto Cindy Naughton, baritone Ijod Schroeder,
and tenor John Vance.
.In addition to talented local musicians, A Perfect Spot of Tea also
features delicious pastries, attentive service, and, of course, plenty of
Earl Grey Tea. Everything at the event—flowers, tea, food, service, and music—is
generously donated by local businesses and residents. Come to A Perfect Spot
of Tea and engage with the community, past and present!
For an additional fee, guests may also tour the Porter-Phelps-Huntington House
Museum. The house, which remains unchanged since the family’s occupancy, tells
the story of six generations of prominent Hadley natives. The family, prosperous
traders turned farmers, fought in both the French and Indian and Revolutionary
Wars, rose to prominence in local government, and embodied a consistently progressive
social consciousness. Tours highlight both local and regional narratives, ranging
in focus from architecture, material culture, and labor, to early-American theology,
economics, and social movements.
The Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum is located at 130 River Drive (Route 47)
in Hadley, two miles north of the junction of Routes 9 and 47. The Museum is
open for guided tours Saturday through Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
and by appointment. For further information about tours or other programs, please
call the Museum at (413) 584-4699 or visit our website at www.pphmuseum.org.