THE PORTER-PHELPS-HUNTINGTON MUSEUM CONTINUES ITS 2019 SEASON OF “A PERFECT SPOT OF TEA” WITH A PERFORMANCE BY PETER WEST AND BURT JACKSON ON SATURDAY, JULY 27 TH
The Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum continues its 2019 series of “A PERFECT SPOT OF TEA” on Saturday, July 27th with a performance by Peter West and Burt Jackson, a duo performing instrumental jazz, pop, and original songs. The Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum invites guests to partake in its 250 year old tradition of afternoon tea with good company, interesting conversation, and lively music. Admission is $12 per person. There are seatings at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. For an additional fee, guests may also tour the Porter-Phelps-Huntington House Museum. Tours will be every hour on the half hour; at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30.
During tea on Saturday, July 27th, Peter West and Burt Jackson will perform instrumental jazz, pop, and original songs. Peter West has been playing guitar professionally since 1980 and takes his audiences on a melodious and stimulating turn through instrumental jazz, pop, and original songs. He has been giving wonderful performances at the museum's “A Perfect Spot of Tea” for over a decade. At his side is Bert Jackson, another highly skilled guitarist with over 25 years of playing experience in blues, jazz, and other styles.
Elizabeth Porter Phelps, a resident of the house from its construction in 1752, regularly hosted teas until her death in 1817, and noted the teas often attracted ten to fifteen couples weekly. Elizabeth’s daughter met her future husband, Dan Huntington, at one of these events. Visitors would “tarry” a while over a beverage that “cheers but not inebriates.” The series is made possible through generous donations from area musicians, volunteer servers, restaurants, grocers, florists, and other businesses who provide the music, engagement, tea, pastries, and flowers for this program.
The “A Perfect Spot of Tea” series continues on Saturday, August 3rd, with a performance by Same Old Blues, a group which performs 1920’s and 30’s Piedmont and East Coast blues.
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. The house, which remains unchanged since the family’s occupancy, tells the story of six generations of prominent Hadley residents. 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, from architecture, material culture, and labor, to early-American theology, economics, women’s history and social movements. For further information about tours or other programs, please call the Museum at (413) 584-4699 or visit our website at http://www.pphmuseum.org .