Sheffield, Mass. – March 8, 2019 – Dewey Hall, a beacon of the arts and community spirit on Sheffield’s Village Green, will hold its spring gala fundraiser on Saturday, May 11, from 6-9 p.m. The Lucky Five, a star attraction for old-time music fans, will perform at the event. A sit-down dinner will be cooked and served by students in Sue Petrucci’s culinary class at Mount Everett High School. Beer and wine will also be available.
In addition, the gala will feature a silent auction. The Hall’s board is asking local businesses to provide items or services worth at least $100 for the auction. Firms that donate items or that contribute food or drink to the event will be listed on the Dewey Hall website as preferred vendors.
Tickets for the fundraiser are priced at $50, which covers the meal, a drink ticket, and the entertainment. Local companies that purchase a table (which seats eight) will pay $45 per seat. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online through Eventbrite, which will have a link on the hall’s website (www.deweyhall.org).
Meanwhile, Dewey Hall has announced that it will rent out coworking space to people who would like to work in the Hall’s library a few hours per week. The Hall is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Rental fees are $10 per three-hour session or $50 per month for using the handsome 19th century library whenever the Hall is open.
Former Dewey Hall President Priscilla Cote has told the board that she will no longer be able to run the annual Father’s Day pancake breakfast that has been a fixture in Sheffield for many years. The board is looking for a well-organized person who wants to ensure that this great tradition continues. Whoever steps up to the plate can be assured that the board members will provide guidance and support.
Dewey Hall recently hosted the Aglet Theater Company’s reading of the play “A Walk In The Woods” and a concert by Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, the acclaimed bluegrass band. The hall will continue to host Swing Dances on the third Friday of every month, and Sheffield Contra Dances are scheduled for March 23, April 27 and June 22. The Sheffield Historical Society will present its monthly lectures on March 8, April 12, May 10 and June 14. Dewey Hall will soon announce several upcoming concerts.
Dewey Hall was built in 1887 in memory of Orville Dewey, a prominent minister who was a leading light in the Unitarian movement. Dewey grew up in Sheffield and retired here after an illustrious career in Boston and New York. He founded a social club that sponsored lectures and musical events. After the Hall was opened, it became a cultural beacon and a community center, and it remains an anchor of Sheffield’s social life. Volunteers provide stewardship for the Hall, which receives no town funding.
“We welcome support from the community so that we can keep this beautiful old hall going,” said Lynne Jablonski, president of Dewey Hall. “We continue to rent the Hall out for a variety of cultural, educational and private events, but the rental income is insufficient to cover our overhead. Please help us by attending our spring gala with your friends and neighbors.”
For more information on the Hall’s history and current activities, please visit www.deweyhall.org. Those interested in renting the Hall can call 413-229-2357 or visit the facility during its open hours and speak with Hall Manager Aretha Whitehead.