MIDDLETOWN >> Community support for Gibson Museum’s 2nd Anniversary celebration May 14, “A Look at Life in the 1860s”, is garnering grateful acclaim from Gibson volunteers.
Middletown Mansion is donating not only the use of their property but the services of a professional videographer who will capture the reenactments and other festivities.
Calpine at The Geysers offered to match early cash sponsorships almost immediately after the event was announced.
Local businesses — The Little Cowpoke Café, Star Gardens, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and Reynolds Systems — stepped right up to meet that offer. Others, including Grinders Steep, Bunk House, LaTrease’s Sassy Scissors and Twin Pine, promptly donated items for raffles and silent auction.
The Lake County Chamber of Commerce stepped in with support right away.
Local wineries — Fults Family, R Vineyards, Langtry Estates, Six Sigma, Laujor, Boatique, Shannon and Brassfield — donated wines for tasting and for raffling, as did wineries from Pope Valley, St. Helena and Ukiah. Gift certificates came in from as far as Little River Inn on the coast!
The Rotary Club of Middletown is offering hands-on support, and behind the scenes help also came from the Middletown Area Merchants Association and the Middletown Luncheon Club. The Stone House Historical Society and the Rotary Club of Clearlake have also volunteered to help Gibson volunteers with this event.
A surprising number of sponsorships and donations have been donated by neighboring communities. Country Air Properties was an early sponsor, as was the Clearlake Lions Club. Raffle items have come from Clearlake, Kelseyville, and Calistoga.
This Saturday afternoon event at the Middletown Mansion will bring a first for this area — two authentic portrayals of Civil War skirmishes. This “Civil War” will be accompanied by 1860s history and costumes, good food, good wine, good music, good times.
Broad community support is important not merely to help fund Gibson Museum.
The American Civil War Association suggests that if the community comes out to support this event, they will seriously consider annual full-scale reenactments at the Middletown Mansion.
The dozen or so reenactments in northern California each year draw crowds from far away. Families throng to the exciting spectacles and the opportunity to chat with participants. Locals are invited to join the fray if they wish.
Folks from throughout the area are urged to come in costume, like the families who accompany the “soldiers,” to make their attendance even more fun.
Tickets are available online at Gibsons2ndAnniversary.com; in Middletown at Gibson Museum and Middletown Florist, in Hidden Valley Lake at Chic Le Chef, in Kelseyville at Ely Stage Stop, in Lower Lake at the Schoolhouse Museum, in Lakeport at the Courthouse Museum, and in Clearlake at Kevin Ness Jeweler. Or call Linda Moran at 987-2045 or Judy Kauffman at 987-2433 to have tickets mailed or delivered.
More details at thegibsonmuseum.com, send questions to gibsonmuseum@gmail.com, or call 987-2349.
