Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities MAC VOLUME XLVIII, ISSUE 4N www.capemaymac.orgewsletter FALL/HOLIDAY 2018 At our Volunteer Recognition Reception on April 30, Sturdy Savings Bank officials Kathy Makowski and Michael Lloyd (center) were c. 1890 view of the 1879 Physick House Architect “Fearless Frank” Furness thanked for their generous support by MAC Director Michael Zuckerman (left) and 1st Physick House/Furness mystery solved Vice President Brian Groetsch. Sturdy Savings Bank Ever since MAC was formed in 1970 to (“upside down”) chimneys, jerkinhead save the Physick Estate from demolition, a dormers and Stick porch brackets. But thanked for support cloud of mystery has hovered over precisely they’ve never been able to find one shred of who designed the main Physick House. Local documentary evidence to back up this claim Sturdy Savings Bank will again newspapers reported on its construction (sadly, Furness’ wife threw out most of his be underwriting the official kick-off of in 1878-79, giving credit to local builder office files upon his death in 1912). So, we’ve our holiday season, the Christmas Tree Charles Shaw but making no mention of its been left with the rather lame “attributed to Lighting Ceremony on the Physick architect. Over the decades, a steady stream Frank Furness” in all of our descriptive copy Estate grounds during Holiday Preview of architectural historians (including George on our Physick House Museum. Weekend. Please join us on Saturday, E. Thomas, Hyman Myers and Hugh Happily, this frustrating state of affairs November 17 at 7pm when Santa throws McCauley) have declared that it could only was brought to an abrupt close several weeks the switch for this festive event, which also have been designed by one person, renowned ago, thanks to the efforts of local architectural includes a free open house at our Physick Philadelphia architect Frank Furness (best historian/preservationist Pip (Phillipa) House Museum, authentically decorated known for his Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Campbell. Commissioned by Cape May for the holidays, as well as the opening of Arts). They’ve cited such signature Furness the “Old Fashioned Christmas” exhibit features as the greatly oversized corbelled (CONTINUED ON PAGE 11) in the Carroll Gallery. This event is one of three occasions this year that have been underwritten by Sturdy Savings’ $7,500 gift. On April 30, they sponsored the annual Volunteer Recognition Reception; and on May (CONTINUED ON PAGE 11) At the June 3 Blue Jupiter concert, Steve In This Issue Rankin and Matt Hook Charities & the New Tax Act ....Page 8 (center) were thanked for Brown & Brown Coming Attractions ...........Pages 3 & 4 of New Jersey’s 29th Donor Profile ...................................Page 5 consecutive year of Solo level support for From the President .......................Page 5 the Cape May Music Membership News ...........Pages 6 & 10 Festival by Mayor Chuck Lear (left) and Recent Happenings ...........Pages 2 & 12 MAC Director Michael Thank You Department..... Pages 7-10 Zuckerman. MAC RECENT HAPPENINGS Summer Wrap-Up As always, MAC’s schedule gears up for the peak season in mid-June. We begin to offer a much fuller schedule of tours to accommodate the influx of visitors. The Underground Railroad Trolley Tours, a partnership with the Center for Community Arts, were offered twice each week. On the tour, visitors had the opportunity to tour the Owen Coachman House, a meticulously restored (by Dave & Chris Clemans) ante- bellum home of a free Black family whose relative was kidnapped and sold into slavery. We also partnered with the Cape May Bird Observatory on Cape May’s Wildside Trolley Tour. CMBO’s naturalists joined us PNC’s Hugh McStravick (center) on a trolley tour to local “hotspots” where was thanked for the bank’s our visitors learned about the diversity, $10,000 sponsorship of the August 4 Craft Beer & Crab abundance, geography and extensive history Festival by MAC Director Michael of this amazing area. Zuckerman (left), Mayor Chuck Back at the Physick Estate, we offered Lear and “Maggie.” several new programs. Curator Gail Capehart rolled out our new theme, “That’s created a website to host the audio version breakfast, kids put on a pirate vest and eye Entertainment! Victorian Amusements and the Museum Shop had ear buds available. patch and embarked on a pirate-y treasure at Home and On the Town,” exploring A new Clueless at the Physick hunt, confronting the fearsome pirate played some of the many new forms of leisure Estate debuted in June, as well. “Pain and by Maintenance Director Paul Smargiassi. and entertainment -- from sports to musical Suffrage,” by Jackie Fazio, told the story The Physick Estate grounds were busy performances to vaudeville -- that kept of a local suffragette who discovers that all summer too, beginning with the Cape Americans having fun more than a century something sinister has happened. Somewhere May Hops Festival. We had our annual ago. beneath all the family secrets and political celebration of blues, brews and barbecue on We also introduced a 21st century agendas lies a motive, and somewhere in the Saturday, June 23. It was our way to kick off wrinkle to our 19th century home: a digital house lies a killer. summer with local brews, live music, tasty version of the self-guided tour. A staff team, Over at the Carriage House Café & BBQ favorites, plus a crafts and collectibles led by interpreter Janet Coupland, created an Tearoom, the Breakfast with the Pirates show and kids activities. Local favorite audio version of the tour, accessed through sold out every date all season. After a yummy Bluebone was among the entertainers. your smart phone or tablet. Jean Barraclough REV Theatre returned this year with something entirely new: The 1940s Cabaret, a happy hit parade of musical nostalgia NEWSLETTER aimed straight for your heart, based on the Published by The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities, a not-for-profit corporation 1940s’ sensational song stylings and best- P.O. Box 340, Cape May, NJ 08204 • Phone: 609-884-5404 selling recordings of Bing Crosby and the New Jersey Relay Center for TTY Customers: 800-852-7899 Andrews Sisters. MAC’s mega-festival, the Cape May Web Site: www.capemaymac.org • E-Mail: [email protected] Craft Beer & Crab Festival, brought scores Editor: Michael Zuckerman; Assistant Editor: Jean Barraclough of volunteers and thousands of visitors to the Contributors: Susan Krysiak, Anna Marie Leeper, Mary E. Stewart, grounds on August 4 for a celebration of local Sandra Adams and Michael Zuckerman craft beverages, summer foods and good time music. Bill McGinity of Nobil Food Service, OUR MISSION was on hand to oversee the complicated The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities is a multifaceted not-for-profit organization food service. We were happy to host Hugh committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the McStravick from our principal sponsor, Cape May region for its residents and visitors. PNC Bank, as well as the guys from Gold ---- v ---- Coast Production Management (especially OUR VISION Graydon Hutchinson), who donate all the Preserving Cape May’s rich heritage and assuring its vitality entertainment. We especially thank our through superior cultural programs and events. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 12) PAGE 2 • FALL/HOLIDAY 2018 WWW.CAPEMAYMAC.ORG MID-ATLANTIC CENTER FOR THE ARTS & HUMANITIES (MAC) HOLIDAY LIGHTS TROLLEY RIDES Presented by the Saturday, Nov. 17 and nightly, Nov. 23-Dec. Mid-Atlantic Center MAC 31. Hours vary. (No tours Dec. 1, 8, 15, 17, 24, for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) 25): See cheerfully decorated inns and homes via heated trolley as your guide explains Victorian Christmas traditions and plays Christmas music. Coming Sing along to your favorites! Adults $12 children (ages 3-12) $10. Tours leave from Washington Street Mall Information Booth, Washington Street ATTRACTIONS Mall at Ocean Street (except on Nov. 17 tour 609-884-5404 • www.capemaymac.org • 800-275-4278 leaves from the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St.). GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS Holiday Preview Weekend PAST TROLLEY RIDES Nov. 16-18: Holiday Preview Weekend launches six weeks of holiday tours, activities and Fridays, Nov. 23-Dec. 28; Saturdays, Nov. 17-24 events in Cape May! Visit the Physick Estate Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7pm to see Santa turn & Dec. 29; Sundays, Nov. 25-Dec. 16 & Dec. 30; on hundreds of lights during the festive Tree-Lighting Ceremony sponsored by Sturdy Wednesday & Thursday, Dec. 26 & 27; Monday, Savings Bank. Visit with old St. Nick, enjoy Santa’s Trolley Rides, enjoy refreshments, Dec. 31. Hours vary: A member of East Lynne take a free self-guided tour of the Physick Estate, hear a holiday ghost tale during Theater Company regales you with a Victorian Ghosts of Christmas Past Trolley Rides, and much more. holiday ghost tale on a ride through the festive An Old-Fashioned Christmas Exhibit Historic District. Adults $12 children (3-12) $8. Nov. 16-Jan. 1, 2019: Don’t miss this wondrous BRUNCH, BINGO & LACE exhibit of holiday traditions through the years Sunday, Nov. 18: 9:30am: Enjoy a morning away that delights the child in everyone! See a from the holiday to-do list with your girlfriends giant Christmas tree, an authentic Dept. 56 or guy friends and enjoy brunch, fashions, prizes Dickens village, model trains, family photos and bingo with the ladies at Cape May’s Lace and so much more! At the Carroll Gallery Silhouettes and the Cotton Company. It all takes at the Physick Estate. Open daily (except place at the Inn of Cape May. $25. Thanksgiving and Christmas); hours vary. Free HOLIDAY CRAFTS FAIR admission. Friday, Nov. 23, and Saturday, Nov. 24: 10am- 4pm: Start your holiday shopping at Cape May Convention Hall with dozens of vendors selling 45th Annual Christmas seasonal and handmade crafts and decorations.