Charity Bryant (1777-1851) and Sylvia Drake (1784-1868) first met as young women in Weybridge, Vermont, in February 1807, although they grew up within 10 miles of each other in Massachusetts, south of Boston.  For the next forty-four years they spent every day in  each other’s company, with the exception of one month, until Charity’s death at age eighty four.  Together they built their family house, supported themselves running a well sought after tailoring business, were active participants in the local church and charities, and maintained broad contacts with members on both sides of their families.  The Sheldon Museum and its Stewart-Swift Research Center hold extensive records relating to Bryant’s and Drake’s lives. This exhibit provides a glimpse into the rich documentation on many aspects of Charity’s and Sylvia’s lives and features their correspondence, poetry, diaries,  business and legal documents, material objects, and the only known visual representation of the two women, their silhouettes. The exhibit has received a generous grant from the Samara Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation.

 Everyone is invited to the Sheldon Museum’s annual Holiday Open House. The elaborate electric train layout will entertain all ages. A craft activity and carols played on the Sheldon’s 1831 piano add to the festive atmosphere. Also on view through January 3, 2015 two exhibits: (1) a retrospective of watercolors by Arthur Healy, an esteemed Middlebury College studio and history of art professor, who captured Vermont scenes, steeple chase races in Ireland and at nearby Saratoga, sailing on the Atlantic, fly fishing and hunting; (2) Charity & Sylvia: A Weybridge Couple, which celebrates the lives of two mid-19th century women who shared a house and partnered as couturiers in rural Vermont. Admission to the Holiday Open House is by donation.

Please join us for our next After Hours Business Mixer. Great networking opportunities, tasty food, beverages, super door prizes, and Pot of Gold drawing!