Susan B. Anthony Museum Plans Auction Event
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — From Prudy to Rudy, Sunday's auction to benefit the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum has something for everyone.
The museum located at 67 East Road in Adams will hold its second silent and live auction event from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Williams Inn.
Among the items up for grabs: a football autographed by Notre Dame football legend Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, handquilted bags by North Adams resident Prudy Gravel (Patches by Prudy), handmade afghans, locally made jewelry, gift certificates for local restaurants and a week's stay at a bed and breakfast in Cape May, N.J.
A complete list will be available on Friday at www.susanbanthonybirthplace.com.
In all, there will be 35 live auction and 30 silent auction items, with proceeds benefiting the East Road museum and its community outreach programs, according to the museum's executive director.
"We didn't get as many grants this year, so this is to help us with the expenses that come along with a museum but also for helping with programs in the community — including our new one, adult literacy," Colleen Janz said.
The museum currently is helping five adults master literary skills that will allow them to fill out job applications or apply for housing.
"It's something Susan B. Anthony would have been proud of," Janz said.
Anthony, who was born in the former farmhouse in 1820, worked in New York state as a teacher for two years, her first paying job. She went on to be a lifelong advocate of education reform — one of many social issues the women's rights crusader held dear.
Museum officials hope Sunday's auction event does at least as well as one held before the museum's 2009 opening, when more than $5,000 was raised, Janz said.
The afternoon will also feature live music by the brother-sister folk act June and the Bee of Amherst and the drawing for a raffle that carries as its top prize a one-night getaway package at The Haflinger Haus in Adams. Auction items can be previewed on Channel 17 (Channel 116.2) on Friday at noon; Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 and 9:13 p.m.; and Sunday morning at 8, 10 and noon. Big Y is providing a cake.
"Paul Hutchinson, a former Adams selectman and a supporter of the museum, will conduct the live auction," Janz said. "His wife, Doris, is donating one of the afghans."
While the museum is hoping that this Sunday's event will have a large turnout, it also is hoping community members turn out to volunteer at the Susan B. Anthony site — especially for special initiatives like the literacy program.
"The Susan B. Anthony museum is actively looking for volunteers for the literacy initiative, docenting and in the gift shop," Janz said.
Tags: auction, benefit, fundraiser, museum, Susan B. Anthony,
