THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 4, 1996 TAG: 9610020131
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: IDA KAY'S PORTSMOUTH
SOURCE: IDA KAY JORDAN
LENGTH: 78 lines
Notes from the Courthouse Cotillion:
The Sesquicentennial of the 1846 Courthouse that now serves the city as an art center was the occasion for a money-raising celebration. The Cotillion on Saturday night was a pleasant affair. However, fewer than 200 party-goers turned out, and most of them were acquainted. That made for a lot of talk and not much dancing under the big blue-and-white striped tent at the courthouse parking lot, but a few people rushed to take advantage of the last half-hour of the Walter Noona dance music.
How much did the Portsmouth Fine Arts Commission make to support museum programs?
Bill Hargroves, the chairman, said the event made at least $10,000 and maybe more when all the figures are in. That amount was within the range of what the Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee had hoped to net, he said.
Some 25 businesses and individuals were sponsors, and Hargroves said that enabled the committee to stage the event and make the money.
The invitation called for period dress or black tie. A majority of the women also showed up in black, the fashionable attire this year.
The food was adequate. Sadly, the celebration committee opted to use a Norfolk caterer rather than pick from a number of Portsmouth businesses that excel at party food.
The bar was busy and stocked with good brands. Nothing tacky here. Peter Kloeppel was in charge, Hargroves said, and operated on the premise of ``no rot-gut here.'' Unfortunately, a ginger ale cost the same $3 as a gin-and-tonic. Next time, the committee should provide a discount bar ticket for those who don't want alcohol.
The weatherman cooperated. Forecasted rain held off. Occasionally, strong gusts of wind swept under the tent, whipping up tablecloths and long skirts. But there were no calamities.
The exhibits in the courthouse galleries were the highlight of the evening for many. Tom and Fleet Carney Morgan, who lent many interesting family heirlooms for the exhibit, left one party to make it to the Cotillion. Dr. Ralph Stokes and Cotillion committee member E Ann Stokes, who also lent family items, came for the duration.
The most elegant period dress, a floor-length gown of garnet taffeta, was made and worn by Vicky Garrison of Virginia Beach.
``She finished it just in time,'' according to her husband, architect Paul Garrison.
Bill Schlaht and Phil Weber, owners of Anderson-Little Antiques and Gardens, were standouts. Attired in the period clothing they had tailored to give authenticity to their shop, they seemed to have walked out of the past into the party Saturday night.
Grey Thielen, husband of Diane Thielen of the museum staff, wore his Navy uniform. The Thielens live in Chesapeake, and he is stationed aboard the USS Petersen, now berthed at the Naval Shipyard.
Also in uniform was Capt. Bill Klemm, commander of the shipyard.
The uniforms added a historic footnote to a celebration in a city where Navy and Coast Guard presence has been strong. In another era, when uniforms were the order of the day, we were more aware of the presence. In peacetime, uniforms often are reserved for duty time and we don't see them.
Perhaps the proudest person there was John Paul Hanbury, an architect who persevered to save the 1846 Courthouse. He was involved with the group, most of them older than he, that got the building designated as a historic landmark in 1970. He later oversaw the ``adaptive reuse'' that converted the interior from courtrooms and offices to a museum.
Several members of Monumental United Methodist Church were not happy that Emanuel A.M.E. Church was listed in the Sesquicentennial tour information - and in Currents - as the ``second oldest church.'' In fact, Emanuel is the second oldest church building because older congregations such as Monumental, Court Street Baptist and First Presbyterian now are housed in newer buildings. The Emanuel congregation was formed by blacks who had attended Monumental in the early years. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
GALA EVENT
You can take a look at the Courthouse Cotillion festivities on
page 3, through photographs of some of the patrons who made it a
success. Chairman William Hargroves said the party, held under a
tent in the parking lot, cleared at least $10,000. by CNB