PROCTOR — On Saturday, October 15, over 150 people attended a Vermont Marble Museum Open House and exhibition opening, “Carver with a Ripped Apron.” The event kicked off the Vermont Marble Museum board’s $300,000 fundraising campaign to renovate its museum space and hire an executive director.
The Vermont Marble Museum (VMM) hosted the event, highlighted by “Carver with a Ripped Apron,” co-curated by Anne Tait and Dennis Montagna. The doors were opened to the community to celebrate the history of the museum’s existing exhibits and to gain input on the future of the museum, which will remain located in the historic Vermont Marble Company finishing mill at 52 Main Street, Proctor. The mill building was recently purchased by Zion Growers of St. Johnsbury.
“We were excited to host this event and invite the public to the museum! We were heartened to see the incredible number of people who attended, sharing their enthusiasm with us throughout the event. Clearly, people care deeply about the museum and its future,” shared Robert and Victoria Young, co-chairs of the Vermont Marble Museum board.
Many people associated with the marble industry attended, including Renzo Palmerini and Michael Fannin, the last two carvers for the Vermont Marble Company, as well as Art Bemis, former art director of the Vermont Marble Company.
Mr. Bemis talked about the creation of the 1984 film Men, Marble & Machines, which he produced with Ken Resnick. The film will be featured as the fourth program hosted by the Vermont Marble Museum later this year.
Also in attendance were Ben Doyle, President of the Preservation Trust of Vermont, and Travis Samuels, the CFO of Zion Manufacturers. Doyle welcomed the community and expressed PTV’s ongoing support for the Vermont Marble Museum as well as the collection that they steward.
Samuels discussed the important relationships they see with the Proctor community as well as the long tradition of hemp rope manufacturing in the agricultural history of Vermont, stretching back to the 19th century.
Michael Ramey, Town Manager of Proctor, added, “People in town have expressed a lot of excitement and interest to see new industry supporting cultural preservation at the site. I was amazed by how much effort was put into the successful launching of this exhibition and the open house and can’t wait to see what the future holds for the former Marble Company complex.”
A survey is available online for those who are interested in offering their feedback, hopes, and memories as the new museum plans its role as a cultural institution for the region and beyond through in-person and virtual programming at https://forms.gle/CVtgfu2XP2VQvJfu5
For more information or to talk with one of the Vermont Marble Museum’s board members, please contact info@vermontmarblemuseum.org or call (802) 552-0889.
