On Saturday evening, community members from the town of Middlebury and beyond gathered in the courtyard at the Henry Sheldon Museum for the "Mingle at the Museum" fundraiser, enjoying a night of live music, dancing, refreshments and a silent auction in support of the museum's future programs and events.
Founded in 1884 by Henry L. Sheldon, an avid collector, the museum is the oldest of its kind in the area. It is dedicated to documenting and preserving the history of Middlebury, Addison County and greater Vermont through exhibits and educational programs, offering opportunities for students interested in research and the archives.
As guests entered the courtyard for the event, they were greeted by balloons and life-sized cutouts of Henry Sheldon and other historical figures from the museum scattered across the lawn. The cutouts were part of a unique minigolf course that was available for attendees to enjoy throughout the evening. The garage in the courtyard was also transformed into a stage, which featured a performance by the rock band Atom and the Orbits, keeping everyone dancing all evening long.
Further into the courtyard, guests were welcomed into a spacious white tent, offering a variety of drinks and charcuterie, generously donated by community partners. Nearby, a rubber duck pond offered guests the opportunity to buy chances to scoop a duck out of a pond, with the potential to find prizes such as free movie tickets and popcorn from the Marquis Theatre, gift certificates from Little Seed Coffee Roasters, and creamees from ShireTown Marketplace.
Coco Mosley, director of the Sheldon Museum, shared her enthusiasm for the evening in an interview with The Campus.
“Tonight is about having a little fun at the museum. It is a fundraiser, and hopes to support the programs and events that happen at the Sheldon as well as taking care of the collection. It really is just hoping to share what the museum can be, which is a place where people can get together and have fun and mingle,” Mosley said.
Michole Biancosino, associate professor of Theatre and a member of the museum’s Board of Trustees, said she frequently directs her students to the museum as a resource for various art projects, where researchers can explore the eclectic collection of items.
“If I am looking for some weird niche sort of story or idea for an art project, the Sheldon Museum is the first place to start,” Biancosino said. “The staff here are amazing and they will always talk to students. I think it is important for my capacity as a professor here at the college and that sort of relationship between my students who want to do research locally.”
Ellery Foutch, associate professor of American Studies at the college and president of the museum’s Board of Trustees, helped organize the event, which she stated could not have been made possible without the community sponsors.
“We held this event both to raise funds for the museum, but also to raise some energy and excitement around this wonderful, quirky museum community,” Foutch said. “We got a lot of community sponsored support. Foley Brothers donated beer, Shacksbury Cider donated cider, along with all the donations in our duck pond.”
Inside the museum, a silent auction featured dozens of different items and experiences that guests could bid on, with starting bids as low as $20. Auction item highlights included gift baskets from the Vermont Soap Company, Skida headwear from the Burlington-based business, customizable chocolates from Daily Chocolates, gift certificates from local favorites like the Marquis Theatre and Haymaker Bun Company, along with a one-night stay at the Middlebury Inn.
The rest of the museum exhibits and shops were also open to the guests during the event. Current exhibitions include “From Homespun to Couture” which showcases women’s fashion and tailoring from the 19th century, “Patent Pending,” which highlights the innovative ideas that originated in Vermont and “Model Boats,” an exhibit featuring the craftsmanship of Jerry DeGraff, a Vermonter who served four years in the Navy before working in local building trades.
The museum will have many upcoming events this fall. On Oct. 16, the museum will host an event called “Simple Astonishment” celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Vermont Humanities — a statewide nonprofit organization promoting engagement in the world of ideas — while hosting a community conversation on climate change. There also will be another holiday open house in early December, when the annual Holiday Trains Exhibit will return.
Mandy Berghela '26 (she/her) is a Senior Local Editor.
Mandy previously served as a local editor and staff writer. She is a Political Science major with a History minor. Mandy serves as co-president for Southeast Asian Society (SEAS), a member on the Judicial Board, and an intern for the Conflict Transformation Collaborative. In her free time, she enjoys cycling and reading fantasy novels.
