House Parties
Museum's Tea Features Victorian Ladies' Fashion
The historic Smith-McDowell House Museum will host a tea with special guest Jessamyn Reeves-Brown, an expert in historic costumes at2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17. Reeves-Brown will present a program and costume display on "Dressing the Victorian Lady," a timely topic for Women's History Month. The program will explore many aspects of Victorian clothing, answering questions such as how many layers of under clothing did the Victorian lady really wear? Did corsets really deform women's bodies? And, how did they sit with those bustles and hoop skirts?
Jessamyn Reeves-Brown, a former magazine editor, now creates custom gowns with an emphasis on historically-correct costumes for re-enactments, performances, and special occasions. She also manages an informational website, Jessamyn's Regency Costume Companion (www.songsmyth.com). Cost for the tea, which includes traditional tea refreshments, the program, and Museum admission, is $12 for Museum members and $15 for nonmembers. Advance registration is required; call 253-9231 to register.
Victorian Easter Celebration
Smith-McDowell House Museum will feature its fifth annual Victorian Easter Celebration March 26 through April 18. For the Victorians, Easter officially welcomed springtime. Old-fashioned Easter bunnies and chicks, Easter baskets, spring flowers, hand-decorated Easter eggs, and period-inspired decorations will create the authentic feel of a Victorian Easter celebration throughout the circa 1840 Smith-McDowell House. In addition, antique Easter items will be on display.
Park Day: Annual Civil War Historic Preservation Event
On Saturday, March 29, Smith-McDowell House Museum and the Buncombe County Civil War Memorial will participate in Park Day 2004, a Civil War historic preservation event for volunteers. Now in its eighth year, Park Day is a nationwide hands-on preservation event created by the Civil War Preservation Trust to assist local groups with the maintenance of Civil War related sites. Smith-McDowell House is one of 65 sites in 18 states that are participating in Park Day. Volunteers will participate in various activities, including a grounds clean up, archaeological work, and light building maintenance. In exchange for their work, volunteers receive a free T-shirt and have an opportunity to hear a free program relating to the Civil War in Western North Carolina.
Park Day will begin with a workday at 9 a.m., followed by the program at 1 p.m. All ages and groups are welcome. To participate, contact the Museum at 253-9231.
PTK News
Phi Theta Kappa, the International Honor Society of the Two-Year College, recently mailed invitations to 538 eligible students. Please encourage students to consider membership in PTK and to return their application by the March 18th deadline. Questions may be directed to one of the Phi Theta Kappa co-advisors: Tina Fountain, Robin Wiggins, Veronica Dooly, or Alison Long.
A-B Tech's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa extends invitations to eligible students twice a year, in the fall and in the spring. Students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 and who have completed at least 12 credit hours of associate degree coursework are invited to join. Members are required to pay a one-time fee of $55, participate in at least two club meetings or club activities each semester, and maintain a GPA of 3.25. Phi Theta Kappa chapters have goals of scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship. The international service program for A-B Tech's chapter is Conquering Cancer. Its honor study topic is Dimensions and Directions of Health: Choices in the Maze.
Tech Talk is published for employees and friends of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College by the Communications Office.
Executive Editor: Mona Cornwell
Managing Editor: Jodi Ford
Send submissions to Mona Cornwell, Director of Communications, at mcornwell@abtech.edu. Publication of the next issue is scheduled April1. The deadline for submissions is March 18.
This edition of Tech Talk was printed March 2004. A-B Tech is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution.