People often reflect on the past at the start of a new year, but that was especially true at the Gaslight League’s New Year’s Eve party at Victoria Mansion, an opulent pre-Civil War “summer home” in Portland’s West End.
The Gaslight League, a young donors’ social club organized in 2014 to support the mansion, has managed to make made history hip.
“I kept noticing that they had fun parties here,” said Mary Jane McGilvray of Saco. “And they were members-only. So we became members.”
“I love that we’re living in a world where cool people are into history,” said Sean Murphy of Portland.
As a reward for winning the costume contest at the Tim Burton-themed Halloween party when she dressed as a corpse bride, Gaslight League member Suzannah Raber of Portland got to toast to the new year in the mansion’s rarely accessed tower overlooking the harbor.
“I love going back in time and seeing how people used to live,” said Raber, who volunteers at the mansion as a docent. “We’ve really lost formality today. Back in the 1800s, there was a very specific way in which things were done.”
Raber pointed to a book on the shelf in the library titled “Portrait Gallery of Eminent Men and Women.” “This,” she said, “was like the Facebook of the 1800s.”
“Tonight’s theme is ‘Past, Present and Future,’ ” said Sharon Hudson, a Gaslight League member from Portland wearing a Victorian gown. “And we’re the past.”
“1885,” added Kevin Ryan of Gray, doffing his antique beaver skin hat.
“It’s nice to have an excuse to dress up and go somewhere elegant,” said Sue MacArthur, who became a Gaslight League member after moving from Blue Hill to Portland.
“And there’s such a great energy,” added Chris Haddad of Portland. “I’ve yet to see someone not smile here.”
“A lot of members really enjoy dressing to the period of the building,” said Sam Heck, development director at Victoria Mansion. “And we accommodate people who are a little less costume-proficient.”
The Gaslight League has grown to 65 memberships, many of which are couples, since each member gets to invite a guest to events, including the Mardi Gras Fete coming up Feb. 25. Membership dues are $200 a year, or $20 a month via PayPal. Membership dues bring in $13,000 to $14,000 a year, with about half going to support the mansion’s restoration efforts.
Amy Paradysz is a freelance writer and photographer from Scarborough. She can be reached at:
amyparadysz@gmail.com
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