"Last Saturday night they had "Patsy Cline" night on TV in Washington for me. I signed my name I bet more than I ever have in my life. The people were wonderful to me."
-Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline’s Birthday Block Party
September, 2010
Celebrating Patsy Cline is hosting an old-fashioned block party to celebrate the anniversary of Patsy's 78th birthday. You are invited!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
10 am to 6 pm
The festive event will be held on the street of her Kent Street home.
It is free and open to the public and...
>>read more
Patsy Cline now is on Facebook!
August, 2010
Celebrating Patsy Cline now is on Facebook! Our Facebook page is a great way to stay up-to-date on our latest events and happenings and meet other Patsy Cline fans.
Simply request to become a friend of CELEBRATING PATSY CLINE.
Join us on Facebook TODAY!
>>read more
Fabulous T-Shirt especially designed by Wendy Pepper
March, 2010
Wendy Pepper, a top contestant on the first season of the hit reality television show "Project Runway," recently created her "take" on Patsy's Historic House for our latest T-shirt. The shirt, featuring an upbeat celebratory rendition of Patsy's House at 608 South Kent Street, also displays the wor...
>>read more
The House & Its Patsy Cline History
February, 2010
Patsy Cline’s former home at 608 S. Kent St. will be restored as a historic site. The approximately 1,000-square-foot house will reflect the time period, the 1950s, and lifestyle of the Hensley family — Virginia (Patsy), Hilda (her mother), her brother, and her sister.
A brick-a-thon campaign is...
>>read more
1950s-era chairs journey back to Patsy’s Historic House
September, 2009
Two 1950s-era kitchen chairs will return to their home, 608 South Kent Street, after being donated for the restoration of legendary singer Patsy Cline’s former home. The owner of the chairs, Richard Venskoske of Winchester, purchased them last summer at an auction. They had belonged to a cousin of P...
>>read more
Legacy, Inc. endorses Celebrating Patsy Cline
July, 2009
A statement to Celebrating Patsy Cline, Inc. (CPC) from Legacy Inc.:
“The family of Patsy Cline, represented through Legacy Inc. is in support of CPC and its mission of establishing a museum in Winchester, Virginia to honor and preserve her memory and music.
Certain criteria was agreed to betw...
>>read more
Patsy Cline memorabilia ends up in “right place”
July, 2009
Rebecca Williams wanted the items from the estate of her 20-year companion, the brother of country legend Patsy Cline, put to good use for the public to enjoy. And since Sam Hensley Jr.’s estate contained memorabilia from Patsy’s illustrious career, Williams said she wanted to make sure the items en...
>>read more
|
|
Patsy Cline memorabilia ends up in “right place”
7/9/2009
Rebecca Williams wanted the items from the estate of her 20-year companion, the brother of country legend Patsy Cline, put to good use for the public to enjoy. And since Sam Hensley Jr.’s estate contained memorabilia from Patsy’s illustrious career, Williams said she wanted to make sure the items ended up where fans could appreciate them.
“We were very pleased that Rebecca came to us. She could have gone anywhere,” said Karen Helm, CPC board member. “She felt it was the right place for the items, which was a true testament of what the museum is about.”
Williams heard about the museum through a newspaper article and decided to check it out. “I thought it would be a good place for the public to see the items,” she said. “Patsy was all about the public. She loved her fans.”
The first major acquisition for the Winchester museum, the list of about 100 items is impressive: a porch glider from 608 South Kent Street, Winchester, where the family lived; numerous pairs of shoes, hats, gloves, and other clothing items; photos; a gold and platinum record; and a sewing machine Patsy’s mother used to sew her stage clothes in the early years of her career. The items also include sketches of the country western clothes Patsy drew for her mother to make.
Until the Museum is completed, the items will be stored at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, where the collections storage space meets standards in regard to relative humidity, temperature, light, and security.
“There are so many details to handle when you are planning a new museum, but taking care of the collection is at the heart of a museum’s work,” said Jennifer Esler, executive director of the MSV. “We know what they are going through and are glad we can support them in this way.”
While no opening date has been set for the Patsy Cline Museum, project director Chip Jeffries of Ralph Appelbaum Associates in New York City said this acquisition will add real texture and depth to the exhibits. “Artifacts are lenses into the soul of the project,” Jeffries said. “When there is a window to something in the past, it leaves a profound effect on the visitors.” …“Now, the real-life items make it all come to life,” he said.
One example he cited is the National Holocaust Memorial Museum, a Washington, DC, landmark that his firm designed. “The Holocaust Museum changed the way museums think of themselves and how they handle exhibits,” Jeffries said. “These days, the emphasis is on telling the story.”
He also points out that it takes years to plan a museum. His firm recently completed a National World War I Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, that took 12 years to plan.
“This acquisition (for the Patsy museum) changed how we will plan the exhibits,” Jeffries said. “This will make it much more vibrant.”
He looks forward to telling Patsy’s story and how she touched the lives of many, and not just country music fans. “Patsy is not just a great American artist, but a music legend like Billie Holiday.”
Excerpts reprinted with permission from The Winchester Star. December 11, 2006
|