Patricia Ann Haslam
The Stowe Historical Society will host a small, casual gathering at its museum to honor and celebrate the late Pat Haslam for her many contributions to the history of Stowe, on Friday, July 9, 4-6 p.m.
The museum is located next to Stowe Free Library.
All who knew or worked with Haslam should stop by for a few minutes to share a memory with her daughters, Kate (Haslam) Paine, and Sarah (Haslam) Ayers.
A name change for Stoweâs Helen Day Art Center â part of an ongoing rebranding of the organization that includes a new strategic plan and expanded educational offerings â has led to a larger discussion about the history of the woman behind the buildingâs name and attitudes that in some ways shaped the Stowe communityâs past.
So, who was Helen Day Montanari? Was she the ahead-of-her-time modern woman as some claim, or an anti-Semite who helped foster hatred and discrimination?
The answer may be both.
While some say Montanariâs actions â she and her partner ran an âAryans-onlyâ Stowe inn in the 1940s â were a reflection of the society in which she lived, others believe thatâs no excuse for prejudice and exclusion. Rachel Moore, the art centerâs executive director â and the centerâs board of directors â see the name change âas an opportunity to make clear our continued belief in inclusivity, diversity and