Let's celebrate!

The MHS Honors Jack & Helen Davis

Join us in honoring Jack and Helen Davis for their legacy of supporting and shaping the arts, culture, and character of Madison. For decades, this extraordinary couple has given time and energy to causes that better the community. Few others have shaped our town like this dynamic duo.

All are invited to celebrate the remarkable lives of Jack and Helen at a gala event at the Madison Beach Hotel.

This special fundraising event will honor the philanthropy of the Davis Family, which supports such local organizations as the Madison Historical Society, Madison Cultural Arts, the Shoreline Arts Alliance, Madison Rotary Club, A Better Chance, and many others.  All proceeds from this event will benefit the educational programs of the MHS.

Jack and Helen have spent their lifetimes giving of themselves to improve the lives of others. Please join us in honoring them for their dedication to enriching our community, celebrating its past, and building a better future for all of its citizens.

Live Auction Items

Week's Stay for Seven at the Villa Sonia in Provence

Enjoy a week's stay at Villa Sonia. Two stone farmhouses dating from the 1800s are joined by a glass atrium. Nestled in the heart of the Bouches-du-Rhône region of Provence, the villa features a shaded courtyard, aromatic gardens, and a private pool framed by an ancient Roman wall. The property is steps from the center of Le Paradou, lauded as one of France's most enchanting villages.

Villa Sonia's front door opens onto the Chemin des Tontons, a gravel-paved road around the corner from Le Paradou's patisserie and two minutes from the Bistrot du Paradou--the renowned haunt of Charles Aznavour, Caroline of Monaco, and other celebrities. Surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, the village sits at the foot of Les Alpilles--the “Little Alps.” Nearby is the charming town of Maussane-les-Alpilles and the famed medieval castle and village of Les aux-de-Provence. Just short excursions away are Saint-Rémy de Provence, Avignon, Arles, and Aix-en-Provence, along with the wild horses of the Camargue and world-class vineyards and beaches.

Week's Stay in Studio Apartment on the San Diego Coast

Enjoy a week in a comfortable studio apartment located in the northern San Diego County beachfront community of Cardiff-by-the-Sea. An easy walk to the beach, this charming small town features quaint shops, amazing restaurants, San Diego’s best market, and local wineries and breweries. The 640-square-foot studio apartment features a full kitchen with all accessories, a queen bed, large bathroom, linens, towels, beach towels, beach chairs, an outdoor shower, and private entrance. Street parking is available.

Cardiff and the north coast area of San Diego is known as the Riviera of the West, attracting avid athletes who run, swim, and bike everywhere. This stretch of shoreline has gently sloping sandy beaches ideal for swimming, surfing, beachcombing, and whale watching (in season). Cardiff State Beach is also known for beautiful reefs that draw divers and snorkelers--and waves that draw surfers. Both novices and professionals flock to Seaside Beach, Pipes, and Swami’s Beach in search of steady waves. When the tide is out, the reefs and tidepools reveal fantastic sea creatures to all nature lovers.

Week's Stay in Bradenton Two-Bedroom Condo

Location, location, location! Vizcaya of Bradenton is a short drive to some of the best Gulf Coast beaches. Located about an hour south of Tampa, the city of Bradenton offers a vibrant downtown and charming RiverWalk.  The town's fishing pier is one of the best spots in the area for anglers. The recently remodeled downstairs, two-bedroom, two-bath condo is nicely appointed with new appliances, wi-fi, and 4K TV.

After days spent lounging on the beach or at Vizcaya's pool, you may want to explore the many museums and art galleries of Bradenton or take a leisurely drive down Gulf Shore Drive to trendy St. Armand's Circle--a dining and shopping paradise in the heart of Sarasota. Be sure to check out the Ringling--a beautiful site featuring the Ringling Mansion, the Original Circus Museum, and the Ringling Museum of Art. Date to be arranged with the owner - March 1 - October 31, 2020. Adults only. Non-transferable. 

Hearth-Cooked Meal at the Allis-Bushnell House

Join us for a colonial-style hearth dinner prepared by board trustee Rick Camp and MHS member and chef Neil Simpson. This special dining event for up to sixteen people will be prepared on the open hearth of a great fieldstone fireplace. Relax by the fire or socialize with friends as dinner is prepared for you in colonial style. See the chowder as it bubbles in the cast-iron cauldron or watch as your multi-course dinner, paired with appropriate wines, is slowly roasted over a crackling fire in the Allis-Bushnell's colonial kitchen.

Hearths and fireplaces were at the center of family life in most early American homes. A carefully tended wood fire created heat to warm the house and prepare meals. The practice of cooking on a hearth was basic to eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Americans. Family members gathered together and assisted as meals were prepared with ingenious techniques that utilized tools and utensils of the period.

Thrilling Ride in a Stanley Steamer, Private Tour of the Yankee Steam Works Transportation Museum, and Lunch at​ the Thimbleberry in Stony Creek

Enjoy a guided tour of Yankee Steam Works by owner Chris Greaves, who will show you fifteen magnificently restored automobiles dating to the early 1900s. Board a restored Bristol Double-Decker Bus! See a real steamroller and two steamboats! You'll also see a recreation of the New York Central railroad yards at Croton, rendered in O-scale—a work-in-progress that you have to see to believe! Then hop into a 1910 Stanley Steamer and wind your way along scenic Route 146 to Stony Creek. There you’ll enjoy lunch at the iconic Thimbleberry Restaurant, tour the docks, then return to the museum. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride in a rare automobile, escorted by the man who restored it.