Medical Center Auxiliary gala gives a starring role to Morven
By: Christian Kirkpatrick
Two Princeton-area institutions joined forces Saturday night to create "A November Night" for the history books. The University Medical Center at Princeton held its annual fall dinner-dance at Historic Morven Museum and Garden, former home of governors, patriots, entrepreneurs and artistic spirits.
According to Marci Baumann, a member of the UMCP Auxiliary, the benefit’s organizers chose Morven to host the event because they wanted to support the recently opened museum.
"A lot of tonight’s visitors have kids," Ms. Baumann said. "Bringing them here is a great way to introduce Morven to a broad range of people."
Teri Renner, a guide and hostess at Morven, offered tours to the more than 400 gala guests. She pointed out objects of particular interest and told anecdotes about the fascinating people who visited and lived in the house.
In the parlor, Ms. Renner waxed eloquent about an extremely rare grandfather clock on loan from the New Jersey State Museum. It was made in 1795 by two African-American artisans from Burlington County.
On long-term loan from Princeton University is the china and silver hollowware in the dining room. She explained that this was a gift from Congress to Elias Boudinot (1740-1821), president of the Continental Congress and brother-in-law to Richard Stockton (1730-1781), who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence as well as an owner of Morven.
Annis Stockton, the woman who connected these two patriots, was a published poet and friend of George Washington. Appropriately, a portrait of the great man, painted by Gilbert Stuart, hangs in the room.
In the oldest part of the house, close to the sword of Commodore Robert Stockton (1795-1869), a former resident of Morven best known locally for building the Delaware & Raritan Canal, stood gala co-chairs Meredith Peterson and Merrill Long, welcoming guests.
"We wanted a unique place, a beautiful spot in town, close to the hospital," said Ms. Peterson of the decision to hold the gala at Morven. "We’ve been overwhelmed by support from the community," she added, "and by corporate support."
Ms. Long agreed. "We have been extremely lucky to have a phenomenal group of women who worked behind us," she added.
"They make it look so easy," said Medical Center President and CEO Barry Rabner, "but it’s thousands of hours. It makes you feel good that these people are willing to contribute their time."
This event ends a three-year effort to raise money to build a breast health center for the Medical Center. More than $1 million has been raised.
Debbie Nosko, president of the Auxiliary, is thrilled to have made the goal. Soon, she says, the organization will decide on its next project. Upcoming Auxiliary events include ArtFirst!, which will begin in April, and a new fundraising project through which ceramic dogs, decorated by local artists, will be put on display throughout the Princeton area for three months and then auctioned on eBay.
Speaking of auctions, Saturday night’s gala offered both live and silent ones. A high-definition television, vacation getaways, a meal for 12 at Mediterra and a day on the set of the movie "The Devil Wears Prada" were sold off by auctioneer Russell Burke.
The silent auction featured some 60 offerings, many of which had a decidedly healthful orientation. There were yoga classes, personal training sessions, golfing outings and homemade soup, as well as the always-popular dinners at local restaurants and goodies from area shops.
Corporate supporters for the 2005 "A November Night" included Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Johnson & Johnson and Merrill Lynch Global Private Client.
For more information about Historic Morven Museum and Garden, visit www.historicmorven.org.

