Wood engraving ~ Randy Miller
See the full presentation.
The program included a 5-minute radio excerpt of Mary DesRosier’s A Delicate Balance, from Valentine’s Day, 1983. Mary was not able to be there: if she had been, she surely would have gotten a standing ovation. Sadly, Mary died on November 3, 2024. The excerpt is part of the full program, but is also provided here as a stand-alone. (Note - it starts quietly - look at the timer for evidence that it is progressing.)
Below: These are the slides with music background that were playing as people gathered for the forum.
Program Notes
When Widdie and Jonathan Hall opened The Folkway in 1975, its importance as an influence on the cultural and business environment in Peterborough and the region could not have been anticipated. Nor would folk musicians from around the country, and the world, have known what a unique performance venue it would become.
For emerging musicians, it was an important boost to their careers, and a place they would always remember. For established and often prominent musicians, they welcomed an opportunity to play in such a cozy room for audiences unusually tuned-in to what they were doing. And for those audiences, the combined experience of music, food and camaraderie had a profound effect.
As we near the 50th anniversary of The Folkway’s opening, we also approach the 30th anniversary of its closing. In spite of this, The Folkway remains present in the memories of many and a frequent topic of conversation, including among those who arrived in the region after it had closed and, in fact, a generation of people who weren’t even born at that time.
Gordon Peery is especially well-equipped to tell the story of The Folkway and how its impact continues. Gordon came to the area as a student at High Mowing School in Wilton.
He connected with The Folkway as it was transformed from a 19th century residence into a home for music, fine food and crafts. He became The Folkway’s first chef and merry-maker, early on in what was to become a wide trajectory of occupations that included landscaping, driving a school bus, being a freelance writer, working in magazine publishing, business manager for a landscaping company, and then returning to the kitchen at the Harrisville General Store.
It was while working at the Folkway that he met musicians who were playing contradance music, notably Rod and Randy Miller, Bob McQuillen, and Sarah Bauhan. By the mid-1980s he was in demand as a pianist for contradances throughout New England, and eventually traveling throughout the US with the band Fresh Fish, and other musical configurations.
In the last decade Gordon has expanded his musical interests to include jazz, the American songbook, rock and roll, and Celtic music in concert settings.
He served on the boards of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and the Monadnock Center for History and Culture.
He is currently president of Nelson In Common, a community nonprofit for Nelson and Munsonville.
In preparation for tonight’s presentation, Gordon is especially grateful for recent conversations with Kitty Cloud, Ray and Beth Côté, Libby Haddock, Kit Henry, Niña Iselin, Danny Thibeault, Willard Williams, Joanna Morrissey, Sasha Hall DuVerlie, and Jonathan Hall. Michelle Stahl at the Monadnock Center for History and Culture provided information about Peterborough in the mid-1970s.
Susan and David Lord walked into the Folkway as they were passing through Peterborough one day in 1976. Before they left that night, Susan had been hired as the new evening chef and, soon after, they were married at The Folkway. After Widdie’s passing in 1988, they helped lead The Folkway’s revival and continuation as a non-profit. Over the years, they have kept records that include most of the slides in tonight’s introduction and the list of notable Folkway performers that follows. It’s been their privilege to collaborate with Gordon on “50 Years Out.”
Tonight’s narrative opens and is interspersed with lyrics from “A Delicate Balance” by Tom Dundee.
Folkway co-founder Jonathan Hall and two of The Folkway’s most loved and admired performers, Lui Collins and Garnet Rogers, are with us tonight to celebrate The Folkway – transporting us in time and exemplifying the continuing impact of The Folkway all these years later.
The Amos Fortune Forum has been inviting residents and friends of the Monadnock Region to hear notable speakers present their ideas on issues of public interest for more than three-quarters of a century.
We are indebted to Amos Fortune board member Toni Gildone for organizing tonight’s presentation.
Download the program which includes a list of over 450 Folkway performers. Or read below.
Just a Few Folkway Performers
More than 1,000 artists took the stage at The Folkway in more than 3,000 performances. Here are a memorable handful
Aine Minogue
Akhil Garland
Alex de Grassi
Alistair Anderson
Allan Block
Alli Rubin
Alouette Iselin
Andy Avery
Andy Stewart
Anne Dodson
Anne Hills
Ann Mayo Muir
Ann Reed
Anson Olds
Archie Fisher
Artie Traum
Aztec Two-Step
Banjo Dan/Midnight Plowboys
Barbara Bailey Hutchison
Barbara Kessler
Bernice Lewis
Betty Elders
Beverly Rush
Bill Crofut
Bill Lauf
Bill Morrissey
Bill Staines
Bill Thomas
Billy Novick
Bob Coffee
Bob Franke
Bob McQuillen
Bob Zentz
Boogaloo Swamis
Brian Cartwright
Brian Murphy
Bridget Ball
Brooks Whitehouse
Brooks Williams
Bryan Bowers
Buddy MondlockCaleb Wetherbee
Carla Sciaky
Carl Jacobs
Carl Watanabe
Carolina Edwards
Carrie Newcomer
Carol Raynsford
Cathy Winter
Catie Curtis
Chanterelle
Cheryl Wheeler
Chris Kleeman
Chris Morgan
Chris Pearne
Chris Smither
Christine Lavin
Christopher Shaw
Chuck Brodsky
Chuck Pyle
Cindy Kallet
Cindy Mangsen
Claudia Schmidt
Click Horning
Cliff Eberhardt
Clive Gregson
Connie Kaldor
Cormac McCarthy
Cosy Sheridan
Country Joe MacDonald
Cris Williamson
Crow Johnson
Damaris
Dana Cooper
Dana Robinson
Dan Hicks/Acoustic Warriors
Dar Williams
Dave Moore
Dave’s True Story
Dave Van Ronk
David Lord
David Mallett
David Maloney
David Massengill
David Roth
David Surette
David Wilcox
Dean Stevens
Deby Pasternak
Dennis Pearne
Devonsquare
Diane Stolar
Diane Ziegler
Dick Nevell
Dick Pinney
Diedre McCalla
Don White
Don ‘Mad Dog’ Wright
Doshie Powers
Douglas Clegg
Dudley Laufman
Eddie Mottau
Ed Gerhard
Ed Trickett
Eileen McGann
Eliza Gilkyson
Ellis Paul
Emily Kaitz
Eric Andersen
Erica Wheeler
Eric Bogle
Eric Kilburn
Ernest Hebert
Eugene Friesen
femme m’amie
Ferron
Five Chinese Brothers
Flor de Cana
Frank Christian
Fred Holstein
Fred Kollar
Fred Simmons & Leslie Vogel
Fred Small
Gabriel Yacoub
Gail Rundlett
Gamble Rogers
Garnet Rogers
Gary Mehalick
Gary Rosen
Gemini
Geoff Bartley
Geoff Muldaur
George Gritzbach
Ginny Reilly
Gloucester Hornpipe & Clog
Gordon Bok
Gordon Peery
Greg Brown
Greg Greenway
Grey Larson
Guy Carawan
Guy Van Duser
Guy Wolfe
Hamish Moore & Katie Harrigan
Harvey Diamond
Harvey Reid
Harvey Tolman
Heartsong
Horace Williams
Howie Burson
Hugh Moffat
Iain Matthews
Iris Dement
Jack Hardy
Jacqueline Schwab
Jake Walton
James Lee Stanley
James Keelaghan
Jamie Brockett
Jane McBride Orzechowski
Jane Miller
Jane Voss & Hoyle Osborne
Janet Russell
Jan Luby
Jason Eklund
Jay Bolotin
Jay Iselin
Jeanie Stahl
Jean Redpath
Jennifer Berezan
Jeremiah McLane
Jesse Winchester
Jez Lowe
Jill Stein (yes, it’s her)
Jim Henry
Jim Infantino
Jim Kates
Jim Kweskin
Jim Murphy
Jim Post
Jim Ransom
Jim Ringer
Jim Scott
Joan Crane
Jody Strecher & Kate Brislin
Joel Mabus
John-Allen Cameron
John & Mary (10,000 Maniacs)
John Buschbaum
John Gorka
John Hartford
John Herald
John Lincoln Wright
John McCormick
John McCutcheon
John Michaels
Johnny Cunningham
Johnny Moynihan
John O’Connor
John Renbourn
John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Robertson
John Stewart
Jonas Taub
Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Hall
Jonathan Richman
Jonathan Smith
Jon Gailmor
Jon Pousette-Dart & Patty Griffin
Jon Svetkey
Joseph Brenna & Kristin Kunhardt
Josh Joffen
Josh White Jr
Joyce Woodson
Judy Small
Julie Gold
Julie Snow
June Tabor
Justina & Joyce
Kahn & White
Kari Estrin
Kat Eggleston
Kate Jacobs
Kate McDonnell
Kate Wolf
Kathy Lowe
Kathy Torrey
Keith Duesenberry
Kendall Morse
Kendell Kardt
Ken LaRoche
Ken Perlman
Ken Sheldon
Kent Allyn
Kevin Connolly
Kim & Jerry Brodey
Kim Wallach
Krewe de Roux
Kristina Olsen
Kukuruza
Ky Hote
Lazy Mercedes
Larry Kaplan
Larry Long
Laurel Massé
Laurie Geltman
Leon Rosselson
Les Sampou
Lester Hirsh
Linda Waterfall
Linda Worster
Lisa McCormick
Livingston Taylor
Liza Hill
Liz Brahm
L.J. Booth
Lorraine Lee & Bennett Hammond
Lou & Peter Berryman
Louie Garue
Louise Taylor
Louis Killen
Lucy Blue Tremblay
Lucy Kaplansky
Lui Collins
Lunch at the Dump
Lyn Hardy
Magical Strings
Magpie
Malcolm McKinney
Margaret McArthur
Margot Hennebeck
Martin Carthy
Mason Daring
Maria Sangiolo
Marie Rhines
Marienne Kreitlow
Martin Sexton
Marty Yasheen
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Desrosiers
Mary McCaslin
Mason Daring
Maura O’Connell
Mazzy & Newberger
Medicine Story
Michael Cooney
Michael Jerling
Michael Smith
Michael Veitch
Mick Maloney
Mickey Bones & Gaitor Bait
Mike Dann
Mike Seeger
Mike Wakefield
Mimi Farina
Mimi Kates
Missed Cue Players
Moe Dixon
Molly Scott
Moses Rascoe
Musette
Mustard’s Retreat
Mystery Ranch
Nancy Delguidice
Nancy Garrick/New Brooms
Nanci Griffith
Nathan Watkins
Nat Hewitt
Neal & Leandra Peak
Nick Seeger
Nina Gerber
Noel Harrison
Northeast Winds
Northern Comfort
Northern Lights
Now & Then
O.J. Anderson
Odds Bodkin
Odetta
Orealis
Orleans
Orrin Star
Oscar Brand
Pamela Smith
Papa John Kalstad
Pat & Tex La Mountain
Pat Donahue
Pat Humphries
Pati & Ken Cloutier
Pat Kilbride
Patricia Smith
Patrick Ball
Patrick McGinley
Patrick Sky
Patty Griffin
Patty Larkin
Paul Geremia
Paul Rishell & Annie Raines
Paul Sullivan
Peggy Seeger
Peg Loughran
Pendragon
Penny Lang
Pete & Karen Sutherland
Pete Houston
Peter Belemy
Peter Gallway
Peter Hewitt
Peter Kairo
Peter Keane
Peter Mulvey
Peter Nelson
Peter Ostroushko
Peter Pap
Peter Shonk
Peter Spenser
Peyote Coyote
Pierce Pettis
Pierre Bensusan
Pilgrim
P.J. O’Rourke
Plainfolk
Preston Reed
Priscilla Herdman
Purly Gates
Quallah Battoo
Radoslav Lorkovic
Ramblin Jack Elliot
Ranch Romance
Randy Armstrong
Randy Sabien
Ray Fisher & Hamish Moore
Reilly & Maloney
Richard Doherty
Richard Hartshorne
Richard Shindell
Rick & Lorraine Lee
Robbie Basho
Robbie O’Connell
Robin & Linda Williams
Robin Williamson
Rocky Rockwood
Rod & Randy Miller
Rod MacDonald
Ronnie Gilbert
Rory Block
Rosalie Sorrels
RosenShontz
Roy Book Binder
Russ Barenberg
Salamander Crossing
Sally Fingerett
Sally Rogers
Sarah Bauhan
Scott Alarik
Scott Cossu
Seamus Connolly
Shawn Colvin
Sileas
Silly Wizard
Skip Philbrick
Slaid Cleaves
Smith/Struthers/Terriberry/Wozmak
Solomon’s Seal
Sparky Rucker
Spider John Koerner / Mr Bones
Stanley Greenthal
Stan Moeller & T.S. Baker
Stan Rogers
Stefan Grossman
Stephen Baird
Steve Forbert
Steve Gillette
Steve Hurl
Steve Jones
Steve Schuch
Steve Tilston
Stoney Lonesome
Storm in the Tea
Susan Werner
Susie Burke
Suzanne McGettigan
Suzanne Vega
Suzy Bogguss
Sweet, Hot and Sassy
Tattoo
Taylor Whiteside
The Arm and Hammer String Band
The Arwen Mountain String Band
The Atlantic Clarion Steel Band
The Back Forty String Band
The Battlefield Band
The Bird Sisters
The Blue Sky Serenaders
The Divine Husbands
The House Band
The Impromptu Swing Quartet
The Jay Brandford Quartet
The Lost River Ramblers
The New Moon String Band
The Nields
The Null Set
The Poodles
The Psaltery
The Red Clay Ramblers
The Scott Mullet Quartet
The Shaw Brothers
The Short Sisters
The Story
The Summer Street Jazz Band
The Tarbox Ramblers
Tim Fitzgerald
Tim Mowry
Tish Hinojosa
Tom Dundee
Tom Paley
Tom Paxton
Tom Pirozzoli
Tom Rush
Tom Smith
Tony & Irene Saletan
Tony Bird
Tony Cuffe
Tony Trishka
Townes Van Zandt
Tracy Smart
Trapezoid
Tret Fure
Trout Fishing in America
T.R. Richie
Tully Gehan
Uncle Bonsai
Utah Philips
Vance Gilbert
Vic Hyman
Walt Michael & Co
Washboard Jungle
Wendy Keith
Whole Wheat
Wild West Show
Will Ackerman
Willy Nininger
Willy Porter
Woods Tea Company
Exhibits
Al Karevy
Allen Mendelson
Anita Francis
Anne Francisco
Arthur Fink
Atila Bastug
Augusta Dillon
Beth Krommes
Carol Woodman
Craig Stockwell
Dale Johnson
Daniel Thibeault
David Stephenson
Dawn and Bill Matthews
Edith Bingham
Erica Radich
Faye Coley
Faye Geller
Fleur Weymouth
Fran Sylvestri
Genevieve Ames
Geoffrey Katz
Guntram Gudowius
Hans and Marcy Schepker
Harry Muehlman
Ira Gavrin
Jack Marshall
Jane Billings
Jane Roberts
Jennifer Bloch
Jim Murphy
Joan de Forest Brush Parish
Jon Brooks
Joseph’s Coat Fashion Show
Julie Simons and David Erikson
Karen Savoy
Kevin Kelley
Kim Cunningham
Laura Johnson
Leonora Sullivan
Lisa Curry Mair
Louise Rath
Martha Tracy
Melody Zahn Russell
Melon Corsini and Brian Giamarino
Michael McDermott
Mona Brooks
Nils Bodecker
Ozzie Sweet
Patricia Swan
Peg Lopata
Peter Nott
Priscilla Eldred
Randy Miller
Rick Zamore
Stuart Williams
Susan Baybutt
Tom Pirozzoli
Tomte Gubben School
Willard Richardson
Henry Chapin Club Presentations
Alouette Iselin
Arnie Arnesen
Art Eldredge
Barbara Hull Richardson
Bill Bauhan
Catherine Skove
Charles Merrill
David Blair and Linda Marsella
Dean Rollando and Tom Hubbard
Elizabeth and Donnell Boardman
Ellen Dinerstein
Eric Stumacher
Frank Cordelle
George Kendall
Gerry Hallgrimson
Gordon Sherman
Guntram Gudowius
Gwyneth Tolman
Heidi Watts
Jim and Jocelyn Bolle
Judith Johnsrud
Kate Herman
Larry Siegel
Lee LeCraw
Margaret Bean
Marie Kirn
Marilyn Ash
Mario Cossa
Michael Despres
Nancy Lyon and “Sage”
Pam Erdman
Pear Tree Studio
Peter Hewitt
Richard Hartshorne
Robert Fay
Rosaly Bass
Sasha Hall DuVerlie
Signe Motter
Ted Leach
William Smedley
Jonathan Hall
Widdie Hall