ANNOUNCING THE 1998 EXCURSION
OF THE WILLIAM MORRIS SOCIETY OF CANADA

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TO MANHATTAN, THE BERKSHIRE HILLS, AND THE CATSKILLS
JULY 22 -JULY 26

The William Morris Society of Canada offers to its members the opportunity to view, upon the centenary of the death of Sir Edward Burne-Jones, the major touring exhibition of over two hundred of his works at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This five day trip will also highlight further aspects of Stickley furniture design and Shaker furnishings and community life, which have been introduced to our trip participants in recent successful excursions. Visits to areas where David Milne and George Reid painted will provide a Canadian content. Our group of 28-30 will travel in a deluxe air-conditioned tour bus and be led by Bill Hall, who has organized several Morris Society excursions.

The Itinerary

Wed. Depart from the Old Mill subway station (Toronto) at 9:00 am and drive along the New York Thruway - lunch - view showroom of L. and J.G. Stickley Furniture factory outside Syracuse - continue east to Berkshire Hills area on New York-Massachusetts border and accommodations at Pittsfield City Motel (outdoor pool and continental breakfast) - a good restaurant is right next door for supper.

Thur. Escorted tour of Hancock Shaker Village just outside Pittsfield all morning - this living museum was a very successful communitarian society from 1790 to 1960 - there are 20 restored buildings, including a round stone barn and interesting craft demonstrations - lunch at the village cafe - early afternoon drive through the Berkshires to the New York-Connecticut border where David Milne painted in World War I - a talk by a trip member at a Milne site - continue south to Manhattan in late afternoon - accommodations for two nights at Hampshire Hotel on West 47th St.

Fri. Tour bus takes us north to look over the Hudson River at The Cloisters Museum and Gardens with its medieval art, fabrics and architecture emphasis which will delight us, as well as prepare us for the afternoon Burne-Jones show - go to the Metropolitan Museum for lunch and an escorted tour of the centenary exhibition (see details below) - it is likely the Museum will also have a Louis C. Tiffany exhibition open this day.

Sat. Participants have option of a free morning in Manhattan to shop or visit another site; e.g. the nearby Pierpont Morgan Library with magnificent early books, such as a Gutenberg Bible, on their own, or for a $10 fee they may go on the tour bus west into New Jersey for a one hour drive (each way) to Gustav Stickley's home, Craftsman Farms, a beautiful arts and crafts home in a great location, where Stickley demonstrated his craft and promoted Morris' ideas - the bus will leave at 8:45 and return by 1:00 to pick up the other members at the hotel - then drive north along the Hudson valley into the Catskill Mts. - visit the arts and crafts community of Onteora with a tour of the church with its George Reid murals and perhaps one cottage may be entered - a local resident will guide us - onto the Hotel Vienna in the Catskills (outdoor pool and continental breakfast).

Sun. Drive northwest from hotel through Cooperstown for a coffee break and onto the Craftsman Inn near Syracuse for lunch - this inn has Stickley-style furnishings - afternoon drive along Thruway past Buffalo to Toronto for early evening arrival.

From our past experience in Britain, the Midwest, Ottawa and Washington, it is most likely you will learn a lot and enjoy the company of fellow Morrisians. Because of the amount of walking at various sites participants must be capable of keeping up with a normal walking pace and handling their own luggage, but fee covers this at NYC hotel. No travel agent is promoting or protecting this tour; so you must decide about whether to purchase your own medical insurance protection, etc.

The tour fee for accommodation with en suite facilities, your share of the bus costs, entrance fees to listed sites and two breakfasts:

Double Room: $550 Canadian Single Room: $860 Canadian

Deposit of $150 due by March 1; remainder due by June 1

You may only receive a refund for cancellation if you replace yourself with a person of the same sex. We shall be as sensitive as possible when trying to match two participants who are looking for a room- mate to share double accommodation (e.g. non-smokers). If you want someone who presently isn't a Morris Society member to join you on the trip, they must become a member ($35) by contacting Bill Hall (416-766-7173 after 5pm) for details. Postal bookings will be registered on a first-come first served basis with your cheque payable to William Morris Society of Canada - postdating to Mar.1/98 is allowed. Please mail form below and cheque to William Hall, 101 Riverview Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, M6S 4E7, Canada. Please have proper visa or passport identification for border crossings so as not to detain the tour group.