St. Alban's - Adolphustown, Ontario

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A week spent in Picton, Ontario, Gena Branscombe’s hometown, was a week spent immersing ourselves in Gena’s history.  Whether it was donating items to the museum, being in the Picton United Church where her family was members, or walking the streets realizing that many of the buildings and homes were in existence while she grew up; we were in her space!


 In early July an email from Diane Berlet of the St. Alban’s Centre in Adolphustown arrived in my inbox.  Just a short drive and ferry ride from Picton, Diane invited The Gena Branscombe Project people to the St. Alban’s Centre for a guided tour of the Centre, previously a church.  Diane’s narration described the importance of the church and surrounding area to Gena’s family.  Her mother’s extended family, the Allisons, were settlers who received parcels of land for farming and were members of the church. 



An added reason for our invitation was to see the candlestick holder and plaque over the organ dedicated to Gena.  In 1978, a year after Gena’s death, her daughters, Gena and Vivian, donated these items to the church. During the service that day, pieces of Gena’s music were performed.  Those pieces of music are now in the archives of the Centre.   

 







Following our tour, Diane and her volunteers treated us to a picnic lunch under the shade of a tree.  To all of us it was a gourmet lunch with sandwiches, crudite, fruit, dessert and various drinks.  What a treat this was and to say we were thankful is an understatement!

The St. Albans Centre expressed interest in having a Gena concert in their space.  We will be working on this and hopefully can make it happen in the future.

 


Thank you, again,  to Diane Berlet of St. Albans Center and her volunteers for an informative tour and lunch on a beautiful, sunny, breezy day.  You added depth of knowledge to our ongoing journey into Gena Branscombe’s life and music. 


#BringingBackBranscombe

 

 

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