The Tunbridge Civic Club was formerly started on November 9,1955. In 1943 members of the Tunbridge Vermont community held a then called "Minstrel Show" complete with blackface to raise funds for the local baseball team. The Minstrel show was suspended for a period of time during WW11and began again in 1952. "The show has evolved to a celebration of community over the years which accounts for its
long life in Tunbridge" states Tunbridge Resident and former show member Euclid Farnham in an interview for a Vermont Folklife Center publication. The Tunbridge Civic Club Show, as it is now called, continues to carry on the tradition of the old-time minstrel shows with the exception of black face. All proceeds after expenses are distributed to the community for local causes. Shows usually start at 7:30 pm to give the local dairy farmers time to milk the cows and get to the show! The show is held yearly in late March it is a way to break up the long winter season also. Merle had participated in all of the Minstrel and Tunbridge Civic Club shows was a local farmer and had a voice that would melt butter. We miss you Merle this year is for you!
