J.P. Morgan sat on the D&H Canal Company board and used his position to complete his monopolization of the coal industry in America. Roebling supplied his innovative wire rope to the D&H Gravity Railroad in 1844 and went on to build four magnificent suspension aquducts for the Canal that same decade and, in addition, his company later won a victory over the monopolists (often called at the time “Morganizers”) of the Gilded Age, a victory which was very rare, indeed. 

These fascinating and often hilarious stories will be told by Lynne Calamia, the Executive Director of the Roebling Museum in Roebling, New Jersey, and by Philip Palmer, Curator and Department Head, Literary and Historical Manuscripts, at The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City. 

Working from a treasure trove of materials from the Morgan Library supplied by Mr. Palmer, the gala will include an expert dinner developed by Kevin Zraly to feature Morgan’s fabulous culinary and wine tastes. Musicians Laurel Massé and Vinnie Martucci will perform again to share their talents.

Proceeds benefit the D&H Canal Historical Society’s activities including the Museum of the history of the Canal, speakers and performing arts programs, the Visitor Center, and the renovation of the Toll Collector/Telegraph Building.

Our special thanks

Jean Strouse: Jean Strouse is the author of Morgan: American Financier and Alice James: A Biography, which won the Bancroft Prize in American History and Diplomacy. Her essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Newsweek, and other publications. Strouse has been President of the Society of American Historians, a consultant (oral historian) to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and a Fellow of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. She served as the Sue Ann and John Weinberg Director of the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at The New York Public Library from 2003 to 2017. Jean provided the Society with valuable advice on Morgan's connection to the Canal Company and opened doors for us at the Morgan Library.

Philip Palmer: Philip S. Palmer is Robert H. Taylor Curator and Department Head, Literary & Historical Manuscripts and Archives at the Morgan Library in New York City. Philip provided us with grand documentation of Morgan's feasts and wine loves on which the entire meal here was based.

Lynne Calamia: Lynne is Executive Director of the Roebling Museum in Roebling, New Jersey. She obtained her PhD at Penn State, worked at the New Jersey State Museum,  then became Executive Director of a historic Quaker Meeting House museum in Philadelphia, and from there was made Executive Director of Roebling.

Kevin Zraly: Kevin is a beloved neighbor (a resident of New Paltz) and a figure of international renown in the food and wine world. His Windows on the World Wine Course is America’s largest-selling wine book and may be the largest-selling wine book ever. He is also the nation’s most respected and popular wine educator. Among his many honors is the most prestigious one in food and wine, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the James Beard Foundation. Kevin serves as a valued member of the Canal Society’s Advisory Board.

Laurel Massé: Laurel co-founded the legendary jazz vocal group Manhattan Transfer. She is a world-renowned vocalist whose repertoire encompasses jazz, folk, cabaret, and classical music. She is a mainstay of the Ashokan Music and Dance Camps. Her voice has been heard on more than 40 albums, including four certified gold and platinum albums with Manhattan Transfer, and she has made numerous TV appearances.

Vinnie Martucci: Vinnie toured extensively on the international stage as co-leader of the Jazz Fusion Quartet with Dave Brubeck. He has composed scores for  many TV dramas and for Broadway and Off-Broadway plays. He is Professor Emeritus in Jazz Performance at SUNY New Paltz and served as Chair of that school’s Music Department.