Stamford History Real Time

Dick Roberts Receives Stamford Historical Society Award

At the society's annual meeting on June 8, 2009, Richard J. Roberts received the Virginia T. Davis, Stamford Historical Society Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding work on recording "lost" Stamford cemeteries.

In the past he has been featured on News 12, and written up in the news:

Richard Roberts tracks Stamford's lost graveyards (Stamford Times)
Uncovering mysteries (The Advocate)

On this blog:  Mapping Lost Graveyards in Stamford.

Read more about Dick Roberts.

  We still need volunteers for the scanning and electronic recording, as well as creating interactive maps.  Anyone interested should contact Volunteer Coordinator Jane Flounders or call the Society at 203-329-1183.

Lincoln Debate: Craig Symonds & Harold Holzer at the Historical Society, Saturday, June 13

Saturday, June 13, 7:30 PM.

Co-sponsored by the Civil War Round Table of Fairfield County and the Stamford Historical Society.

Download Flyer

Wine Tasting Event at Society Headquarters May 14, 2009

The Stamford Historical Society Invites You
To A Wine Tasting and Hors d’Oeuvres
Thursday, May 14, 6:00 to 8:00 PM

Courtesy of Country Wine and Spirits

Meet other Society supporters while sampling food and drink.
Non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.
View our exhibit "Best Face Forward."
 Tom Zoubek, Executive Director, will give gallery talks during the event.
Live music.
Raffle with many exciting prizes, including a chance to win a home theater system.
Dress is business attire.
For more information please call 203-329-1183.

There is still time to R.S.V.P.

March Whitman Bailey Selection: Reference Room at the Ferguson Library

The current renovations at the Ferguson Library's main building prompted this:

Interior of New Reference Room at Ferguson Library


Download complete newspaper clipping of March 19, 1932

This does look like a pleasant place, quiet and comfortable.  Today, of course, we have a main library – on what's called nowadays 1 Library Plaza; three branches, the Bookmobile, and besides reference desks plenty of computers which are always busy … and lots of online digital services of which this writer makes enthusiastic use.

What We Do When the Chips Are Down is What Defines Us – Stamford Winter of 1933

What I learned today by looking back to Stamford February 1933

February 1933 Stamford Ct. (76 years ago), my father was 9 years old. That's him in the picture I scanned today. He's  all the way on the left with his buddies at the bottom of Puritan Lane in Glenbrook. The winter of 1932/1933 was the worst part of the great depression. Yesterday while visiting my parents I asked my father what it was like, what he remembers about growing up in Stamford during this tough time.

[Picture: Sledding was popular, especially on Puritan Lane and Plymouth Rd. as they had little through traffic. With no TV kids sledded all day till 10 in the evening. Top Row From Left: ?, John Ohlin, ?, ? . Lower row from left: Howard Anderson, ?,  Bues, Earl Parmater, ?, ?. ]

Apparently my Grandfather, Emil N. Anderson, a house builder and immigrant from Sweden, was able to find work most of the time during the depression. But even he had a tough time during the winter of  '33. My father remembers my grandfather spending several months at home while only my Grandmother was able to find work outside the home. What did grandfather do during this toughest time in economic history? Did he sit around the house and wait for things to get better? 

Mark your Calendar: Lord & Taylor Benefit Bash, Thursday, November 13th

Shop all day at the 110 High Ridge Road Lord & Taylor store.

Ticket sales benefit The Stamford Historical Society. 

Tickets are available at the Society for $5/each.
Call 203-329-1183 or visit us at 1508 High Ridge Road Tuesday - Saturday, 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM.

• The 20% off coupon is a one time purchase and excludes cosmetics & fragrances. 
• The 15% off is good for multiple purchases and INCLUDES cosmetics & fragrances.
• The signed admission card automatically enters the ticket buyer into the raffle drawing for either a $2,000 L&T wardrobe or a day at a spa.
• You can shop up to a week before and pick up your purchases on the Benefit Bash day (the 13th) or up to a week after the 13th.

2008 National History Day: Winners from Stamford Honored by The Stamford Historical Society

At the annual meeting of the Society on June 9, Dick Harper, Society board member and Regional Coordinator of National History Day, presented Stamford students who were 2008 History Day winners.

The History Day program encourages students in grades 6-8 (Junior Division) and 9-12 ( Senior Division) to create historic papers, exhibits, live presentations, or documentaries focused around a theme. Students present initially in the regional level, held in Stamford. The top three places then go to the Connecticut level. The top two from Connecticut in each category compete on the National level at the University of Maryland.

The theme in 2008 was Conflict and Compromise in History.

“Pride & Patriotism: Stamford’s Role in WWII” closes but can be viewed online

Our year-long exhibit  has taken visitors to the frontlines and to the home front of WWII and included exclusive, first-person accounts from veterans, photos, art and other objects they loaned us, as well as ample material from the Society’s collection.

Interviews, veterans’ photos and other selected objects and materials as well as related historical information can be viewed in our Online Exhibit.

We continue collecting information to augment our records, which we then will add to this online exhibit.  Input from WWII veterans or their families is still greatly appreciated.  Please phone us at (203) 329-1183 or e-mail us at administrator@stamfordhistory.org.

Do make sure to put WWII in the subject line of the e-mail message.

Meanwhile, we are also looking for input from Korean War veterans for a future exhibit.

Jane Flounders receives The Stamford Historical Society’s Annual Distinguished Service Award

Jane Flounders has received The Stamford Historical Society’s 2007 Virginia T. Davis Award for outstanding volunteer service.  The award was presented during the society’s annual meeting on June 25 by Ron Marcus.

A Wheaton College alumna and past Photo Researcher/Assistant Editor at American Heritage Publishing Company, Jane, a long-time resident of Stamford, is currently the Volunteer Coordinator and serves as an education docent.  Other recent involvements have been Chairman of the Board of Directors through the 2005/2006 session, co-chair of our Victorian Teas, and chair of the Lord & Taylors Benefit Bash.  Read more.

Please join us in congratulating Jane!

2007 National History Day State Winners from Stamford Honored by The Stamford Historical Society

At the annual meeting of the society on June 25, Dick Harper, society board member and Regional Coordinator of National History Day, presented Stamford students who were the 2007 History Day local winners and participated in the state competition and then went on to the National finals.  All were given certificates, as were their teacher advisers. Kathleen Clark performed “Struggle for Homeland,”  Anika Advani showed her DVD video “Apollo 13,”  and the exhibit by Molly Stanton and Annie Cohen, “Their One Way Ticket – Escaping Nazi Europe,” could be viewed in the hallway.

Here follows a list of the honorees: