Stamford History Real Time

Welcome!

This blog keeps readers up-to-date about what's happening at The Stamford Historical Society.  The society is committed to putting  information about  its function and Stamford's history into cyberspace, both through its website and here.

Readers' comments on blog posts are welcome!  Comments are moderated to weed out spammers.

HISTORY CENTER OF STAMFORD
preserving the past / defining the present / connecting with the future

VOLUNTEER MATTERS — VOLUNTEERS MATTER!
The society is largely a volunteer powered organization and always in need of volunteers.    

FALL CALENDAR 2012 TO COME

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Blog authors:  Stamford Historical Society.

Memorial Day Holiday Closing, Saturday, May 26

The society will be closed Saturday, May 26.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

Holiday Closing, The Stamford Historical Society

The Society will be closed for Winter Holidays
Thursday, December 22, 2011 through Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Happy Holidays!
Happy New Year!

Come and shop at The Shop Downstairs for the holidays!

Bring Your Friend and Shop With Us!

There is plenty to choose for the holidays!

The Shop Downstairs
at The Stamford Historical Society
1508 High Ridge Road, Stamford
Fridays & Saturdays 12 noon-3:00 p.m.

The shop represents a continual fund raiser. All sales generate a 100% profit to the Society.

More images

Society closed for the Thanksgiving Weekend

The Stamford Historical society will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  See you all next week, and have an enjoyable Thanksgiving!

8th Annual Victorian Tea, Sunday, November 6 at the Historical Society

The Stamford Historical Society
Invites you to attend
The Eighth Annual Victorian Tea

Sunday, November 6, 2011, 1:30 – 4:30 PM

As is our custom the program is centered on our current exhibit
P.O. HIGH RIDGE CONNECTICUT: The Evolution of a Country Village.  

Within this country village was a thriving cottage industry in basket making.  Our speakers, Ruth Freebairn and Cris Harter, will tell us of their interest in, love of, and creation of baskets.  Many of Ruth’s baskets are on display in the exhibit.  Ms Harter will bring some of her collection of Nantucket baskets and will tell us how they are made.

Come early, wander through the exhibit, buy some raffle tickets, and visit The Shop Downstairs.

SCHEDULE:

1:30  P. O. HIGH RIDGE Exhibit is open. The Shop Downstairs is open.
2:00  Program with Ruth Freebairn and Cris Harter.
3:00  Tea will be served.
3:30  Raffle – Tea Gifts.

For reservations call 203-329-1183
Admission:  $15.00
Please make your check payable to The Stamford Historical Society and mail it to the Society at 1508 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT  06903.

True Tales of Horror and Death a Success!

True Tales of Horror and Death, on October 21 at the Hoyt Barnum House, was a resounding success! Pam Coleman reports that the tours were packed.

"In keeping with the Halloween season, we recently offered our first Tales of Horror and Death event at the Hoyt Barnum House in downtown Stamford.  The house was built in 1699 and has certainly seen its share of difficult times.  The 30 minute tours on the evening of October 21st focused on the period from 1680–1780 in Stamford, CT.  Our 3 docents (Tom, Linda & Pam) talked about the terrible smells, back breaking work, gruesome accidents and disfiguring diseases that were a part of most colonists’ lives during that period of time.  Our guests were amazed, horrified and edified by the tour.  Some teens started to tear up over the fate of terrible illness and early death faced by so many children in the 17th and 18th centuries."

If you missed this year’s tour, don’t worry – we’ll be back!  Join us next October to listen to more stories of colonial horror and death.  Oh, and next year we’ll be adding a few ghost stories. 

For those who want to learn more about the house and the general history of the Hoyt Family, please call 203-329-1183 to schedule your visit.  We are happy to take people through by appointment.

 

Annual Touch-A-Truck, Saturday, September 24, 1:00–4:00 PM

As every year:

TOUCH A TRUCK
Saturday, September 24, 1:00–4:00 PM
Stamford Historical Society Parking Lot
Music, Treats, Face Painting, Trucks & Exhibit

Bring your kids and have fun!

Admission: $5/person, children under 4 free.

Philip E. Norgren, age 73

Philip E. Norgren died on Tuesday, August 30th, 2011 at the age of 73 after battling cancer.

Phil joined the Board of Directors of the Stamford Historical Society in the late 1990s and later served as its president for two terms.  His common sense approach greatly helped in the rebuilding of the Society. Phil was always on the lookout and responsible for bringing good Board members into the fold.

He served as a docent at the Hoyt-Barnum House and was involved in our eduction programs, especially Immigrants' Stamford.

A native of Worcester, MA, Phil was a  graduate of MIT and University of Colorado, Boulder, Phil was an electrical engineer for Perkin Elmer for the majority of his professional life. Upon retirement, Phil worked for the City of Stamford and served the WPCA in Stamford and Bridgeport. He was greatly involved in numerous philanthropic and civic organizations.

Phil  kept in touch with the Society even after he moved from Stamford to Bridgeport and would still answer the call for names for new Board possibilities. He will be missed.

Photo Andrew Sullivan
The Stamford Advocate

P.O. High Ridge Connecticut Exhibit Preview Party & Fundraiser Thursday, September 15

You are cordially invited to our fundraiser and "P.O. High Ridge Connecticut" Exhibit Preview Party, Thursday, September 15, 6:00–8:00 PM at the Stamford Historical Society, 1508 High Ridge Rd.

Download Invitation Form

Mary Ann Lawlor received the 2011 Virginia T. Davis Stamford Historical Society Distinguished Service Award

Congratulations to Mary Ann Lawlor for receiving the 2011 Virginia T. Davis, Stamford Historical Society Distinguished Service Award!

Her most recent Cozy Sundays event in May was the showing of the 1947 film Boomerang, followed by a panel, comprised of three special guests who discussed its legal context as well as the usual liberties taken by film makers.

For those who do not know, the movie was about a local story and was filmed in Stamford.

We had an unprecedented numbers of reservation requests and had to turn some people away, including this writer. As Ron Marcus said in his address, "To the best of our knowledge, never, in the long history of this organization, has there been such an overwhelming, positive response to a scheduled event."

Congratulations again, Mary Ann!

Shopping at Barnes & Noble benefits the Stamford Historical Society

As you may have noticed, we have switched our account from Amazon.com to Barnes & Noble, as Amazon.com has cut all "Associates" programs in Connecticut as of last month. Any purchase through clicking on the B&N logo or text link on our website, or this blog, will generate a percentage of income to the Stamford Historical Society  – and every nickle helps in these cash-strapped days!

Here is something to consider for the summer:

Children's Bestsellers List - shop now at BarnesandNoble.com.

You will find more links in the footer of our website pages. Meanwhile, enjoy browsing through our site and learn things about Stamford you never knew!

Thank you!

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New Board of Directors as of July 1

Please welcome the new Board of Directors of the Stamford Historical Society!

Holday Closing, Indepedence Day Weekend

The Society will be closed Saturday, July 2 for the Independence Day weekend.

Enjoy your holiday!

Revised website is up!

The Stamford Historical Society

We are happy to present the new website. Click through the pulldown menus and take a tour through Stamford's history!

Some things are still under construction ... stay tuned

Historical Society Library Hours for Saturday, June 11

Please note that on Saturday, June 11, the Society will be open
from 12 to 4 PM only. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Holiday Closings

The Society will be closed Friday, April 22 & Saturday, April 23.

Happy Holidays!

Benefit Dinner for Alexander and Patricia Koproski, Thursday, April 28

You are Invited to Join us for a Benefit Dinner
Honoring Community Leaders and Dedicated Benefactors
ALEXANDER & PATRICIA KOPROSKI

THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2011, AT 6 PM
THE A.O.H. (HIBERNIAN) HALL

Alexander and Patricia Koproski are long time residents of Stamford. Their leadership in our community and dedication to building a better Stamford is exemplary. Al and Pat have been active members in the Stamford Historical Society for many years, donating to our archives and locating essential artifacts for our exhibits. The Stamford Historical Society has chosen to recognize and honor Al and Pat for their aid to our organization and their dedication to preserving local history.

Download Details and Sign-Up Form

 

 

Estelle Feinstein Memorial Lecture, Wednesday, February 23 at UConn Stamford

The Jewish Historical Society of Lower Fairfield County, UConn/Stamford, and the Stamford Historical Society are jointly sponsoring the annual
Estelle Feinstein Memorial Lecture
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 6pm
Gen Re Auditorium at UConn
Washington Blvd. and Broad St.

The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and Slavery

Columbia University professor, Dr. Eric Foner, one of the most distinuished contemporary historians in the US will present "The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and Slavery" on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.  The lecture is free and open to the public.  Light refreshments will be served.  Professor Foner's talk will trace the evolution of Abraham Lincoln's thinking about slavery and race from his early career in the Illinois legislature to his presidency.

There is visitor parking on the second floor of the UConn parking garage (former Bloomingdale's garage) on Washington Blvd.  There is some handicap parking on the first floor of the garage along the east side (facing Washington Blvd.) and a very few along the UConn building on Franklin St. (you must have a handicap sticker).  There are also a very few meters along Franklin St.  Please carpool if possible.
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February Whitman Bailey Selection: Old Mill Pond from West Main Street Bridge

Once more, for nostalgia's sake, the Mill River in its old version:

Old Mill Pond from West Main Street Bridge

Complete Newpaper Clipping from February 7, 1931

 Here is more on the Mill River from January 2009: Skating Scene at Rippowam Park (scroll down for sketch).

Whitman Bailey Collection

As to the sketches, we add the usual warning: "At times, the accompanying vignettes are mostly folklore passed on to Mr. Bailey by residents of the areas where he was sketching.  In those instances he had no way of determining the truth of the story.  Nor have we.  It is presented as a sidelight to the sketch.  Therefore, researchers are cautioned to regard these tales as local color, interesting, thought provoking, but sometimes not entirely factual."

(Reference files: Bailey 288.jpg )

Jane Flounders is back as Volunteer Coordinator!

Please welcome Jane back as Volunteer Coordinator for the Stamford Historical Society.

Jane keeps volunteer service organzations apprised of our needs and interviews and advises prospective volunteers. She can be reached as listed here.

Many tasks at the Society require the able assistance of volunteers.

• Volunteers do research and data entry work in the Marcus Research Library.
• Volunteers manage the Photo Collection, including data entry work.
• Volunteers work in the textile collection.
• Volunteers manage the website and the blog.
• Volunteers assist with the creation of exhibits.
• Volunteers are docents for our exhibits.
• Volunteers make digital records of our exhibits.
• Volunteers staff the thrift shop.
• Volunteers work with staff on educational programs for students.
• Volunteers provide hospitality at our events.
• Some volunteers stuff envelopes and others answer phones.

An update of our volunteer needs will be posted soon.