Derby Historical Society dedicates Hull portrait at Humphreys' House

Derby Historical Society President Tim Dillon, right, speaks Sunday with Melissa Coury, an art and antique appraiser, at the dedication of a portrait of naval hero Commodore Isaac Hull.
The oil painting now hangs in the Gen. David Humphreys House, 37 Elm St., Ansonia.

Humphreys was a Revolutionary War hero, aide-de-camp to Gen. George Washington, ambassador to Spain, and later a successful businessman in what is present-day Seymour.


An anonymous donor presented the portrait of Commodore Hull to the Derby Historical Society, which is based at the Humphreys House.

Dillon said the historical society thrives because of the "many, many generous donors," and volunteers who make it a success. We're gratified (the donor) has donated the painting to us."


Coury, a New Haven resident, said, "I was very pleased to work with this painting."
She talked about a variety of "clues" she found in the portrait that have led her to believe it was painted in 1805-1806.

"This is what (Hull) looked like when he left town for the Navy," Coury said.

Close-up of the oil painting

The portrait was professionally cleaned, Coury said, and the gold-leaf frame was touched up. The artist is unknown.

Hull was born in Derby in 1773 and learned nautical skills from his sea captain father.
Read more about the background of the portrait it in an article on the Electronic Valley.

Commodore Hull commanded the U.S. frigate, the Constitution. He and his crew were victorious over the British frigate, the Guerriere, in a major battle during the War of 1812 and Hull was hailed as a hero.

An everyday hero in our midst

By Patricia Villers
Register Staff

You never know when you’ll meet a hero.
What starts out as a relatively routine work day can turn into a day that leaves a reporter a bit frazzled, yes, but also in awe of an extraordinary act by an ordinary person.

Yesterday was just that day for me. I showed up at a fire scene in Derby Thursday afternoon not knowing it was as big a blaze as it was. Firefighters from Derby and Shelton were everywhere; two ladder trucks, Shelton’s Echo Hose and Derby’s Paugies, as well as a rather large crowd of onlookers and local media.

After learning that everyone in the six-family house on Olivia Street escaped unharmed, I was pointed toward an Ansonia man who had saved the life of Theresa Tiano, an elderly tenant .

Chris Esteves, 24, happened upon the fire scene on his way to an appointment. When he heard that an elderly woman was still inside her third-floor apartment he ran inside, up the stairs and knocked on her door. When she didn’t respond, he opened the door and got her. She told him she needed to grab her cane and they left the apartment.

He brought her downstairs and out the door, only hesitating to put a mat over their heads to protect them from falling debris.

What makes Esteves’ feat even more remarkable is the fact that in 2009 he assisted three Ansonia police officers in rescuing an elderly woman from a house fire.

Wow.

Esteves, in his own quiet, soft-spoken way, demonstrates that he indeed wants to help other people.

And I for one am glad that I met him.