Open House at Derby Historical Society

 

Open House - Derby Historical Society

 

Event Name:  Open House at the General David Humphreys House

Date:  Saturday, September 19, 2020

Location: David Humphreys House, 37 Elm Street, Ansonia, CT

Time:  11 am - 3 pm

Admission: $5.00 per visitor

Contact:  203-735-1908 or info@derbyhistorical.org

Ansonia – Saturday, September 19, 2020.  Please join us for Derby Historical Society’s Open House on Saturday, September 19th from 11 am to 3 pm. Our talented Docents will be pleased to lead small groups through a tour of the House. While visiting, take a look in our Gift Shop for unique, one-of-a-kind items! Szabo’s Seafood will be on-site! Parking is available in our lot and on Thomas Street.

Thank you for your support and for helping us preserve our place in history. Call 203-735-1908 for information or visit our website www.derbyhistorical.org

The Derby Historical Society is a regional historical society dedicated to preserving, maintaining and celebrating the rich and varied history of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. The Derby Historical Society welcomes all visitors and is also available to support researchers, school or other program needs.  Our staff offices are located at the Sarah Riggs Humphreys House, 37 Elm Street, Ansonia, CT.  For more information, visit www.derbyhistorical.org

Historical Society Postpones Training Event

Derby Historical Society

Friend on Facebook   Forward to a Friend The Derby Historical Society was founded April 18, 1946 to serve the Naugatuck Valley towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton. Daniel L. Bosques, Executive Director Office and Museum Hours: Monday-Friday 9 am - 1 pm By Appointment Only 37 Elm Street Ansonia, CT 06401 (203) 735-1908 info@derbyhistorical.org www.derbyhistorical.org  Saturday's Training Day is Postponed We will be Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day   Volunteer Docent Training Day NEW DATE is Saturday, January 25, 2020, 11 am - 2 pm The Derby Historical Society is looking for passionate history fans to volunteer at our Open Houses and events. The Volunteer Docent Training Day will be led by Dawn Sotir, Lead Docent for the David Humphreys House. We will show YOU how to lead a tour in our circa 1698 David Humphreys House! Index tour cards, pizza, and refreshments provided! Adults only. Free! Space for this is limited to 10 people, so you must pre-register by calling 203-735-1908 or emailing info@derbyhistorical.org

Purchase a Piece of History

Got Beer? Learn Frothy History of Connecticut Brewing

Ansonia Students Write Winning Essays

(from left to right: 3^rd Place/Mikayla Wiacek, 2^nd Place/Jenna Davis, 1^st Place/Kristina Gecaj, Mayor Dave Cassetti)

ANSONIA - Mayor Dave Cassetti received a history lesson last Thursday at City Hall as he congratulated three winners of the Ansonia Historical Commission’s annual essay contest. The announced winners included:

1^st Place – Kristina Gecaj – Assumption School

2^nd Place – Jenna Davis – Assumption School

3^rd Place – Mikayla Wiacek – Assumption School

The contest, in its 15^th year, was open to middle school students throughout Ansonia and Assumption School. 34 entries were submitted for review by Historical Commission Judges Loisann Marazzi and Chairperson Mary Gibson.

This year’s 500-word essay theme was a fictional/factual interpretation of being an  eyewitness to pedal bicycle inventor Pierre Lallement, as he rode his bicycle through downtown Ansonia in 1865, his hometown.

Mayor Cassetti told the winners, “I am extremely proud of you and your accomplishments in winning these awards tonight. It tells me that you love Ansonia as much as I do.”

For their creative writing skills, each winner received a certificate and monetary award of $100/First Place, $75/Second Place & $50/Third Place.

(This is a press release from City Hall)

Titanic Lecture in Seymour April 12

Derby Neck Library offers games, history talk, music, more

Ancient games
DERBY - Ancient Games will be offered at 6 p.m. March 4 at Derby Neck Library.

This is a new club that features the lessons and equipment needed to learn some of the earliest of gaming—Mahjong, Chess, Go, Mancala, and Parchisi are featured.

These games will be taught in progression, so that attendees can learn new skills and advance to more strategically skilled games.

Photo taken from library website

No previous experience is needed for you to participate.
Bring a friend and enjoy free instructions.
No registration is required.  

Music and movement
Join Miss Kathi at 6:30 p.m. March 5 for Bedtime Music and Movement. Come in your pajamas and bring a favorite stuffed animal to sing and dance under our indoor stars.
No registration is needed.

Indian Wars talk

At 6:30 p.m. March 6 welcome back Prof. David Koch from Housatonic Community College for another engaging and informative talk on American history.
Join us to learn about Indian Wars in Connecticut.

Koch will describe how these wars affected our earliest state settlers.  His focus will be on the King Philip’s War and the Pequot-Mohegan War, including a fierce battle in Fairfield in 1637 that determined the outcome of the latter tribal conflict.

Bring your questions and comments and engage in a stimulating discussion. No registration is necessary.  Free refreshments.

Writers' Round

Writers’ Round meets twice each month.  Join us at 6:30 p.m.  March 11 for a write-in.  Share a time and space with other authors—we have wi-fi and print capability in the library.
Authors of all genres are invited—poetry, scripts, prose, fiction, and the like.

On March 20 join us once more at 6:30 p.m. for a workshop to share your original works with fellow writers for comments and suggestions. 

Women's Forum

On Mon. March 17 at 12:30 p.m. hosts Women’s Forum, a monthly discussion group that focuses on topics on literature, history, and the arts that are pertinent to women.  This is a luncheon group, so you are invited to bring a light repast.  Free coffee and tea are served.
This month we honor St. Patrick’s Day by discussing Irish poetry, legends, wit, and more.  Bring your ideas. Moderator Patricia Sweeney of the library staff will bring in some relevant materials.

Movie, pizza

All teens and tweens are invited to enjoy the movie “Catching Fire” from the Hunger Games books at 5:30  p.m. March 18.
The film is in high definition blu-ray on a large screen.  Free pizza will also be served.
Bring a friend or two, but remember you must register in advance.

Tech Talks

Tech Talks, a monthly free program, will be held at 10:30 a.m. March 19.  This month we explain how to do scanning and basic photo editing.
You will leave with the knowledge to use a digital scanner and photo editing software allowing you to archive home photos, family documents, and more.  Also, bring your questions for our presenting staffer.

Teen Game Day

From 5-7 p.m. March 27 the library hosts Teen Game Day.  All teens and tweens are invited to enjoy our wi-fi u console and challenge the skills of their friends.
Also available will be board games, dice, and card games—and refreshments. This is a new program that will be recurring in upcoming months. No registration is required.

To register or for information on any program call 203-734-1492. The library is at 307 Hawthorne Ave.


This is a press release from Patricia Sweeney, reference librarian, Derby Neck Library.

'Dolley Madison' to visit Shelton Historical Society

SHELTON - Local historian Carolyn Ivanoff, Housemaster at Shelton Intermediate School, will 

present An Afternoon with First Lady Dolley Madison at 2 p.m. Feb. 2 at the annual meeting of the 

Shelton Historical Society.  

The meeting will be held at the Huntington  Congregational Church  Fellowship Hall, 19 Church St.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

Ivanoff’s presentation will speak about the founding of our nation, the fourth  president James 

Madison’s role as the Father of the American Constitution, and the difficult events of the early 

Republic.

Madison acted as hostess during her  husband’s presidency, helping to increase his popularity, and is 

credited with rescuing  George Washington’s portrait from the newly completed White House while 

the British  burned the city of Washington during the War of 1812.

There will be a brief business meeting prior to the presentation.  Refreshments will be served. 

In case of inclement weather, an announcement will be made on WICC-AM 

Facebook.com/Shelton History Center.

The Shelton Historical Society owns Shelton History Center, a museum complex

of six historic buildings located just north of the Huntington Green, and strives to provide

programs of historical interest to the community.   

For information or directions, call 203-925-1803 or visit www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org.

Talk on state's labor history slated at Derby Neck

DERBY - Derby Neck Library will host a talk by Anson Smith on the Remington-Rand Strike of 1937 at 6:30 p.m. May 2.

Derby Neck Library

Hear how the tactics and strategies of this labor movement were different from anything before seen in Connecticut labor history.

Smith, who works at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, is an executive board member of the Greater New Haven Labor History Association.
He has done extensive research on his subject.

This is a free event; for information call the library, 203-734-1492.

The library is at 307 Hawthorne Ave.


This information is taken from a press release.

Derby library to host folklorist-singer

Spotlight to be on Irish history, wit

DERBY - The Derby Public Library invites adults and young adults to an evening of Irish

Songs, Folklore & History at 6:30 p.m. March 11, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. 

Dublin-born folklorist, humorist, folksinger and instrumentalist, Tom O’Carroll, will bring a wealth of stories, humor, wit, and history to this performance. 

O'Carroll has played at concerts, festivals, schools and libraries throughout the United States and Canada, as well as his native Ireland.

This lively program will include such themes as the Irish emigration to the United States, the Great Famine of the 1840s, and an introduction to Ireland’s Traveling People, sometimes called Tinkers.

The evening will end with some favorite Irish-American songs, and the audience is invited to sing along. Irish-themed refreshments will be on hand.

Registration is requested.
For information stop by the library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482 or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

Annual event offers folks some spooky fun in Derby

Who knew that the Grim Reaper uses a wheelchair?

This creepy fella is actually my husband Ralph. He and I had a great time Saturday night getting into the spirit and telling a scary story outside the Edward F. Adzima Funeral Home on Elizabeth Street in Derby.

We were part of the Derby Cultural Commission's second annual Haunted Lantern Tours event, which by all accounts was a big success.
The walking tour stopped at several downtown locations where stories about "The Dark Side of Derby" were recounted. 
The tour ended with people getting a chance to go inside the historic (and haunted?) Sterling Opera House across from the Derby Green.

We hope those who took the haunted tour and heard the spooky stories enjoyed themselves as they learned some Derby history and legends.

 

A 'graveyard' was set up on the Derby Green.

Before the tours the Cultural Commission sponsored a "Fright Night" for kids 12 and under, which featured a Halloween costume contest, magic show and more.

To see photos from the daytime event visit the Cultural Commission's page on Facebook.

Harvest festival to have added attraction

"O-ho the Wells Fargo wagon is a-comin' down the street ... "

 - Meredith Wilson, "The Music Man"

ANSONIA - Cultural Commission Chairwoman Judy Nicolari has announced that Wells Fargo Bank,  211 Main St., will have a Wells Fargo stagecoach on display Saturday at the Ansonia Harvest Festival.
The ninth annual event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street.
Rain date is Oct. 13.


As it says in the diagram above, "the driver handled the reins of a team of four or six horses. The Wells Fargo shotgun messenger kept an eye out for bandits and protected the Wells Fargo treasure box stored in the front boot."

It doesn't sound like a very secure way to transport "treasure," but apparently it was the best option in the 1800s.


I know I'm looking forward to seeing this piece of Americana on display.

And as Nicolari often says, "See You on Main Street."

Historical society to host talk on Charles Pine

Charles Pine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSONIA - The Derby Historical Society, in coordination with the Winchester Historical Society and the Pine Grove Cemetery Association will present “Charles Pine: The Civil War Drummer Boy” at 1 p.m. June 3 at the Pine Grove Cemetery Chapel, 15 Church St.  
The talk will focus on Charles Pine, a Winsted youth who went on to become a prominent financial and political figure in the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
 He was a man who, later in life, became a generous benefactor to local charities, institutions, and the education of Ansonia’s students.
 This free program will include the rare opportunity to see the actual Civil War artifacts used by Pine during such famous battles as Cold Harbor, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, Sailor’s Creek and Appomattox Courthouse.
The program will be held in the Pine Grove Cemetery Chapel. Due to limited seating capacity, pre-registration is requested by calling the Derby Historical Society. Refreshments will be provided.
Contact the Derby Historical Society for information, 203-735-1908 or email info@derbyhistorical.org. 

The Derby Historical Society is a regional, non-profit organization society serving the area composed of and influenced by the original Township of Derby established in 1675: Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton.
Its purpose is to foster and promote study, discussion and interest in the history of the area, as well as to discover and collect any property or material that may preserve, establish and/or illustrate this history.  The Society manages three properties including the David Humphreys House, 37 Elm Str., Ansonia; Dr. John I. Howe House, 213 Caroline St., Derby; Sarah Riggs Humphreys House (staff offices), located behind the David Humphreys House.
The Derby Historical Society welcomes all visitors and is also available to support researchers, school or other program needs.
The David Humphreys House and gift shop are open year-round, 1– 4 p.m. weekdays and the third Saturday of each month, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and children 8-16, children under 8 are free. For information, visit www.derbyhistorical.org.


The above was provided by Julia Baldini, executive director, Derby Historical Society.

Library to host 'Voices from the Titanic' program

SHELTON - The Shelton Historical Society and Gifts by the Green will sponsor ' Voices from the Titanic' at 7 p.m. May 17 in the Reading Room at Plumb Memorial Library, 65 Wooster St.
Admission is $5.
Shelton Historical Society executive director Tracey Tate said in a release "to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, a special private collection of Marconi messages that were conveyed between the Titanic’s sister ship, the Olympic, and others involved in the eventual rescue of a fraction of Titanic’s passengers will be presented.
Refreshments, including a special blend of Titanic tea and sweets, will be served.
The $5 fee also includes admission to an exhibit of the messages and period clothing from the collection of the Shelton Historical Society, Shelton History Center, 70 Ripton Road.
It will be held 1-4 p.m. May 20. For those only attending the exhibit, there will be a $5 admission, which also includes refreshments and tours of the six-building complex.
Proceeds benefit the educational programs of Shelton Historical Society.

The above post is taken from a press release from executive director Tracey Tate.