Haddam Historical Society  & Thankful Arnold House
News and Events
March 13, 2017 
Greetings and Happy Almost Spring,
 
We are just weeks away from our largest fundraiser and we hope you get a chance to visit our 44th Annual Connecticut Spring Antiques Show in Hartford on March 25 and 26. The committee has been hard at work and we hope for a successful show.
 
We are gearing up for a very busy spring and have a couple of exciting items to report. We recently received a grant from the Community Foundation of Middlesex County for a new garden brochure and I received word today we receive a grant from Connecticut Humanities to hire a consultant to help us update our strategic plan. A Strategic Plan may not sound like a very exciting project but this important document will set new goals and objectives for the next five years and will strengthen the organization with the purpose of engaging the public, fostering public pride, creating an understanding of local history and becoming a more meaningful organization. It will be our road map and make us a stronger organization.
 
Recently I spoke to a history class at Middlesex Community College on the history of immigration in Haddam at the invitation of Professor James Simpson. Immigration is a very current topic, as it was a hundred years ago.  Many new residents faced discrimination and were not initially welcomed and it took years and generations for them to assimilate into the community. This quote comes to mind.
 
Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
-George Santayana



Elizabeth Malloy
Executive Director 
 
Connecticut Spring Antiques Show

The 44th Annual Connecticut Spring Antiques Show Will Feature Programs on Archaeology and Political Flags

March 25 and 26, 2017; Saturday 10-5; Sunday 11-4
Hartford Armory, 360 Broad Street, Hartford, CT
Admission- $15, Free Parking

The 44th Annual Connecticut Spring Antiques Show, "t he singular popular showcase for American furniture and decorative arts.", returns to the landmark Hartford Armory at 360 Broad Street, Hartford on March 25 and 26, 2017. Admission is $15 with free parking.

Highlighting the weekend will be two interactive programs by the experts.  On Saturday at 2 pm archaeologist, Bonnie Plourde will present "Hidden in the Midden" about the 2016 excavation at the Thankful Arnold House Museum in Haddam and share a number of the 19th century artifacts recovered.

On Sunday at 2 pm leading American flag dealer, Jeff Bridgman will present "The Fun of Collecting Early Political Campaign Flags, Banners, and Kerchiefs." He will discuss why collecting early political textiles is so exciting and interesting.  Attendees are welcome to bring an item from their own collection for evaluation, and if they wish, Jeff will include the object in the lecture.

Long known and admired for its focus on early American furniture and decorative objects, the show will feature over 60 of New England's and the nation's most respected antiques dealers. This year the show is continuing to add folk art and historic garden accessories to compliment the early American pieces to attract a larger audience and provide a wider selection of outstanding and unique objects.

On Sunday, March 26 visitor's age 35 and younger receive free admission to the show.

Additional information about the Connecticut Spring Antiques Show is available at   http://www.ctspringantiquesshow.com or our Facebook page CT Spring Antiques Show. 




Bring Your Own (Historic) Bottle
Sunday, April 9, 2017
2 pm
Haddam Town Hall/Brainerd Academy
21 Field Park Drive, Haddam, CT
$3 Admission

Join the Haddam Historical Society and bottle expert Ed Stanton of Higganum to learn about old and antique bottles. Ed was instrumental in the Thankful Arnold House Museum's archaeological dig in the summer of 2016 and helped identify many of the intact recovered bottles. He will discuss the evolution of bottle manufacturing and show examples of Connecticut bottles made for area businesses. He will talk about what makes a bottle valuable including markings, condition and shapes.

We encourage attendees to bring a bottle you may have dug up in the yard, found washed ashore or plucked from the privy pit.

Admission is $3 per person. More information is found at www.haddamhistory.org or call 860-345-2400



On Saturday, April 29, 2017 from 1 pm to 5pm the Haddam Historical Society will host a historic outhouse tour of seven area privies in Haddam and Higganum. The self-guided tour will start at the Thankful Arnold House Museum where the newly interpreted four-hole backhouse will be unveiled.  The tour will highlight a variety of "necessaries" including some with a plaster interior, four-holes and even a basement.

Outhouses on the tour are found at the John Brainerd House, Levi Ward Tavern, Ezra Kelsey House, Merwin House, Sears-Usher House, Nathan Fuller House and Thankful Arnold House.

Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased the day of the tour at the Thankful Arnold House Museum, 14 Hayden Hill Road where visitors will pick up their maps and visit Thankful's necessary.

For more information please visit www.haddamhistory.org or call 860-345-2400
 
 


Look where the Haddam Historical Society has been!

Thank you Marijean and Carl Conrad for bringing the banner to EASTER ISLAND! We are trying to get the banner to as many places around the world as possible. If you would like to bring it on an upcoming trip just give us a call. 

Photos at Community Center
Dianne McHutchison, President Haddam Historical Society and Lorraine Riess.

The Haddam Historical Society recently worked with Higganum community members to provide historic photographs for the Community Center. Thank you to Lorraine Riess and the rest of the committee for a great job. Also thank you to Country Framer for the wonderful framing job. 



Rally Day, March 29


To: Museums, Historic Sites, Libraries, Archives, Preservation Groups, and Cultural Organizations of all Sizes

What: 3rd Annual CT Places Coalition Advocacy Day at the Capitol, Featuring Pop-Up Exhibits and More!

When: Wednesday, March 29, 2017, from 10:30 am  ΜΆ  4:30 pm

Who: Staff, Volunteers & Board Members of CT Cultural and Historical Organizations, Students, & Supporters

Why: Demonstrate the Importance of CT's Cultural Organizations to Our Communities & Quality of Life

Please join us on March 29, 2017, for the CT Places Coalition's Annual Advocacy Day at the Capitol.

The day's schedule will be as follows:
  • 10:30 am: Advocacy Workshop, led by the New England Museum Association - Hearing Room TBD - Want to learn how to effectively interact with your state representatives? This session will help give you the tools and resources to advocate for your organization and the coalition's causes.
  • 11:45 am: Lunch Break
  • 1:00 pm: Legislative Briefing - Hearing Room 1C - Join us for the latest updates about the state's budget and legislative process.  Hear from lobbyists and members of the CTPlaces Coalition regarding state funding, the legislative landscape ahead, and what YOU can do to help.
  • 2:00 pm: Visit with Lawmakers - Show off your new skills and meet with your elected officials!  We've set aside time in the day for you to pre-schedule meetings with your state representatives. No time to pre-schedule meetings? No problem. Stationery will be provided on the day of the event - write a note to your legislator and drop it in his or her office. Let them know you care enough about your local cultural institutions to spend the day in civic activities. 
  • 3:00 pm: Exhibits Open - North and Hale Lobbies - Pop up exhibit! Dozens of humanities, libraries, museums, history, and preservation organizations from around the state will highlight the best of what their organization collects and does. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to see items from around the state, all in one place. Each year offers a unique, one-of-a-kind opportunity to get a taste of the wide range of cultural offerings that make Connecticut so special.
  • 3:20 pm: Remarks - Hale Lobby 
  • 4:30 pm: Exhibits Conclude.
The CT Places Coalition believes that the erosion of state investment in humanities, libraries, museums, history, and preservation organizations is a direct threat to what makes our state an attractive place to live and work. We believe that continued public investment in these places is fundamental to Connecticut's quality of life and economic competitiveness. This year's Advocacy Day will be presented in partnership with the New England Museum Association.
Please register for the event here and learn more about the coalition at www.ctplaces.org.
Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you on March 29!
 






HIDDEN IN THE MIDDEN TO BE FEATURED AT STATE-WIDE CONFERENCE

Executive Director Elizabeth Malloy and archaeologist Bonnie Plourde have been selected to present at the Connecticut League of History Organization's Annual Meeting on June 5 in Meriden. Hidden in the Midden will review how the Thankful Arnold House Museum used the discovery of an unknown kitchen dump to provide hands-on public programming which attracted both young and old including entire families from the community and throughout the state to experience first h and archaeology.

New to the Collection

Haddam resident, Kathy Ely recently donated this wonderful early 19th century trunk made for Tamzin S. Church by her father Samuel Church. Tamzin who was born in 1809  and later married Orlando Gladwin of Higganum. The small trunk was used to hold treasured items and features her intials "T S G" on the lid and decorative brass tack symbols on all sides.
 


February Thaw on the Landing

A big thank you to Janet and Jay Verney for hosting our February Thaw Social on February 18 on Higganum Landing. Hawaiian shirts were plentiful and you could smell the suntan lotion and sea breeze. Unfortunately Stewart and Rogene Gillmor misread the invitation and came dressed for Antarctica but still enjoyed the tropical theme.
Thank you ALL.











Shad Museum
Joe Zaientz has announced that the Haddam Shad Museum will open every Sunday from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. from April 9 to June 11, 2017.  The Museum, the only one of its kind in the USA, portrays the history of the American Shad, Connecticut's state fish.  The Museum Directors are familiar with both commercial and sport shad fishing.
The Museum is located at 212 Saybrook Road, Higganum, behind the American Oil gas station. Admission is free. Special appointments can be made for groups on other days or times by calling 860-267-0388.
 



Shad Exhibit at Connecticut River Museum

The Connecticut River Museum in Essex has just opened a wonderful exhibit on Shad Fishing along the Connecticut River and Haddam is prominently featured. We encourage all our members to visit and learn more about this important part of the area's history. Visit their web site for hours : http://www.ctrivermuseum.org/ 

 

The Haddam Historical Society will be participating in the Town Wide Tag Sale on April 22 at Haddam Elementary School. Please come out and support us!
 

Haddam Historical Society/P.O. Box 97 Haddam, CT 06438/860-345-2400
contact@haddamhistory.org

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