Manchester Historical Society

Digging into history at Woodbridge Farmstead

Saturday, October 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All welcome to participate in an archaeological investigation at the Farmstead. Dr. Kevin McBride of the UConn Anthropology Department will conduct the digs -- a number of test pits to determine if there was Native American activity on our Woodbridge property. Dr. McBride is an archaeologist specializing in the Native American history of Connecticut. He will be working with several students from UConn and any members of the public who wish to participate.

The work is expected to begin about 10:00 a.m. and continue until about 4:00 p.m. If it rains, we'll postpone. Work clothes and gloves are recommended if you want to participate. The Woodbridge Farmstead is located at 495 East Middle Turnpike, Manchester. Parking is available at the Senior Center and on East Middle Turnpike. The Farmstead is on the National Register of Historic Places.

New board --

Welcoming our Board, elected at the September 22 membership meeting, some new and some ongoing members: Read their names and bios.

More info about events on our website .

Additional campfire storytelling themes:

October 11 , African American stories with Lucy Hurston of Manchester Community College.

October 18, the local legend of Wunnee-neetunah & Peter Hager from the 1600s.

October 25, our own story of "Ichabod Crane, Connecticut Schoolmaster."

Campfire storytelling at the Homestead --

All the Fridays in October from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., 106 Hartford Road. Popcorn, cider, and stories on the big lawn behind the Homestead. Please bring a blanket. Event is inside if there's rain. Suggested donation: $2 per person, $5 per family. Due to concern about mosquitoes, we'll meet indoors until a hard frost.

Manchester Herald digitization.

Announcing a matching gift.

An anonymous philanthropist will donate $2500 if we can get other donors to contribute a total of $2500 by November 8. Can you help? Send a check to: Manchester Historical Society, 175 Pine Street, Manchester, CT 06040. Please note Manchester Evening Herald project in the memo line of the check. Questions? Call the Society at 860-647-9983, or reply to this email.

At the completion of the project, web viewers will be able to see the old Heralds in their entirety: news, sports, letters to the editor, obits, etc. More info about the newspaper itself on our website: The Manchester Evening Herald.

Woodbridge farmstead

at Manchester Green

Sunday, October 13 -- Scarecrow Sunday and Open House with g uided tours of the 18th-century barn. We are usually open the second and fourth Sunday of the month, 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. through October 27, weather permitting. The Woodbridge barn is located at 495 East Middle Turnpike, Manchester.

Visit: Woodbridge poster for details of where to park, etc. Free.

More events on our website.

Thanks to all who came on the annual District walking tour --

Held Saturday, October 5 -- the 44th annual walking tour of the Cheney Historic District with commentary by Dr. Christopher Paulin of Manchester Community College. Popular history walk, visiting the former mills, and answering: Who worked at the mills? Who owned the mills? Where did workers and owners live?

"Like" our Facebook page

For frequent postings of photos and clippings. Pictured at left, a young Joe McCluskey, note the X on his shirt below his necktie, photographed with his basketball team-mates. Another Facebook post this week: this November 23, 1963 McDonald's ad from The Manchester Evening Herald. McDonald's had opened in 1961.

Steampunk is coming --

...to the History Center on December 7. Something old, something new. Music, shopping, socializing. Host Oddball Newt is organizing an "Ugly Sweater, Woeful Waistcoat and Beastly Bustle contest. Show off your horrid holiday spirit and ungainly fashion sense." More: Events page .

Genealogy at Manchester's Town Hall

Saturday, November 9, from 9:00 to 1:00. Com visit the Historical Society's booth at this free and helpful genealogy event where you can learn how to do genealogical research. Optional -- register in advance (860-647-3037) for a free 30-minute private consultation with a professional genealogist, but walk-ins welcome. The Town Clerk's office and vault will be open for records of birth, marriage, death, probate, land, and military service. Other booths will provide information about research and resources. All are welcome -- beginners, advanced, non-residents and residents. Town Hall located at 41 Center Street, parking behind the building.

Can you volunteer to help out at our booth? Two hours or four hours? Please contact: Dianne.

Keep an eye on our Events page .

100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment: Sunday, October 27, 1:00 p.m.

Bah Humbug Hullabaloo with Steampunk impresario Oddball Newt: December 7

New-style Holly and Ivy Gala, Sunday, December 15 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Votes for Women on TV --

Watch on your computer or on TV during October: "Susan B. Anthony and Isabella Beecher Hooker Speak at Cheney Hall,” a 29-minute television program recorded live at Cheney Hall on Wednesday, September 25. In this 100th anniversary year of the passage of the 19th amendment -- votes for women -- we celebrate the 1874 speeches at Cheney Hall by these two civil rights activists. With Town Historian Susan Barlow, Town Troubadour Bill Ludwig, emcee David Garnes, re-enactors Susan Barlow, Lynne Ferrigno, Steve Penny.

The show airs Saturdays at 12:00 noon and 8:00 p.m. on Cox cable channel 15 on Saturdays, and runs on all the Saturdays of the month. The show changes each month. This Channel 15 broadcasts in Manchester, Glastonbury, South Windsor, Wethersfield, Rocky Hill and Newington. or w atch online: Suffrage Speeches at Cheney Hall or watch on the Public Access website Public Access TV -- choose Manchester Schedule, and then put "Historical" into the Search Box. You can also watch old TV shows there.

Cheney clock research, can you help?

Historical Society volunteers Dennis Gleeson, Dave Smith, and Kevin Ferrigno are researching clockmakers Benjamin Cheney (1725-1815) and Timothy Cheney (1731-1795) and their nephew, Daniel Griswold. The researchers have examined several clocks and want to examine more of these Cheney tall-case clocks, as well as account books, day books, letters, bills of sale, and diaries belonging to Timothy, Benjamin, or their customers. The research will lead to a book.

To help, contact Dennis Gleeson. All responses will remain confidential.

Pictured above, circa 1775 clock, gift of Alice Poinier. At the History Center, 175 Pine Street. Visitors welcome

Above, sign for the clock pictured. Below: listing in Mantle Fielding’s Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors and Engravers , 1926, 1965: "Benjamin & Timothy Cheney, Engravers. These clock-makers were working about 1781-1801 [sic], and their well-engraved brass clock-faces show very considerable skill in handling the burin.”

Membership for yourself or --

Consider a gift membership for a friend or loved one.

Why join a local historical society, even if you don't live in that town? Some reasons: • support education about the history of the town • support preservation of artifacts and vintage photos • join in advocating for preservation of historic buildings and parks that make Manchester charming.

Print this online donation form and mail to 175 Pine Street. Or drop by the History Center, Tuesdays through Fridays from 10:00 to 2:00. Direct questions to 860-647-9983.

Genealogy --

Tuesday, November 12 at 10:00 a.m., the Historical Society's Genealogy Group -- Topic to be announced. All welcome to this a meeting for both amateur and more experienced genealogists. Meet at the Manchester History Center, 175 Pine Street. The Genealogy Group consists of Historical Society members, but non-members are also welcome ($3.00 fee for non-members). The group usually meets on the second Tuesday of the month, except December, July, August. Visit Genealogy Page to find out more about the group.