Woodbridge farmstead

at Manchester Green --

Sunday, September 29, We will welcome baby goats -- hold and cuddle one! There'll be a duck race with prizes and light refreshments. Guided 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 (we're open this fifth Sunday due to the membership meeting on the fourth Sunday).

The Woodbridge barn is located at 495 East Middle Turnpike, Manchester. Visit: Woodbridge poster for details of where to park, etc. You can park on the property by entering from Woodbridge Street, near Lawton Road. The vehicle gate will be open. Free.

More info about events on our website .

Additional campfire storytelling themes:

October 11 , Native American, colonial stories. 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. October 4, hear African American stories by Lucy Hurston of MCC, as well as haunting stories from early America and our area. Please bring a blanket. Suggested donation: $2 per person, $5 per family. Rain cancels.

Cheney clock research, can you help?

Researchers Dennis Gleeson, Dave Smith, and Kevin Ferrigno are researching clockmakers Benjamin Cheney (1725-1815) and Timothy Cheney (1731-1795). 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. If you can help, contact Dennis Gleeson. All responses will remain confidential. 

Example of a Cheney clock. This one is at the Cheney Homestead. More about Timothy Cheney and his house on our website.

Details about this and other events on our website.

Free: District walking tour --

Saturday, October 5, at 1:00 p.m., the 44th annual walking tour of the Cheney Historic District with commentary by Dr. Christopher Paulin of Manchester Community College. Popular history walk starts at Fuss & O'Neill, 146 Hartford Road (plenty of parking in the lots west and south of the building). Find out about those huge brick buildings that remain from the days of the world-famous silk mills. Who worked there? Who owned the mills? Where did workers and owners live? This event is co-sponsored by Manchester Community College, the Cheney District commission, and the Manchester Historical Society. The walk takes about two and a quarter hours with a distance of a mile or so. No rain date, so bring umbrellas if weather is iffy. Free; donations to the Historical Society are welcome. View map of the District: Cheney Landmark District.

Our quarterly newsletter --

...is mailed to members and also available on our website: September 2019 newsletter . Contents of this issue include • Flannel weaving project at the Homestead • Update on the Manchester Herald digitization fundraising project • Woodbridge Farmstead photo feature • Road Race program needed for archives. • 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment (women's voting rights)

• Parachute women at Hamilton Standard • Genealogy Group news • Passing of member and volunteer Edith Schoell • Events calendar.

Genealogy --

Tuesday, October 8 at 10:00 a.m., the Historical Society's Genealogy Group -- a meeting for both amateur and more experienced genealogists. Special program, "Historic Witch Trials of Connecticut," presented by Jason Scappaticci. 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, contact the coordinators, or read information about previous meetings and presentations.

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.

Summertimes Past in Manchester on TV --

Watch on your computer or on TV during September: "Summertimes Past,” a 62-minute television program recorded live at the Manchester Senior Center in July -- an illustrated talk about what has changed, what hasn't. With Town Historian Susan Barlow. 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 watch on Public Access website Public Access TV -- choose Manchester Schedule, and then put "Historical" into the Search Box.

The Manchester Evening Herald project fundraising has reached over 60% of its goal!

Making The Herald available online.

THANKS to all who have contributed so generously to the project to digitize the old Manchester Evening Heralds and South Manchester News. The Journal Inquirer newspaper ran this article about the project on September 10. We encourage donations -- any amount from $1 up will be gratefully received. The overall goal is about $11,000 to cover all costs. Drop by with cash or a check to the History Center (Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 to 2:00), or mail a check to: Manchester Historical Society, 175 Pine Street, Manchester CT 06040, with a NOTE (important!) on the check: for The Herald project!

Questions? Call the Society at 860-647-9983, or reply to this email.