These tours support our mission of educating the public about the history of Manchester. QUESTIONS? or to RSVP for the April 16 meeting, email School Tour Committee with "School tour volunteer" in the subject line. Thanks in advance!

Pictured above , children at the entrance to the Old Manchester Museum on Cedar Street, part of the walking tour.

Big deal! School tours!

Seeking volunteers for this VIP (Very Important Project!) helping with the Walking Through History tours for school children. Is this the year you volunteer for this fun and sociable project? Find out more --

Thursday, April 16 at 3:00 p.m., meeting of school-tour volunteers, at 175 Pine Street. The tours are for 600+ third-grade schoolchildren. Come find out more and sign-up for a gig or two. Tours will be held from May 5 to May 21 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:30 to 12:00 and 12:00 to 1:30. Volunteers can sign up for one day or several days. We need both docents (guides who describe the property -- Homestead, Schoolhouse, and Old Manchester Museum) and helpers. No experience necessary.

Open house --

At the Homestead, "threads and strings" event on Sunday, March 8 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. with live music and hands-on crafts for you to try or watch weavers and spinners create textile products. Located at 106 Hartford Road. $5 per person/$10 per family donation welcomed.

Right, painting of the Homestead by Russell Cheney (1881-1945). Click the picture for a 1969 article about the donation of the Homestead.

Our open houses are generally the second Sunday of the month, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. EXCEPT when holidays coincide, so, please note, first Sundays: April 5, May 3. Keep an eye on our Events page.

Annual dinner

Friday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Manchester Country Club, 305 South Main St., with socializing and cash bar at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:00 p.m., followed by a history program about antiques and how collecting has changed in recent years. Click invitation on the left for details.

Prizes: Wear your antique finery -- jewelry, clothes, shoes -- and maybe win a prize. There'll also be a prize for vintage fashion we are GLAD is no longer in vogue.

All welcome! Bring your friends, neighbors, relatives.

Maps, maps, more maps

Check out various Manchester maps on our website.

Below, a snip showing Hudson Street.

Above, this 1880 map of North Manchester is both artistic and informative. On our website, there are maps from 1854 through 1952, including specialty maps for railroad and telegraph, geological survey, property-owner names, trolleys, and streets.

Genealogy group --

Meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. at the History Center, 175 Pine Street.

On Tuesday, March 10, we will welcome professional genealogist Meagan Cairns. Before moving to Connecticut, she worked for the East Baton Rouge Parish Library in Louisiana, where she began teaching genealogy classes in 2018. She currently specializes in Connecticut, Louisiana, DNA, and Deep South African-American Ancestry research. She is a member of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists.

Kids at Porter Street School, now the location of Highland Park School, and a family tree logo.

All are welcome to the genealogy group. .

The Genealogy group is for both amateur and more experienced genealogists. We explore topics in genealogy, helping each other with research and in overcoming roadblocks. The Genealogy Group consists of Historical Society members, but non-members are also welcome ($3.00 fee for non-members). Visit Genealogy Page for more info or to contact the coordinator.

Our website has many genealogical and historical sources, especially on the Reprints Page, which has Town directories, high-school yearbooks, obits, etc.

Third Thursday movies --

Thursday, March 19, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., Movie Night at the History Center, 175 Pine Street, third of our three-movie series -- "Winter Classics: Frank Capra's Enduring Legacy," following the format of classic movie and discussion. March will bring the 1938 "You Can't Take it With You," with Jimmy Stuart and Jean Arthur. Hosts David Garnes and Peter Millett.

Suggested donation $2 per person; $5 per family of 3 or more. Refreshments available for purchase.

New offerings in our art classes for all levels including beginners; start at any time!

Classical drawing in the new "mill studio" at the History Center -- enter at 199 Forest Street; parking along the side of the building. Learn to draw accurately and realistically using the sight-size method. Learn important concepts of line accuracy, quality, and value structure by drawing from the lithographic plates of Charles Bargue, a 19th-century master artist and printmaker. Info and to register classical drawing, Cheney Homestead arts. Instructor Trudy Mitchell, who can answer questions and describe the program.

New, the March 6-8, 2020, painting wi th Christina Grace Mastrangelo. Dates, details, instructor bios: Art at the Homestead .

Our February TV show --

"Joe McCluskey Statue Dedication,” a 52-minute television show recorded on November 10, 2019, at the unveiling of the sculpture of Joe McCluskey, Manchester runner and Olympic steeplechase champion, with speeches by Joe's family, the sculptor, Mayor Moran, and members of the Road Race committee. Town Troubadour Bill Ludwig and friends sang an original song about Joe. You can watch this month's show right on your computer, via the Public Access website by clicking: "Statue Dedication" TV Show on Public Access TV.

Pictured above, members of the Sculpture Committee (not all were present for the picture).

To watch on your TV: The show airs 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.

More info, including award criteria, nomination form, and past winners: on the Commission's page of the Town's website

Time for preservation-award nominations!

The Historical Society and the Cheney National Historic Landmark District Commission encourage nominations from the public for awards, given during Preservation Month (May) to property owners "who have improved their property in a manner that preserves its historic value and character. Through their example these owners show we can enhance the present and future of Manchester without discarding its past. The Commission and the Society wish to recognize property owners who have actively maintained or rehabilitated a building in a manner that respects and preserves that building’s historic architectural integrity and character." Deadline for nominations is April 6.

Crossword puzzles --

Test your knowledge of Manchester history! If you missed a puzzle, you can find them at history puzzles .

Remember, the puzzle editor welcomes your ideas for Manchester-history clues.

"Reply" to this email with your not-too-hard puzzle clues.

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.

Additional ways to donate: Employer matching gifts! Direct United Way donations to the Society. Sign in to Amazon via Amazon Smile and have a percentage of your purchases go to the Society. .