Special tour of Thrall Hall for Society members and guests --

Saturday, November 23, at 11:00 a.m. We have received an invitation from UConn engineering professor Howard Epstein to tour this unique building with its owners, Doug and Janett Moore. The dance hall (and its controversies over the years) has been featured on NPR, the Connecticut Historical Society, and Connecticut Museum Quest, CTMQ, which provides virtual tours of Connecticut museums, and whose author, Stephen Wood, we thank for the photo of Thrall Hall on the right. Professor Epstein has been involved with the building for years -- facilitating UConn student projects and advising the current owners. Questions: Peter Millett, 860-205-5875.

Thrall Hall.

Meet opposite 145 Chamberlain Road, East Windsor. Dress warmly. Free. No reservations needed, just come promptly at 11:00 a.m.

Movie night --

Thursday, November 21, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., at the History Center, 175 Pine Street. We will show a 1954 film, adapted from one of Jules Verne’s futuristic Victorian novels, with Kirk Douglas as the intrepid harpooner and James Mason as the mysterious Captain Nemo, doing battle on sea and land in a colorful, marvel-filled underseas adventure. Hosts: David Garnes and Peter Millett. Suggested donation $2 per person; $5 per family of 3 or more. Refreshments available for purchase.

ALSO, Thursday, December 19, guided tour of Frank Capra’s 1946 holiday classic film starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore.

Joe McCluskey statue.

The Manchester Sculpture Project proudly announces the gift to Manchester of a bronze statue of the Town's greatest runner, now in place in the parklet at Highland Street near Spring Street -- along the route of the 4.7-mile Thanksgiving Day Road Race, which Joe is credited with popularizing. The Manchester Historical Society is the project's fiduciary partner, and now that the first bronze statue is complete, fund-raising has begun for a statue of educator Elisabeth Bennet. Details and how to donate.

Pictured above, some members of the committee with Joe's statue. Read the booklet about Joe, his running career and family, and about artist Michael Keropian, who sculpted the statue.

Manchester Herald digitization.

THANKS to all who donated to the Herald digitization project, matching the gift of an anonymous philanthropist by November 8. We still need donations for some additional microfilm rolls that have been located.

Can you help? Send a check to: Manchester Historical Society, 175 Pine Street, Manchester, CT 06040. Please write Manchester Herald project in the check's memo line. Questions? Call the Society at 860-647-9983, or reply to this email. For a sample of a digitized searchable Herald, click the masthead image above.

Russell Cheney painting of the Homestead.

Homestead open house --

Sunday, December 7, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., 106 Hartford Road. Traditional crafts for all as you visit this early American home, including the Homestead Art Gallery. Be inspired by Manchester's rich history in art. Tour the 1785 Homestead, which was donated to the Manchester Historical Society by the Cheney family in 1968 for use as a house museum. For old photos and history of the Homestead, visit Cheney Homestead history. We plan Open Houses generally on the second Sunday of the month. Donations welcomed for the upkeep of the Homestead.

Art classes for all levels

At the Cheney Homestead, 106 Hartford Road, ongoing classes continue into 2020 and beyond. Join the Friday drawing class at any time (pro-rated fee). Classical Drawing with Trudy Mitchell, Provincetown Print with Steven Sottile, Book Discussion with Joyce B. Teed. And in 2020, Painting wi th Christina Grace Mastrangelo. Dates, details, instructor bios: Art at the Homestead .

Holly & Ivy gala fundraiser --

Sunday, December 15 , from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the History Center, 175 Pine Street. All welcome to this holiday celebration, a festive cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, a signature cocktail, soft drinks, Christmas cookies, and coffee bar. Silent auction items include gift certificates to Labyrinth Brewery, Woodland Gardens, and Little Theater of Manchester. Dust off your holiday finery and join us for a joyous celebration. Reserve early – limited to 150 guests. $45.00 per person. Click for a printable invitation and additional details. Deadline is December 6. You can mail in the form with your check, or drop by the History Center on Tuesdays through Fridays from 10:00 to 2:00 to pay by cash, check, or credit card.

Steampunk is coming --

...to the History Center on December 7 from 3:00 to 9 :00 p.m. Host Oddball Newt welcomes attendees to join him "in a traditional retro-futuristic holiday celebration. It'll be a night of merriment and Manchester history, with live music, caroling, tree decorating contest, panel presentations, a photo-booth, and an artisan marketplace." The Eternal Frontier, Manchester's Town Troubadour, Bill Ludwig, and The Silk City Chorus perform. Cheese & cracker buffet. Tickets: $15 early online; $20 at the door; $10 for children, teens, senior citizens, and Historical Society members. Cash bar. Purchase online through a link on our website's Events page . NOTE the revisions on hours and prices.

Old Manchester Museum --

Open Saturday, December 7 from 10:00 to 2:00, 126 Cedar Street. Note: Closed January through April as we create new exhibits. View old maps, a Spencer rifle, vintage voting booth, Pitkin glass. A museum store sells local-history books and copies of maps. Some research resources available. Free; donations welcome. Pictured at right, exhibits at the museum. Pictured below, museum; the former Cheney school, built 1859.

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. .

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.”