Manchester Historical Society
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Fireside reading --
Friday, December 13, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., traditional reading of Charles Dickens's "Christmas Carol" at the Cheney Homestead, 106 Hartford Road. Immerse yourself in this classic 1843 story of Ebenezer Scrooge in a lightly dramatized fireside reading, followed by refreshments and period carol singing. All are welcome! Suggested donation $5.
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Painting of the Cheney Homestead by Russell Cheney (1881-1945).
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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.
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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.
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Thrall Hall.
Meet opposite 145 Chamberlain Road, East Windsor. Dress warmly. Free. No reservations needed, just come promptly at 11:00 a.m.
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For frequent postings of photos, clippings and upcoming events.
Pictured at left
, circa 1921 photo by John Knoll at Center Spring Park, Manchester.
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1919 Welcome Home Day
--
The official souvenir program to "honor those Manchester men and women who served in the World War 1914 to 1919." This included those who served in the Red Cross, raised money, etc. Read
the booklet on our website. The booklet also celebrates the establishment of Manchester Memorial Hospital.
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Movie night --
Thursday, December 19, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., at the History Center, 175 Pine Street. We will present a guided tour of Frank Capra’s 1946 holiday classic film starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore, with commentary from hosts David Garnes and Peter Millett. Suggested donation $2 per person; $5 per family of 3 or more. Refreshments available for purchase.
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Russell Cheney painting of the Homestead.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
.
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Genealogy Group meeting, Tuesday, January 14, 10:00 a.m. (no December meeting)
New Year's Day walk on the Great Lawn, Wednesday, January 1 at 1:00 p.m.
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Steampunk --
...at the History Center on
Saturday, 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." Dressing up in Steampunk or Victorian is preferred but optional.
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
.
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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. .
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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.
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The History Center, 175 Pine Street, is open Tuesday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., except holidays. • The Cheney Homestead, 106 Hartford Road, is generally open the second Sunday of the month 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and on special occasions • The Old Manchester Museum, 126 Cedar Street, is open the first Saturday of the month from 10:00 to 2:00 p.m.; closed January through April, reopening in May. • The Woodbridge Farmstead grounds and barn, 495 East Middle Turnpike, at Manchester Green, are open the second and fourth Sundays, noon to 2:00 p.m. May to October.
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