Manchester Historical Society
|
|
Crossword puzzles --
Want to try
a new crossword
puzzle? Test your knowledge of Manchester history! Hint, the 7-letter answer for 1 Down (Amby in the Sports Hall of Fame) ran the Manchester Thanksgiving Day Road Race many times.
|
|
Most of the answers are on our website! Say, would you like to contribute to the next crossword puzzle? Not too hard! But not too easy! Reply to this email or contact the
Town Historian.
|
|
Just a reminder that all public events at the Manchester Historical Society are suspended through at least April 30.
We read with interest a planned Smithsonian Affiliate event at the Connecticut Historical Society: "American Silk: From Sericulture to Status Symbol," free and open to the public, but due to social-distancing policies, the date, Wednesday, April 29, is iffy and the event may not take place. We'll have more info in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, you can phone us at 860-647-9983.
|
|
Besides reading history books online...
you can also take some history walks on your own -- with 6' separation from others, as required for social distancing and protection from the coronavirus.
You might take the walking tour sketched out in this brochure of a
Walking Tour of the Cheney historic district; the two-page printable pamphlet was developed in the 1980s and 1990s by Manchester Community College professors John Sutherland, Tom Lewis, and Sylvian Ofiara. The illustrated brochure includes a map.
Or take a walk on the historic Cheney railroad, now a 2-1/2-mile trail, using this printable
trail map. Note that the trestle over Center Street is now open, so you can go straight across rather than skirt around Elm Terrace, etc.
|
|
The Spiess & Bidwell book
History of Manchester Connecticut has been out of print for years, but we occasionally receive vintage copies, and we sell extras, not needed for our archives, in the museum store.
|
|
And check out our
other maps, including street maps, panoramic maps, and railroad maps.
|
|
Maps, maps, more maps
Check out various
Manchester maps on our website.
On the left, snippet from the 1880 map of North Manchester. Click the image to see a larger version of the map.
|
|
Recent Facebook post
Our Facebook page recently pointed out the online
Historic and Architectural Surveys
, available on our website, where viewers can look up historic buildings. The example on the right is 15-17 Kerry Street. The surveys were conducted by consultants who researched samplings of houses of various styles in various neighborhoods.
|
|
|
While you are taking care of your health at home, you can watch our history TV shows online by selecting "Manchester Program Schedule" (the second gray tab) on the
local Public Access website -- then on the next screen, type
Historical into the search box. For the March 2020 show, the 4 Chaplains, see below!
|
|
March TV show --
"The Four Chaplains" a 30-minute television show recorded on February 3, 2020. A solemn ceremony was conducted by members of the American Legion as well as musicians from East Catholic High School and the University of Connecticut. The true story of the death at sea and the sacrifice of the four chaplains was told and each chaplain's biography was read. 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. You can watch this month's show on the Public Access website right from your computer by clicking
"Four Chaplains" TV Show on Public Access TV.
|
|
Pictured above, brochure for the February 3, 2020 event.
Pictured below, bench at the American Legion honoring "All POWs and MIAs. Gone but not forgotten."
|
You can watch more of our history TV shows online by selecting "Manchester Program Schedule" (the second gray tab) on the
local Public Access website -- then on the next screen, type
Historical into the search box.
|
|
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.
|
|
Of current interest -- the 1918 flu.
The lecture, "The Terrible Flu in Manchester, 1918" -- was filmed at the History Center in April 2018, on the hundredth anniversary of the influenza epidemic of 1918. You can watch the show on the Public Access website
"1918 Influenza" TV Show on Public Access TV.
Former State Senator Mary Ann Handley presented this informative talk. A retired Manchester Community College history professor, Mary Ann conducted research on this topic, and at the lecture established a foundation for understanding the medical and statistical aspects of the flu, as well as typical death-rates versus flu death-rates of this time in American and local history. She included information about Manchester's response to the flu. Town troubadour, Bill Ludwig, sang vintage music.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Manchester's death rate in 1918 was much higher than in the previous and subsequent years. Per death certificates in the Town Clerk's office (numbers represent all deaths from all causes; some are farm accidents, cancer, etc.):
1917: 188 deaths
1918: 298 deaths
1919: 186 deaths
Manchester's population was about 16,000 in 1918, so 298 represents about 1.9% of the population.
|
|
Photo above:
Cheney Hall, which served as a hospital in 1918, with cots for those stricken with the flu.
Photo below: Manchester Memorial Hospital, built after the flu epidemic. Click the image for a
1924 booklet about the hospital.
|
|
No open houses for a while!
But you can read more about
the Homestead on our website. When events do return -- each monthly open house at the Homestead has activities and themes, including during various months, gardening, crafts, readings of vintage books, and demonstrations.
|
|
Above, painting of the Homestead by Russell Cheney (1881-1945).
|
|
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. .
|
|
|
Although all our facilities are closed through April 30, we are listing the regular hours in anticipation of the end of the pandemic: The History Center, 175 Pine Street, open Tuesday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., except holidays. • The Cheney Homestead, 106 Hartford Road, 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, 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, open the second and fourth Sundays, noon to 2:00 p.m. May to October.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|