Manchester Historical Society
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SPECIAL OFFER during the pandemic!
Be a part of history in the making.
"It takes time to put current events in context, and that will certainly be the case with the pandemic we are living through, but even now, in the middle of it, we know this is a big, big deal -- for Manchester, for our state and nation, for the world.
" -- Jim Farrell
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Writer's wanted...
Our school's e-newsletter,
One Manchester, has an offer for us! Editor Jim Farrell says, "We are asking people who live or work in Manchester to contribute collectively to an account that will serve forever as part of the local historical record about the coronavirus." Jim's calling upon us to write a 300-800 word essay, and if it's published in the newsletter, it will also be printed in a hard-bound book to be donated to the Manchester Historical Society and displayed at our museum. "We are looking for different points of view. Examples:
- A college student who's been sent home might write about the surprising appeal of distance learning.
- A waitress who is temporarily unemployed might write about using the down time to learn to cook like a pro.
- A sidelined salesman now working part-time from home decides to do some long overdue home renovation project."
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"We don't know what people might care to share but are open to anything, although we have some guidelines: There is no compensation and anything you submit can be edited for length, style, etc., but it won't be printed until and unless the writer is happy with the final version
Decisions on what to include will be made by Jim Farrell, communications director of the school district. Simply submit your contribution to
b11jfarr@mpspride.org."
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Besides writing that essay and 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 COVID-19.
Below: You might take along this great printable
brochure created in 2009 by Carol Cheney. It identifies buildings in the Cheney silk district and includes a map, photographs, and commentary.
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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.
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And check out our
other maps, including street maps, panoramic maps, topo, and railroad maps.
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Maps and more maps
Check out various
Manchester maps on our website.
On the left, map showing various historic districts in the South End of Manchester. Click the image to see a larger version of the map.
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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 93 Phelps Road, built in 1938. The surveys were conducted by consultants who researched samplings of houses of various styles in various neighborhoods.
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Keep up with history despite cancellation of events!
You can learn more about local history right from your home computer or mobile device! Of course,
our website is rich in Manchester info, including town directories, high school yearbooks, the Manchester
Sports Hall of Fame, etc.
But also, consider
signing up for "Today in Connecticut History," a free e-newsletter by Walt Woodward, State Historian. The April 2 entry: "Today in 1919, the medical paper 'Complications of Influenza' was read to a desperately worried Hartford County Medical Society, which feared a renewed outbreak of a devastating global flu pandemic that had first reared its ugly head in Connecticut nearly 12 months before. This strain of flu – commonly called 'Spanish influenza' though it had originated at a military base in Kansas – was unlike any ever seen before. More virulent, it ultimately killed over 600,000 people in the United States and up to 100 million across the globe." More from Walt's email about the
flu in April 1919.
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Click the image above to sign up for free daily e-mails. There's also a
trivia challenge to test your knowledge of Connecticut history.
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Walt's
March 31 entry directs us to a fascinating "mash-up" map, comparing 1934 to today. Click the dual-map image above to see this zoom-able map and wander around the whole state of Connecticut. The snippet above shows the difference between pre-I-384 and post-I-384 -- changing the southeastern part of Manchester.
More from Walt's March 31 email: "The First Statewide Aerial Photography Survey in the US. In 1933, Connecticut Governor Wilbur L. Cross, determined to move forward with infrastructure improvements in spite of budget constraints caused by the Great Depression, presented the State Planning Board with a formal request for an aerial photographic survey of the entire state."
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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.
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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.
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April TV show --
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. 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.
Unfortunately, the cable studio and equipment is unavailable through the end of May, so we will not be able to make new TV shows for a while.
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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.
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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.
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More info, including award criteria, nomination form, and past winners: on the Commission's page of the
Town's website
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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.
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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.
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Above, painting of the Homestead by Russell Cheney (1881-1945).
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Remember, the puzzle editor welcomes your ideas for Manchester-history clues.
"Reply" to this email with your not-too-hard puzzle clues.
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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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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.
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