Who is this couple? What bequest of the man surprised the Town? What building, still in use today, is named after him?

Bonus question for extra credit, What was the career of the gentleman pictured?

Scroll down to the bottom of the e-newsletter for the answers.

Counting down to Manchester's 200th anniversary year, which begins January 1, 2023: 779 days.

The Manchester Historical Society is planning exciting activities for the Town's year-long bicentennial celebration. Check out the activities of the 1923 celebration, documented in this booklet on our website.

Folk art depiction of Manchester Green. Read more about the Green here.

Click the image on the left to try the jigsaw puzzle. For more jigsaw puzzles, visit our Facebook page.

Tea times are 11:00 to 3:00 on:

One seating per day; arrive any time between 11:00 and 3:00.

Member and neighbor Laura Reichelt invites the public to a tea and fundraiser for the Historical Society. Serving tea, savory sandwiches, and treats, reminiscent of the Victorian times. An opportunity to visit the Charles Cheney Mansion, 131 Hartford Road, Manchester. Reserve by phoning Laura at 860-558-1957 or email Laura Reichelt. COVID safety requirements: only 6 guests per room, masks required. $30.00 a seat; checks payable to Laura Reichelt. Proceeds donated to Manchester Historical Society. Laura adds, "New to the Charles Cheney Mansion tea is our Mansion Boutique on the Front Porch."

You can browse the old Heralds to find out more about Everything Manchester -- sports, clubs and organizations, government, police news, schools, births, deaths, marriages, opinion, and more, more, more.

The November 13, 1930 edition of The Herald reported, "This Year’s Turkeys Better Than Ever. The dry weather has helped turkey raisers this year, said Mr. Marks, Manchester’s turkey champion, at his Summer street poultry plant . . . Mr. Marks was induced to go into the turkey raising game on a large scale through the insistence of his two daughters, Minnie and Edith, both of whom have received 4-H Club training and who last year spent much of their time with the large turkey brood, and at Thanksgiving and Christmas time conducted a store on Main street to dispose of their large supply." • The Herald was offering for sale a dictionary for 98 cents, regular price $3.50. • The feature "This and That in Feminine Lore" included recipes: one for mushroom-stuffed pepper, and one for fig pudding. • The Manchester Grange held its annual meeting in the Odd Fellows Hall; 60 members attended. • Robert J. Smith, real estate and insurance agent, advertised, "Buy a lot on Green Hill Terrace, Pitkin street. Be sure to see this beautiful residential section before deciding."

See these items and more in the 11/13/1930 Herald edition.

Ongoing and new offerings --

Info: art classes at the History Center.

Questions may be directed to Trudy Mitchell. Trudy has created an arts newsletter; you can subscribe here.

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Please share your Manchester COVID reflection! Details about contributing... Think about how life has changed, how we've been negatively affected, what benefits we've noticed. School e-newsletter editor, Jim Farrell, is calling upon us to write a 200-800 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. More info: Manchester essays wanted. Send contributions to Jim Farrell, communications director of the school district at [email protected]."

Return to Vietnam -- an 88-minute television show recorded at the History Center in October 2015, during the visit to Manchester of The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam memorial in Washington, D.C. The program features Billy Johnson, Manchester native and Marine combat veteran, who returned to Vietnam in 1989 with other veterans to advocate for removal of land mines. Their trip was filmed by a local TV station. Then veteran Marty Cannata's film was shown -- his own film about his return to Vietnam; this film includes snapshots from the war years. The veterans program included a "Chat with the Past," when veterans commented on their experiences during the war. View the program brochure of events and activities during the Wall's visit to Manchester. The show airs at 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. The television show is produced by Susan Barlow, directed by Kathryn Wilson, researched by Jill Gelinas, all volunteers of the Manchester Historical Society. You can watch some of our previous television shows online at the Town website Historical shows on demand. You can watch this month's show on the Public Access website "Return to Vietnam" show on Public Access TV.

Dr. Francis Whiton, M.D. (1846-1922) married Mary Elizabeth Loomis in 1870. At his death in 1922, he was a wealthy man. The Courant reported on June 13, 1922: "Manchester Given New Library Fund"-- Dr. Francis H. Whiton, for over fifty years engaged in the practice of medicine in Manchester and twice honored by the town by being elected to the legislature from Manchester, has well remembered the honors bestowed as it became known tonight that in his will, after making provision for the life use of his money and securities for the proper support and comfort of his wife that the remainder of his estate go to the town of Manchester to be used as a fund for the erection of a new library in Manchester. …It was…a big surprise to all when from an outside source it was learned what disposition of his money the doctor had made. The exact amount of the estate is not at present known because the inventory has not been filed, but it is understood to be sufficient to provide from the income for Mrs. Whiton. There are no children." The Whiton library in the North End is named for Dr. Whiton.

Click the image to read a 1908 mini-bio of Dr. Whiton.

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. .