Who is this distinguished gent? Why does his name live on in Manchester?

Hint: He lived from 1860 to 1957.

Scroll down for answers.

Thursday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m., all welcome to a free online program about Manchester's Jewish history. Register here through the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford.

Read more on our Events page.

This 1930 image shows an employee outing -- the cravat department of Cheney Brothers. Thanks to Dick Jenkins for this photo. Larger image here.

Above: Illing science fair winners.

Below: A gardening column featuring the Perennial Planters and their volunteer work in Manchester gardens.

See the 3/26/1951 edition here.

Browse all The Heralds here.

The Courier -- The Historical Society's quarterly printed newsletter was mailed to members, and is also available online: March Courier.

Pictured above, Preservation Award winners from 2019 (click image for a larger view). Nominated properties exhibit "efforts to preserve or restore architectural features and characters emblematic of the original architectural style and construction of the building." View previous award winners here. Nominations are due April 1, 2021. You can submit nominations online:

The Historical Society and the Cheney Brothers National Historic Landmark District (CBNHLD) Commission are seeking nominations for 2021 -- to recognize property owners who have improved their property in a manner that preserves its historic value and character. "Through their examples, these owners show we can enhance the present and future of Manchester without discarding its past. The society and the commission invite you to participate in our Annual Historic Preservation Awards Program. Buildings nominated must be at least 50 years old. Buildings which are identified as contributing properties in any of Manchester’s National Register of Historic Districts will receive additional consideration, but they do not have to be within the Cheney Brothers National Historic Landmark District.

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Ongoing and new offerings -- Info: art classes at the History Center. Questions may be directed to Trudy Mitchell. ONGOING: Classical Drawing -- "Learn the art and science of accurate drawing based on traditional 19th-century methods." Six-week sessions on Saturdays from 9:30-12:30.

Pictured on right, our art studio, lower level of History Center, a 42,000-square-foot building that used to be the Cheney Machine Shop, and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The Center was built beginning in 1895, although this part of the building dates to the early 20th century.

Counting down to Manchester's 200th anniversary year, which begins January 1, 2023: 646 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.

March TV show airs at noon and 8:00 p.m. Saturdays throughout this month --"Connecticut Architecture,” in which author Christopher Wigren talks about this beautifully illustrated book, in a one-hour television program. One of the featured buildings is in Manchester, and is discussed in detail. Christopher Wigren is an architectural historian and Deputy Director of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. His articles and essays have appeared in The Hartford Courant, The New Haven Register, and Connecticut Explored magazine. The book is a project of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, and reflects 30+ years of fieldwork and research in statewide architectural surveys and National Register of Historic Places programs. The book talk was recorded April 7, 2019 at the History Center, 175 Pine Street. Pictured above right is the cover of the book.You can watch on Cox cable channel 15, which broadcasts in Manchester, Glastonbury, South Windsor, Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Newington. Or, watch this month's show on the Public Access website Current TV Program on Manchester Public Access website. Many other shows available on the Public Access website by putting "Historical" in the Search field.

Our February 11 e-newsletter featured the Walter Bunce house (see image on right, 34 Bidwell Street) -- this house is featured in Mr. Wigren's book and in the TV show described above. The house is on the Connecticut Freedom Trail.

Fred Ayers Verplanck was a school principal and superintendent of schools. Verplanck School is named for him. More about Mr. Verplanck.

The Sculpture Project is raising funds to create a life-size statue of Miss Elisabeth Bennet at this school where she was principal. Read more about Miss Bennet and her accomplishments, and consider a donation to the Sculpture Project now, during International Women's Month.

Enjoy the large collection of Somanhis (South Manchester High School) yearbooks on our website. In addition to photos of the graduating seniors, these books have ads for local businesses, photos of school activities, and sometimes poetry and prose by the students. Thanking our volunteers, especially Bob Gauthier, Noreen Cullen, Jim Hall, Joshua Pruden, Dick Jenkins, Susan Barlow.

Please jot down your thoughts about

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]."

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. .