Haddam Historical Society Newsletter
News and Events August 5, 2016
In This Issue
Haddam Historical Society

P.O. Box 97
Haddam, CT 06438

14 Hayden Hill Road
Haddam, CT

Open
Wed 9-3
Thurs 2-8
Fri 12-3

Summer Sundays
1 - 4

Any by chance......

www.haddamhistory.org 
Greetings, 

Hard to believe summer is half way over. We are fortunate to have an intern, Laura Schneider working with us and  helping with scanning historic documents, sending out acknowledgements, answering the phone and doing anything else that needs to get done. The gardens are in stellar shape and we encourage you stop by and enjoy if only for a few minutes. The gardens are always open during daylight hours.

Please -if you haven't already mailed in your 2016 donation to the Haddam Historical Society .......now would be the perfect time. We especially rely on community support to maintain the museum, provide both student and adult programs, and share our town's history with all. YOU CAN MAKE A SECURE DONATION ONLINE AT OUR WEB SITE:   www.haddamhistory.org.

 Thankfully yours, 

Elizabeth Malloy
Haddam Historical Society
 

 "Hidden in the Midden" Programs at the
Thankful Arnold House Museum

Thursday, August 25, 3 pm to 6 pm
Saturday, August 27, 1 pm to 4 pm
Sunday, August 28, 1 pm to 4 pm
 
The Haddam Historical Society will host a series of programs focusing on the current archaeological dig at the Thankful Arnold House Museum. The recently discovered midden (trash deposit) was uncovered this spring on the location of the historic Arnold Family barn along Hayden Hill Road.

Participants will join team members and partake first hand in the excavation to learn basic archaeological procedures, excavating techniques and how to identify and catalog items. The programs will provide a glimpse into the rubbish of an early "middle-class" Connecticut River Valley family who occupied the property from 1794 to 1962. The dig is being led by archaeologist, Bonnie Plourde and the programs are being funded by a generous grant from CT Humanities.

The programs are free and open to the public. The museum is located at 14 Hayden Hill Road, Haddam, CT 06438 and ample parking is available at the Town Hall and Town Office Building behind the museum on Field Park Drive. Three more programs will follow in September. For additional information please visit www.haddamhistory.org or call 860-345-2400. 
 

Few More Volunteers Needed!

We are still looking for a few volunteers to help with the initial stages of the archaeological dig. If you are interested please call the office at 860-345-2400. Space is limited so call soon.

 The dates for phase 1 are:
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 9 am to 1 pm
Thursday, August 18, 2016 9 am to 1 pm
Monday, August 22, 2016 9 am to 1 pm
Tuesday, August 23, 9 am to 1 pm
 
Trowels and guidance will be provided. Plan on getting dirty.
 
860-345-2400

Thank you to Deb Rutter, Amy and Doug Roper and Sarah and David Neal for transplanting garden plants and moving the rocks around so we can DIG!

Grants

The Haddam Historical Society is thrilled to announce that we have received two recent grants- one from CT Humanities and one from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation/1772 Foundation.

The CT Humanities Grant will allow the Society to offer six on-site public programs centering the archaeological dig at the Thankful Arnold House. The presentations will educate the community on the methods and procedures of an archaeological dig, how to access the artifacts, allow them to observe first-hand the work in progress and partake with hands-on elements and participation.
 
The led archaeologist is Bonnie Plourde who has an anthropology/archaeology degree from Central Connecticut State University and has done digs throughout Connecticut with the State Archaeologist and FOSA (Friends of the State Archaeologist and coordinated the Connecticut State Archaeology Day. She is extremely enthusiastic about the dig and looks forward to sharing the findings with the community.
 
The Haddam Historical Society is extremely grateful to CT Humanities for this Quick Grant which will allow us to explore the material culture of the Arnold Family and provide a glimpse into the trash of a "middle-class" Connecticut River Valley Family. We hope this physical connection with the past will help visitors and participants to gain a better understanding of human behavior and how it has changed over time.

Connecticut Humanities, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, supports cultural and historic organizations that tell the state's stories, build community and enrich lives.

The second grant is from the 1772 Foundation in cooperation with the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. The $4500 grant will help us paint the exterior of the Thankful Arnold House Museum, restore exterior clapboards and renovate the original 12 x 12 sash. This work will begin in late summer.


 
Chester Fair Historical Exhibit is Looking for Volunteers
 
Claudia Epright, Superintendent of the Antiques Exhibit at the Chester Fair is looking for volunteers to help monitor the display during the weekend of August 26 to 28. 2 or 4 hours shifts are available. If interested please call Lisa at HHS and she can forward the information.
 


 
Need Volunteers for Haddam Neck Fair

Each year the Haddam Historical Society has an informational tent at the Haddam Neck Fair. We are looking for volunteers for
Saturday- September 3
 Sunday- September 4
Monday-September 5
 
Shifts are 2 hours long and start at 10 AM. This is a great opportunity to promote the organization and meet interesting people.  It is also a chance to come out and support a community event that has been in existence for over 100 years and has much to offer. There are still many agricultural elements including horse, cattle, poultry, and sheep to name a few. There are still competitions in flowers, vegetables, and baked goods.  The baby show is still a big draw and the music is fantastic. If noise and motors are your thing there is the Street Stock Truck Pull and modified tractor pull. There is something for everyone. For more information on the fair visit www.haddamneckfair.com

Slots available all three days:
10 am to NOON
Noon to 2 pm
2 pm to 4 pm
4 pm to 6 pm

Email me at director@haddamhistory.org or call me at 860-345-2400 if you can help. In advance-THANK YOU.






The 20th Annual Venture Smith Day Celebration
Saturday, September 10, 2016
1 to 4 pm
First Church Cemetery, Town Street, East Haddam, CT
 




Historic Baseball Exhibit on Display at 
Brainerd Memorial Library until August 26th.


Higgies Baseball Team 1949
L to R Bottom: Mort Waz, Frank Heger, Midge Kuchyt, Lou Nosal, Eddie Ressler, Johnnie Poison Berchulski, John Muzik, Bill Vanderlaan
L to R Top: Robert (Corky) Blakely, John (Chick) Yantosh, Joe Marica, Bud Negrelli, M. Hmielewski

Wine Tasting Recap

On Saturday, July 16 Laura Grimmer and her husband, Michael Beil hosted a delightful wine tasting at their lovely home on Walkley Hill. Laura is a classically French-trained private chef and certified sommelier who specializes in pairing food and wines for a memorable dining experience. Michael is a children's book author and they have just recently relocated from New York City to Haddam full time. 

The evening started with a tour of the vineyard and their historic home which was formerly a barn and carefully restored to a stunning retreat. The first wine, Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut Cava from Spain was paired with a Shrimp, Avocado, Jalapeno and Lime Ceviche. Laura talked about each of the wines before asting and included history, tasting techniques and how the appetizers enhanced the wine. The next wine was Chateau Fage Graves de Vyres 2015 from France/Bordeaux was served with Fresh Pea Shooters with Mine and Pine Nuts. The final tasting was Domaine de la Chantel-Euserie Bourgueil 2014 from France/Loire paired with Crostini with Goat Cheese, Roasted Tomatoes and Oregano Oil. 

All the wines and nibbles were fantastic and everyone had a thoroughly good time. Thank you so much Laura and Michael. A footnote: Laura is opening  a Kitchen store in Chester which will include locally made items. Looking forward to a visit.















Summer Program

In late June the Society hosted our annual "Week in the Life of an Early American Child." The program was a great success and we had a wonder week learning about the daily activities of  1830s children. Participants did chores including wash, emptying the chamber pot, sweeping, cleaning candles sticks and scrubbing the fence. Students also learned about animal care and created a fiber craft with "Aunt Fanny" (Vivienne McGarry from Cold Goats Farm in Haddam Neck) and washed and carded wool. There were many other activities and the week concluded with a presentation to parents, grandparents and friends that included a dance and refreshments. 

The program is headed up by our Education Coordinator, Sarah Neal (aka Thankful Arnold) and assisted by Executive Director, Lisa Malloy (aka Crazy Aunt Sally). Assistants this year included Alyssa Lecky, Caroline Kilian and Laura Schneider.

















T hank you to all who donated to bring a 4th grade class to the Union District School House in Killingworth last June.

Haddam Garden Club
Granite Lodge #119 AF & AM
Sue DeCarli
Marge DeBold
Carl and Marijean Conrad
Terry and Carol Smith

Bill Schnieder
Emily Smith
Tracy LaComb
Gloria Gorton
Elizabeth Malloy
Myra Aronow
Dianne McHutchison
David and Sarah Neal
Cindy Sullivan
Jack Calhoun
Charlotte Stetson
Donna Torza