April 2012 News Letter

 

APRIL PROGRAM: X-RAYS IN HISTORY AND POP CULTURE Tuesday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Meriden Public Library Griffin Room. (105 Miller Street, Meriden)

Dr Sherwin Borsuk, president of Midstate Radiology Associates and a member of the Meriden Historical Society Board will present The History of Radiology and it’s effect on popular culture.

The talk is open to the public. Admission is free.

 

AT THE ANDREWS HOMESTEAD

The City has completed the first phase of repairs to the Andrews Homestead. Seventeen new windows have been installed and the porch and rear doors replaced. The city is now awaiting another grant to finish the remaining windows, paint the house and replace the fence.

MAY OPEN HOUSE AND EXHIBIT AT THE HOMESTEAD

Plans are under way for our May open house featuring the BRADLEY AND HUBBARD  MANUFACTURING COMPANY (B&H).

Although Mr. Bradley and Mr. Hubbard may no longer enjoy recognition as entrepreneurs, even in their own city, the products they manufactured at the factory that bore their names are prized and sought after in the antiques world. Their legacy of generosity to the citizens of Meriden is celebrated in this exhibit along with many fine examples of their wares.

 

FOUND IN OUR ARCHIVES

While going through our archives, re-filing various papers, our volunteers came across this 1885 (or so) witty note:

“My Dear Niece,

In conformity to a long established custom, I congratulate thee on thy birthday return.

I should be much pleased if I could meet thee with other friends this evening but the Blue Laws of the State Of Connecticut prohibits people from being out evenings after they are ninety years of age unless they are accompanied by their Mothers. Therefore, please excuse my absence and with many good wishes for thy future happiness.

I remain the same,

Old Uncle Samuel Barnard Hussey”

SUMMER-LONG TAG SALE

To help raise money for the upkeep of our research center, the Society will be holding a monthly community-wide tag sale at the parking lot of the Research Center: 1090 Hanover Ave S. Meriden, CT on the Second Saturday of each month: May 12, June 9, July 14, Aug 11, September 8 & October 13 (Weather permitting) 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. Prices per each set-up are: Members: $10.00 non-members – $15.00. Dealers are welcome.

The Society plans on having its own booth at the sale. We need both donations for the sale and volunteers to staff the booth. Your much-needed donations can be dropped off at Fair Weather Antiques (Thursday, Friday and Saturday), at the Research Center (on Wednesday afternoons). To arrange for a pick-up, or to volunteer call Neda Weathers 203-237-4636 or Bill Siegel 203-235-2217.  No appliances please – collectibles and smalls only.

 

A HEARTY WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS:

Kathleen Finaldi of Meriden CT and Arthur J. Hall of Cathedral City CA.

 

CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT IN MERIDEN

150^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL WAR

A Civil War Encampment will be held on Saturday, October 6, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Hanover Pond’s Dossin Beach Park in Meriden.  We invite you to a prelude Civil War Remembrance Concert on Friday, October 5, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Middle School theater.

These events honor the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, recognizing Meriden’s contribution to the war effort by focusing on the social, economic and cultural practices of the time.  Our Encampment will portray life in the Union Army (not a reenactment of North-South fighting).

Civil War Encampment is a collaborative effort between four local non-profit groups: the Second Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery; Meriden Historical Society; Meriden Arts Trust; and host of the event, the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association.

We plan to have a spirited day filled with varied activities for all ages.  The highlight of the Encampment will be marching and drilling, presented around noon, by the soldiers of the Second CT Volunteer Heavy Artillery.

Two special quests will speak in the QRWA building.  In the morning, a one-woman performance of They Called Me Lizzy, portrays the retrospective life of Elizabeth Keckly, former slave who became the seamstress of Mary Todd Lincoln.  The afternoon features Matthew Warshauer, Ph.D. and author of Connecticut in the American Civil War: Slavery, Sacrifice & Survival, co-chair of the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Committee and Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University.

A variety of performances and topics relevant to the Meriden community, or to the Civil War, will be presented outdoors on Meriden’s Show Mobile (our portable stage).

We anticipate 1,000-2,000 visitors.  Crafts, beverages and food will be available for purchase.

Anyone wishing to get involved can contact the QRWA at (203) 237-2237 and leave a message.

 

CORRECTIONS:

Inadvertently, Jim and Betty Masterson’s generous donation to the Society last year as well as that of Rosalie Cross’ have been omitted from last month’s bulletin. My sincere apologies to both.

Condolences on the passing of Leon Bartholomew also go to Joan, Grace, Paul, Erma Robert and Louise.

IN MEMORIAM DONATIONS

The board of directors of the Historical Society has approved the purchase of two new display cases. One will be dedicated to the memory of Rita Picciafochi and will be purchased with donations made in her memory. A second, matching display case will be dedicated to the memory of Leon Bartholomew and will be purchased with donations made in his memory. The case in memory of Rita will be placed in the Andrews Homestead while the one in memory of Leon will be placed at the Bernice Morehouse Research Center where he spent many happy hours working on Historical Society projects.

MANY THANKS TO:

John G Arndt, Agnes Baur, Frank Chiarenza, Martha Colaresi, Ruth Ann Davis, Mark Dunn, Nancy Gluck, Deb Glanz Hanna, Margaret Jenkins Mr. & Mrs. C.E. Mosher, Joan Munger, and John Yuza for their recent donations to the society.

 

The Society would like to thank Jim and Betty Masterson for their donation of two memorial books honoring United States Senator (1879-1905) Orville Hitchcock Platt.  Orville H. Platt was born in Washington CT (July 19, 1827) and made his residency in Meriden where he practiced law from 1850 till his death here in town (April 21, 1905). He was interred in Washington CT at the Cemetery on the Green.