MARCH PROGRAM:

JEDEDIAH WILCOX and THE MERIDEN WILCOX MANSION: HISTORY, MYSTERY and LEGACY

presented by BRIAN COFRANCESCO

TUESDAY, 3/11/14 6:30 P.M. at the Meriden Public Library, 105 Miller Street, Meriden

Brian CoFrancesco, an architectural historian, will be presenting a program about Jedediah Wilcox, a Meriden manufacturer and partner in the Wilcox Silver Plate Company.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Most long-time Meriden residents will recall marveling at the remarkable Wilcox Mansion, situated at 816 Broad St. until its demise in 1971 to make room for a gas station. Someone who knows it especially well is Brian CoFrancesco, an architectural historian who began an investigation into the mansion’s history while a student at the University of Virginia. Brian will give a talk accompanied by a Powerpoint presentation on the ”princely residence” built in 1870 for carpetbag and hoop-skirt manufacturer Jedediah Wilcox.
Co-Sponsored by and presented at the Meriden Public Library, this program is free. All are welcome. If you would like to reserve a seat, contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349, email comsvc@hotmail.

AT THE ANDREWS HOMESTEAD:

We were pleased to welcome the teachers of PSI Chapter, Alpha Delta Kappa to the Andrews Homestead Meriden Museum. A history of Meriden and its manufacturers was included in the guided tour.

A special tour is scheduled for the fifth grade students of the Ben Franklin School. The students, their teacher and accompanying parents will be visiting us in early March.

 

APRIL PROGRAM:

SALTS presented by LESLEY SOLKOSKE

Scheduled for April 8, 2014 at 6:30 pm at the Meriden Public Library 105 Miller St. Meriden

Lesley Solkoske, a member of both the Meriden Historical Society and the New England Society of Open Salt Collectors, will give a presentation on Salts, open salt dishes used to serve salt on the Victorian dinner table before the days of salt shakers! She will display salts made here in Meriden and elsewhere.

 

SPECIAL THANKS to Chris Ruel, Brian CoFrancesco, Jan Franco, Frank Pociadlo, Dian Tobin and Ruth Borsuk who put together a powerpoint presentation titled A HISTORY OF MERIDEN.  We now have a “canned” program, ready to be presented anywhere. Heartfelt thanks to the CUNO Foundation whose grant allowed us to purchase the necessary equipment for this and future such programs.

ADDITIONAL THANKS are extended to Bruce and Stacey Rovinsky. The Rovinsky family had opened their Halloween transformed Meriden Home to the public as a fun filled fundraiser. The Meriden  Historical Society  is grateful to have received a generous donation from the Rovinsky family.

 

WE WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS

Seth Eddy of Meriden, CT

Lisa Davis of New Haven, CT

Patricia F. Singer of Atlanta, GA

 

FOR THEIR DONATION TO THE MERIDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

WE THANK

Sherwin and Ruth Borsuk

Glen Fulton

James and Betty Masterson

Bruce and Stacey Rovinsky

Patricia Singer