Category: Newsletters

October 2010 Bulletin

 in Newsletters

October, 2010

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Let me introduce myself, I am Peter Slavinski the newly elected President of the Meriden Historical Society. Our October meeting will be held at the Meriden Public Library on Saturday the 30th from 2pm to 3pm in the Griffin room. Our guest speaker will be Joseph Zajac of the Linear Trails and Dwight Needles of the Meriden Land Trust. They will be showing a video of Meriden’s Linear Trail followed by a discussion of future projects. I hope to meet you there and get to know you in person,

Pete

 

OCTOBER PROGRAM: Joseph Zajac (Linear Trails) and Dwight Needles (Meriden Land Trust) Present:

MERIDEN’S LINEAR TRAIL

At the Meriden Public Library Griffin Room

Saturday, October 30th at 2:00 pm

The meeting is open to the public.

AT THE HOMESTEAD:

The Andrews Homestead was one of the featured buildings at the September Boys and Girls Club’s House Tour Fund Raiser. We did not prepare a special exhibit for the occasion or for our traditional October Month Long Open House as the building is in too poor a shape to accommodate visitors. An attempted break-in to the building resulted in damage to the door and the overhang above it. Since we are leasing the building from the city, we are waiting for the city to repair the   damage (as well as previously accumulated damages to the building such as window repair, roof repair, fence repair not to mention chimney pointing and peeling of paint). We hope to be able to open the building to the public in May.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

 

A warm welcome to our new members:

Jacquelyn Beale and Elizabeth Bellante, Anita Cioffi, Barb Metzinger

For their recent donation to the Society , Sincere Thanks to:

Nancy Gluck, Diane Morse and C.E.  Mosher

Special Thanks to our Gold Corporate Members

Naugatuck Savings Bank.

http://www.naugatucksavingsbank.com

251 Church St, Naugatuck CT 06770

203.729-4442

With Branches in Meriden at

100 Hanover St. Meriden, CT 06451

203-639-8866

&

1295 E. Main St. Meriden, CT 06450

203-317-3856

Nest Egg Auction

http://nesteggauctions.com

30 Research Parkway, Meriden CT 06450

203 – 630 – 1400

800-448-0692

and to our Silver Corporate Members

The Record Journal

http://myrecordjournal.com/

11 Crown St, Meriden CT 06450

230-235-1661

San Souci Restaurant

www.sanssoucirestaurant.com

2003 North Broad Street

Meriden, CT 06450

(203) 639-1777

San Souci Restaurant

www.sanssoucirestaurant.com

2003 North Broad Street

Meriden, CT 06450

(203) 639-1777

History of the Silver City Shines in New Book. Local author chronicles dynamic past of Connecticut’s charming Meriden

 in Newsletters


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Named the “Silver City” and later the “Ideal War Community” during World War II, Meriden quickly burgeoned into a major manufacturing center with the advent of the industrial revolution.

The city has also long been enlivened by a diverse mixture of immigrants and newcomers. Bordered on the north by dramatic traprock ridges, Meriden has a larger percentage of parklands than any other town in Connecticut, with Hubbard Park its crowning jewel.

In a new pictorial history book from Arcadia Publishing, local author Janis Leach Franco uses historic photographs to take readers on a nostalgic journey down memory lane.

Highlights of Meriden:

  • Features snapshots from 1864 through the 20th century

  • Showcases the ever-changing city against the never-changing backdrop of the Hanging Hills

  • Contains images of historic houses, factories, banks, pharmacies, restaurants, theaters, grocery stores, bookstores, confectioneries and an old department store

  • Spotlights two important city symbols, Castle Craig and The Traffic Tower

  • Explains why Meriden is known as the “Silver City” – including information about Silver International Co. and its predecessor Meriden Britannia Co.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers at www.amazon.com

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places. Have we done a book on your town? Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2009 NEWS LETTER

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September, 2009

OCTOBER MEETING:

SILVER CITY GLASS CO.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

2:00 pm @ the Meriden Public Library.

A talk on Silver City Glass Co, will be given by Dough Schultz. Doug’s grandfather, Carl Schultz, and Doug’s father, owned and operated this Meriden based silver over glass decorating company.  Please bring in any Silver City items you may have for Show-and-tell. The meeting is co-sponsored by the Meriden Public Library and is open to the public. Refreshments will be served. – Bring a friend!

SPECIAL EXHIBIT: THE NAPIER COMPANY

EXHIBIT and  SHOW & TELL

SUNDAYS IN OCTOBER AT THE ANDREWS HOMESTEAD

Once again we will open our showcase location at the Andrew’s Homestead, 424 W. Main St, Meriden, CT (between Ben Franklin School and McDonalds) Sundays October 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2009  11:00 am – 3:00 pm

THE NAPIER COMPANY is our featured exhibit. On display are banks, bar ware, advertisements smoking related paraphernalia, jewelry, and other collectibles from the early beginnings of the company until it ceased its operation in 1999.

Bring along your favorite Napier items to share with the society and with the visitors who will be there. A special section has been set aside to showcase those “one-day” items. Alternatively, if it’s jewelry, you could simply wear it. We encourage loitering and story telling as well as sharing information and simply having a good time connecting through the rich manufacturing history of our city.


 

 

 

 

 

NOVEMBER MEETING: MERIDEN COOK-BOOKS – A MEMBERS ONLY POTLUCK SUPPER AT THE RESEARCH CENTER.

Thursday, November 12, 6:30 pm

You (and a spouse/friend) are cordially invited to participate in this fun-filled event. Recipes for dishes brought to the communal dinner should be out of any of Meriden’s cook books. Please call Lesley Solkoske at 203-440-3686 to co-ordinate (So we don’t end up with a meal consisting of 12 potato salad dishes.) Don’t own a Meriden Cook Book? – Not a problem – we have recipes we can share, just call Lesley. Ruth Borsuk will talk briefly about her Meriden Cook Book Collection (on display).

potluck06

MERIDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY END OF SUMMER TAG SALE

Saturday September 26th, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Over the summer, the Meriden Historical Society has received many more donated items for our tag sale, from antiques and collectibles to household and just plain “stuff”. We’ll be setting up inside and outside our research center at 1090 Hanover Rd. in So. Meriden

Prices per booth are: $10.00 to members of the Society and $15.00 for non-members.

Dealers are welcome.

To help raise money for the upkeep of our research center, The Society will have its own booth at the sale. Donations to the Historical Society’s Booth are welcome and can be dropped off at Fair Weather Antiques or at the Research Center – or, to arrange for a pick-up, call Neda Weathers 203-237-4636 or Bill Siegel 235-2217.  No appliances please – collectibles and smalls only.

WE WISH TO THANK

Joan Munger

Frank Chiarenza

Margaret S. Jenkins

Andrew Piatek

John Arndt

Paul Gudelski

Donald A. Heckler

Henry Benoit

Clifford Cyphers

Mark S. Dunn

Mr. & Mrs. C E Mosher

Ms.Sheila Kirby

Jim & Betty Masterson

Frank & Marge Suzio

Drury Williford, Jr.

For their generosity through

donations to the Society.

Special Thanks to our Corporate Members

 

Naugatuck Savings Bank

www.naugatucksavingsbank.com

1295 East Main Street

Meriden, CT 06450

&

100 Hanover Street

Meriden, CT 06451

203-639-8866

877-729-4442

 

Nest Egg Auction

www.nesteggauctions.com

30 Research Parkway

Meriden CT 06450

203 – 630 – 1400

800-448-069

APRIL – MAY 2009 NEWS LETTER

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April-May, 2009

APRIL PROGRAM: THE 1860 LINCOLN LECTURE TOUR SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 1:00 PM HUBBARD PARK AT THE EVENT TENT

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

THE 1860 LECTURE TOUR

Presented by the Co-chairs of the Connecticut Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (CALBC)

Michael Burlingame, Professor Emeritus of History at Connecticut College, writer and editor whose latest book Abraham Lincoln: A Life, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, November, 2008 is a seminal, 2 volume biography of the 16th president of the United state.

&

Howard Wright, Dean of Students, Science Department Head, and teacher at Renbrook School in West Hartford, CT Mr. Wright is the first and currently only Connecticut-based member of the Association of Lincoln Presenters, an organization dedicated to the serious portrayal of the 16TH president

SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2009

1:00 P.M.

HUBBARD PARK EVENT TENT

WEST MAIN STREET

MERIDEN CT

Free parking at the park

Free admission

A donation to the Meriden Historical society is requested.

2nd ANNUAL APPRAISAL FAIR A-LA ANTIQUE ROAD SHOW: SUNDAY MAY 3RD , 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM SANDMAN GALLERY – 39 W. MAIN ST. MERIDEN, CT

We will be holding our SECOND Annual Appraisal fair. Fashioned after the PBS program The Antique Road Show, we have taken the fair on the road and are bringing it to the Sandman Gallery, 39 West Main Street, Meriden – across from the court house. The event will be held form 12:00 to 2 pm. it is open to members and non-members alike. The appraisers will be Meriden Historical Society member Kathy Connolly of Village Antiques in Plantsville, together with long time antique dealer and appraiser Dick Blaschke of Dick’s Antiques in Bristol. The fee will be $4 for each item or three items for $10. This is a fundraiser to assist The Meriden Historical Society in collecting, researching, and archiving Meriden’s past for future generations. Bring your treasured antiques, jewelry, prints, paintings and collectibles, or photos of large items, and have them identified and appraised. Come and enjoy a day of fun and discovery!!

MAY PROGRAM: ANNUAL MEETING – THURSDAY, MAY 14 – PIZZA PARTY, PRESERVATION OF MERIDEN’S HISTORY AWARD & ELECTION OF OFFICERS Come have some Pizza; meet old friends; see what’s new at the Research Center; sign up for the Society’s Tag Sale; express your gratitude to This year’s recipients of the society’s Appreciation Award for the restoration of East Cemetery and for the restoration of the Fairview Observatory (known as Fairview Pavilion or Halfway House) at Hubbard Park ; and finally, cast your vote for a new slate of officers. All will take place at the Bernice Morehouse Research Center, 1090 Hanover Street, South Meriden.

MERIDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY TAG SALE APRIL 25TH

Saturday April 25, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm and thereafter on the last Saturday of each month (May through September) we’ll hold a tag sale at the parking lot of the Research Center. Cost for Society members is $5.00 per booth per Saturday – $10.00 for non-members. Call Neda Weathers 203-237-4636 or Bill Siegel 235-2217 to reserve your spot.

To help raise money for the upkeep of our research center, The Society will have its own booth at the sale. Donations to the Historical Society’s Booth are welcomed and can be dropped off at Fair Weather Antiques or at the Research Center – or, to arrange for a pick-up, call Neda Weathers 203-237-4636 or Bill Siegel 235-2217. No appliances please – collectibles and smalls only.

MAY AT THE HOMESTEAD: BANKING IN MERIDEN: SUNDAYS MAY 10, 17, 24 $ 31 11:00 – 3:00

Our Member Larry McGoldrick, who dreamed of, organized and brought Castle Bank to town, together with our capable exhibit team are planning an exhibit on Banking in Meriden… Sundays in May at the Andrews Homestead, 424 W. Main St. Meriden,

We are also planning on opening the Second floor to visitors who can negotiate the stairs.

The exhibit is free and open to the public – Donations are always appreciated.

MYSTERY HOUSE TOUR: SATURDAY MAY 23RD, 2009

Members of the Meriden Historical Society are invited to tour a restored historical house in Meriden. The tour is for MEMBERS ONLY and is by RESERVATIONS ONLY. For more details call Lesley at 203-440-3686

Special Thanks to our Corporate Members

Castle Bank & Trust Co.

http://castlebank.biz

100 Hanover St. Meriden, CT 06451

203-639-8866

&

1295 E. Main St. Meriden, CT 06450

203-317-3856

Nest Egg Auction

http://nesteggauctions.com

30 Research Parkway, Meriden CT 06450

203 – 630 – 1400

800-448-0692

March 2009 Newsletter

 in Newsletters

March, 2009

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Greetings! Welcome to spring (finally!) and the second half of this Historical Society year. We have some interesting and unusual programs planned starting this weekend at the library with a slide show of historical pictures of Meriden. The Historical Society had a chance to buy eight carousels of slides and we have selected some to show. Many are from the early 1900’s including a whole series on the building of Hubbard Park. Others are from the 1976 Bicentennial, which many of you remember.

We had the opportunity to partner with the Governor’s Commission to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. The Commission decided to offer a special program in the five towns in which Lincoln gave speeches, Meriden being one of them. The program in Meriden will be in conjunction with the Daffodil Festival at Hubbard Park. The Lincoln impersonator will be in the Parade and will give his talk immediately afterwards at the park

We have two events scheduled in May: the first being a repeat of our home-grown Antiques Roadshow, which was very successful last year. So gather your antiques and come see what they are worth. Secondly, we have been invited to tour one of Meriden’s historic houses, which has been beautifully restored. This will be a reservation-only, members only meeting, so watch the next newsletter for details on making your reservations.

I hope your interest in piqued and that we will see you at one, or more, of these programs.

Lesley

MARCH PROGRAM: SLIDES OF MERIDEN FROM THE ARCHIVES OF THE MERIDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Saturday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m. at the Meriden Public Library – 105 Miller Street

A rare opportunity to gaze into Meriden’s past… Can you identify the sites?

Bring a friend and enjoy a trip to Meriden of the Turn of the Last Century…

We are counting on participation and comments by those attending!

The program is co-sponsored by the Meriden Public Library and is free and open to the public.

Special Thanks to our Corporate Members

Castle Bank & Trust Co.

http://castlebank.biz

100 Hanover St. Meriden, CT 06451

203-639-8866

&

1295 E. Main St. Meriden, CT 06450

203-317-3856

Nest Egg Auction

http://nesteggauctions.com

30 Research Parkway, Meriden CT 06450

203 – 630 – 1400

800-448-0692

The Old Leather Man by Dan DeLuca

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9780819568625Congratulations to our member Dan DeLuca. His book The Old Leather Man: Historical Account of a Connecticut and New York Legend has been published. (October 30, 2008) by Wesleyan Publishing Press – ISBN: 978-0-8195-6862-5.

In his book, Dan W. DeLuca has collected newspaper articles, photographs, and other documents that chronicle the mysterious life of this mournful traveler. The book includes 20 different photographs of the man, along with maps of his travel routes, and images of his shelters and other landmarks along his path.

 

October-November Newsletter

 in Newsletters

October, 2008

FROM THE PRESIDENT
We’ve started the season off right with an excellent first program on Modern Silver designs by Scott Braznell and with a very interesting exhibit on communications at the Andrews Homestead. Thanks go to Chris Ruel, Kathy McMahon, Neda Weathers and Allen Weathers for all the hours spent in putting the display together, and to the members who loaned items to the exhibit from their private collections. There is still time to see it as we will be open for the two remaining Sundays in October. Please stop by for a visit and to enjoy the exhibit.
Our next program is on Wed. Nov 12, again at the library. Max Scheller will be talking on the Meriden Rifle Club and the Schuetzen Fests.
Hope to see you there,
Lesley

NOVEMBER PROGRAM: THE MERIDEN SCHUETZEN SHOOTING CLUB

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 6:30 p.m. at the Meriden Public Library – 105 Miller Street
Max (Robert) Scheller of South Windsor will present The History of the Meriden Schuetzen Shooting Club.
The following is a quote from www.gabelguns.com:
“The Schuetzen Rifle is a specialized form intended for offhand target shooting according to well established rules. The earliest date which can be assigned to the formalized shooting which became known as the Schuetzen Festival is in the fifteenth century. The custome (sic) survived in Central Europe until about the beginning of the 19th century, after which America took the lead. Schuetzen shooting, as an active sport, did not survive the first world war. Shooting was done in the offhand fashion, without artificial support. Formalized American shooting festivals commenced around the middle of the 19th century with the first National meeting in 1866.” The program will include a display of Shuetzen guns and memorabilia. The meeting is free and opened to the public. Bring a friend!

OCTOBER AT THE  HOMESTEAD:

It is not too late to visit the Andrews Homestead, 424 West Main Street, Meriden, CT 06451. From toys to the items themselves, Titled: Communication in Meriden, our exhibit covers Telegraphy, Telephony, Connecticut Telephone and Telegraph memorabilia, printing presses and typewriters, pen & paper, ink bottles, blotters, Meriden post office memorabilia, Fire Alarms and more. The photos in this bulletin were taken at our Communications in Meriden exhibit. The exhibit is free and is open  to the public every Sunday in October from 11:00 to 3:00.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

Can you spare a couple of hours of your time?
We could use some volunteers at the Homestead on Sundays in the month of October and at our Research Center on Wednesday afternoons.
Please call the research Center (203-639-1913) if you can donate a couple of hours.

WE WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS:

Richard & Claire Bartholomew of Meriden, CT
Bill & Dorothy Daniels of Naugatuck, CT
Dan DeLuca of Meriden, CT
Peter Hazelwood of Wallingford, CT
Pasquale Lombardo of Los Angeles, CA
Nest Egg Auctions of Meriden, CT
Henry Sagnella of Meriden, CT
Douglas C. Schultz of Meriden, CT
Paul Ott & Nancy Whitcher of Rocky Hill, CT
Stanley Woronick of Meriden, CT

Special Thanks to our Corporate Members

Castle Bank & Trust Co.
http://castlebank.biz
100 Hanover St. Meriden, CT 06451
203-639-8866
&
1295 E. Main St. Meriden, CT 06450
203-317-3856

Nest Egg Auction

Nest Egg Auctions


30 Research Parkway, Meriden CT 06450
203 – 630 – 1400
800-448-0692