Join us for our first annual series of walking tours, led by current and former MHS Board members. We will visit a different cemetery every Saturday to “meet” residents who made Meriden great as well as look at some of our more unusual gravestones. We will meet at the entrance of each cemetery at 1:00. Tours are approximately two hours long. Each tour is limited to 20 participants. Tickets are $10 for each individual tour. Registration is required for each event. For more details and to register click the link below.
We will visit a different cemetery every Saturday to “meet” residents who made Meriden great as well as look at some of our more unusual gravestones. We will meet at the entrance of each cemetery at 1:00. Tours are approximately two hours long. Each tour is limited to 20 participants. Tickets are $10 for each individual tour.Registration is required for each event. For more details and to register click the links below. October 21th 1863 Walnut Grove Cemetery Register Walnut by Thursday October 19th October 28th 1876 Sacred Heart Cemetery Register Sacred by Thursday October 26th
Join us here at the Historical Society to create a special memory with a young person who is special to you. The theme is Everybody Has a (Hi)story. We will provide a question template which you can use to write your story! It is a series of questions that a child can ask their special adult and can be done at home. The questions are on the last page. Our request is that the child(ren) along with their significant adult, visit us with their story on Saturday June 10th between 10 and 1:30. We will take your picture and story and turn it into a finished document and email it back to you or you can come back in a week and pick it up.
Join us for a scavenger hunt. Email director@meridenhistsoc.org to request a copy of the rules. (They will be emailed on Friday at Noon to all) Each riddle describes a Meriden landmark or site and has a point value. You can choose which questions you answer, but your goal is to earn as many points as possible by solving the riddle, going to the site, photographing your team in front of each, and returning your answers in person to 41 West Main Street by noon on the 17th OR emailing them by to director@meridenhistsoc.org The team with the most points and proper photographs at 12 noon on Saturday the 17th wins! Prizes will be awarded!
Come enjoy music from 11-7 in the plaza next to the Historical Society and look at our music themed window display. This event is presented by Meriden Parks and Recreation and the Olde Church Acoustic Series.
Join us at the Historical Society to hear Kathleen Housley, author of Stone Breaker: James Gates Percival and the Beginning of Geology in New England. She will be sharing the life of James Gates Percival. His love of the Hanging Hills was lifelong. It was his realization that the Hanging Hills were volcanic and far older than 6,000 years, the presumed age of the Earth during his time, that helped push geology forward as a science in New England.
Admission is free to members. Suggested donation is $10.00 for non-members.
Please contact the office to reserve your seat (203-639-1913) or by email: info@MeridenHistSoc.org or click HERE to reserve online.
Thursday 7/27 6:30
STRIKES, SPARES AND GUTTER BALLS
Tuesday 8/1 5-8
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
There is no Thursday evening presentation in August.
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MEMBERSHIP
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Join us at the Historical Society to hear Art Dutra and Tony Ezzo. They will be sharing the history of bowling in Meriden and unveiling the model of the Ezzo Building.
Admission is free to members. Suggested donation is $5.00 for non-members.
Please contact the office to reserve your seat (203-639-1913) or by email: info@MeridenHistSoc.org or click HERE to reserve online.
Meriden’s 13th annual National Night Out being planned by the Council of Neighborhoods and the Meriden Police Department’s Neighborhood Initiative Unit will be held on Tuesday August 1st 5pm to 8pm at Hubbard Park. Rain date is Wednesday August 2nd. The event is free of charge including food and beverages, entertainment and children’s activities. Please bring your families and friends and join us!
COME SEE OUR WINDOWS
Flags are in our entryway. June Bride is in our eastern Window and Advertising in Meriden in our Western Window. The window facing the park features Music in Meriden.
Welcome to our new members
Stephen M. Clough, Sr. Rachel Nieland
Cheryl & Daimer Weston
ZEFFY – A NEW WAY TO MAKE RESERVATIONS, PAY DUES & MAKE DONATIONS TO THE SOCIETY
Welcome to Zeffy, our new online fundraising platform that now manages our event reservations, ticket purchases, donations, membership, volunteers and more. While other platforms take a portion of donations in fees, Zeffy gives 100% of all donations directly to nonprofits and relies on voluntary contributions as a source of income. When you use the platform it will ask you for a voluntary contribution to Zeffy, the default suggested is 18%. Just click on the 18%, scroll down and choose “other” which allows you to enter any dollar amount including zero.
If you prefer to use PayPal – we are subscribed to PayPal too.
Everybody has a (hi)story!
CT OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY JUNE 10 10-1:30
My important adult’s name is ___________________________________________________
Where was s/h born? _________________________________________________________
S/he is ______________ years old.
His/her favorite thing to do when s/he was my age was _______________________________
Your name _____________________________________________________________________
PAST NEWSLETTERS:
May 2023 Meriden Historical Society’s Newsletter
News and Events
5/25/2023 6:30 PM
MERIDEN’S PEOPLE OF NOTE – With Justin Piccirillo
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ART AND ARTISANS OF MERIDEN
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MM&HC WINDOWS
FLAGS, MANSIONS,& THE THOMPSON CHOCOLATE CO.
Join Justin Piccirillo on May 25th in the Meriden Historical Society Lecture Hall to explore the topic of Meriden’s People of Note. This hour-long presentation will look at local influential people, from musicians and sport figures to visionaries and writers. This conversation will bring awareness to our city’s incredible history and its history makers. Admission is free to members. Suggested donation is $5.00 for non-members.
Our current exhibit Art and Artisans of Meriden can be viewed at the Society’s Museum and History Center, 41 W. Main Street, downtown Meriden until the end of May.
Admission is free to members. Suggested donation is $5.00 for non-members. Please contact the office to schedule your tour.
Flags are at our entry way. Photographs of various Meriden mansions and the history of Meriden’s Thompson Chocolate Company are our feature window displays for the month of May.
6/3/23 1:00 PM
JUNE TEA
Fundraiser
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TOMIE DEPAOLA On Friday, May 5th, the US postal services issued a stamp honoring author and illustrator Tomie dePaola who was born and grew up in Meriden. On Monday, May 1, 2023 the City council declared Friday, May 5th Tomie dePaola day. In this photo taken at city hall, Joe Zajac (Meriden Hall of Fame, holding a facsimile of the new stamp), Judie (dePaola) Bobby (Tomie’s sister, holding the proclamation), Brian Cofrancesco (Kiwanis) and Ruth Borsuk (Meriden Historical Society), pose after having spoken at the event
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CLOUGH FAMILY DONATES FAMILY ARTIFACTS TO THE SOCIETY On Wednesday, May 3rd, four Clough family cousins gathered at the Meriden Historical Society to donate family records and artifacts produced by their great-grandfather Roger M. Clough (1852-1934), owner of the RM Clough company of Meriden and Tolland. The items will be displayed at our museum. Do you remember the Ray Clough gas station on N. Broad Street in Meriden?
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IN RECOGNITION & WITH THANKS We extend our heartfelt thanks to our members Bruce Rovinsky and Sherwin Borsuk for doing the lion’s share of the physical moving of the Bernice Morehouse Research Center and Annex to our new facility at 41 West Main St. They were assisted at times by other members and friends of the Society. By doing the move ourselves the society was able to save many thousands of precious dollars.
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MEMBERSHIP We note with sorrow the passing of Lucy Mickiewicz, a long time member and supporter of the Meriden Historical Society
What: June Tea – a fundraiser
Where: Andrews Homestead, 424 W. Main St, Meriden
When: Saturday, June 3, 2023 1:00-3:00
Price: $30.00
Number of seats: 40
Tickets must be purchased by Saturday May 27th. Call us for details. 203-639-1913.
April 2023 Meriden Historical Society’s Newsletter
News and Events
4/27/2023 6:30 PM
Phil Callan Talks to the Stars – an Evening with Radio Host Phil Callan
Join us at the Society’s Museum and History Center, 41 W. Main Street, Downtown Meriden for an Evening withRadio Host Phil Callan.
A graduate of Meriden High School (class of 1956), Phil enjoyed a 40-year career as a Radio host. From Meriden’s WMMW to WRCQ, WDRC and WJMJ, he interviewed many celebrities many of whom became good friends. Phil will share anecdotes from his many interviews and illustrate them with video clips.
Admission is free. Seating is limited. Reservations are recommended, by calling the office (203-639-1913) or emailing us: info@MeridenHistSoc.org
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Art and Artisans of Meriden – Exhibit
Close to 80 people braved the rainy day and attended the combined Meriden Historical Society and Gallery 53 March program and art exhibit: Art and Artisans of Meriden with Justin Piccirillo, rendering it a great event. Justin will be back to continue and cover more of the artists in his book.
Due to its popularity, the exhibit will remain open until mid-May.
Books are still available in our gift shop. Please call the office 203-639-1913 or email info@MeridenHistSoc.org to arrange for a tour.
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Benjamin Franklin Students Visit to the Andrews Homestead On April 4th , the 5th grade students of the Benjamin Franklin School and their teachers visited the Society’s Museum at the Andrews Homestead. Volunteer Christina Ruel relayed the history of the building and the Colonial and Revolutionary connection to the Andrews. Sherwin Borsuk and Ruth Borsuk walked the students through the different displays that highlight Meriden’s rich manufacturing history and illustrate the lifestyle of the building’s residents in colonial and Victorian times.
6/3/23 1:00 PM
June High Tea
A Fundraiser
What: June Tea – a fundraiser
Where: Andrews Homestead, 424 W. Main St, Meriden
When: Saturday, June 3, 2023
By Reservations only. Details to follow
Welcome to our new members, Jeff Griffin of Meriden CT,
Dale Hunter of Meriden CT, Donna Hunter of Meriden CT, Annamarie LaMontagne & Thomas Spratta of Meriden CT,Julie Larson of Meriden CT, andChester Ryanski of Meriden CT.
Our display windows downtown no longer feature Napier (east window) or the Millinary industry of Meriden (south window). Our new display will feature the mansions of Meriden (west window) and the Thompson Chocolate Company (east Window). Support Meriden’s downtown; grab a cup of coffee at one of the coffee shops or bakeries and do some old-fashioned window-shopping.
Downtown gets a bad reputation on social media, but social media does not walk downtown.
March 2023 Meriden Historical Society’s Newsletter
News and Events
Arts and Artisans of Meriden with Justin Piccirillo – Exclusive Advance Introduction of Justin’s NEW book! An illustrated program and book signing
Where: Meriden Historical Society Museum and History Center, 41 West Main Street, downtown Meriden.
When: March 15 through the month of April.
In conjunction with the publication of Justin Piccirillo’s book “Art and Artisans of Meriden”, the Meriden Historical Society and Gallery 53 are showcasing a collection of images and artifacts highlighting Meriden’s artistic heritage. The exhibit can be viewed at the main gallery of the Meriden Historical Society’s Museum and History Center, 41 West Main Street, Downtown Meriden, Thursday evenings 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM with tours given at 4:00, 5:00 & 6:00; Saturday mornings 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM with tours given at 10:00, 11:00 & 12:00, and by calling ahead to schedule an appointment.
Saturday 3/25/2023 1:00 PM
Join us at the Meriden Historical Society’s Museum and History Center, 41 W. Main St. Downtown Meriden, for a captivating presentation by Justin Piccirillo, local artist, educator, and author, as he unveils his new book, “Art and Artisans of Meriden.” Justin will present an overview of his book, talk about prominent individual artists, and relate how this convergence of talent created a culture of creativity that remains part of the fabric of our community to this day.
Seating is limited and filling quickly. Please be sure to go to Gallery 53’s web site ( https://www.gallery53.org/artbookpresentation.html) ahead of time to sign up and guarantee your seat. Admission is free.
Arcadia Press made books available for the event at a special rate, proceeds of which will benefit both the Society and Gallery 53. Purchase your book from the Meriden Historical Society ($25.00 cash or checks) or, online on Gallery 53’s web site ( https://www.gallery53.org/artbookpresentation.html) . Call the office (203-639-1913) for details.
Meriden Show and Tell: What is it? Where is it? Who is it? – Thursday, 3/30/2023 6:30 PM
Join us at the Society’s Museum and History Center, 41 W. Main Street, Downtown Meriden and share your stories, discoveries and queries relating to Meriden and its history. A panel of members of the Society will be on hand to answer questions and present unusual items from the Society’s collection.
Seating is limited. Admission is free. Reservations are recommended, by calling the office (203-639-1913) or emailing us: MeridenHistoricalSociety@gmail.com
Membership:
Welcome to our new member, Emile Pierides of Meriden CT
We note with sorrow the passing of Frank Suzio, a longtime member and supporter of the Society.
CT Open House Day:
Saturday, June 11, 2022
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Meriden Historical Society History Center
41 W. Main Street – Meriden
Free admission. Donations gratefully accepted.
Our June Program Presentation will feature Sylvester Poli Theater Magnate, his life and involvement in Meriden. Presented by Michael J. Zaffino.
Thursday, June 30th at 6:30 pm at the Society’s History Center
41 w. Main St., downtown Meriden
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GRAND OPENING REPORT
More than 200 people attended our 2-day grand opening celebration. The event would have not been the success it was if not for the dedicated volunteers – those who unpacked, cleaned, set up displays organizing all those items moved from the research center and those who organized the event itself. Such activities
included ordering tablecloths, enlisting sponsors to cover the cost of the opening night gala event, sending out invitations, lining up antique cars and setting up ice cream give-away coupons. Thank you goes to the Gala Committee: Lesley Carabetta, Deborah Patterson, Mike Rohde, Ric Suzio, Michael Zaffino and Mark Zebora. Another thank you goes to our worker-bee volunteers who prepared the building and the displays for the event: Chris Ruel, and Lesley Carabetta, Michael Zaffino, Barbara Austen, Sherwin Borsuk, Paul Butkus, A. Lee Campione, Rick Dickson, Lewis Kraft, Anna-Marie Lamontagne, Hunter McMahon, Deborah Patterson, Nancy Rohde, Bruce Rovinsky, Stacey Rovinsky, Lesley Solkoske and Phil Toussaint.
Heartfelt thanks to Eversource, Barker Specialty, Sherwin and Ruth Borsuk, Community Health Center, Inc., Cox Communications, Hot and Tasty Deli, Meriden Farmers Market, Meriden Puerto Rican Festival Committee, Meriden YMCA, Prentis Printing Solutions, Inc., Thompson Chocolate and the Record Journal fgor sponsoring the event and to all who came and made the grand opening truly grand.
Uniforms on Display – our salute to the people of Meriden and their service to the community and the countryMayor Scarpati delivers an address on behalf of the City of Meriden.Sunday visitors enjoy guided tours given by our volunteers.Neda Weathers, a long time volunteer and a past president of the Society, inspects small items in a state-of-the-art display case.
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS:
Joshua Dumitt – Meriden, CT
David Grodzicki – Meriden, CT
Elizabeth Horan – Meriden, CT
Christine Ivers – Meriden, CT
David Ivers – Meriden, CT
Brian Lamphier – Middlefield, CT
Macri Enterprises LLC – Meriden, CT
The Donna & Frank Nedelka family – Meriden, CT
Sound Spectrum Entertainment of Wallingford CT
Robert W. Squire and Family of Meriden, CT
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IN MEMORIAM:
Gladys (Mike) Beloff
Vincent (Vinny) Spratta
Both were long time members of the Meriden Historical Society.
Our volunteer spotlight is on Lesley Solkoske, a 43-year resident of Meriden and a volunteer to the Meriden Historical Society since 1985. She is an avid collector of open salts. According to the Opensalts web site, “an open salt is a small dish used as a piece of tableware for holding salt that is not in a saltshaker.” I have had the pleasure of working with her since February and she played a large role in helping us move and get organized for our grand opening.
How did you get involved with the Meriden Historical Society? The catalogs from the silver companies are what drew me to the Historical Society. I had been collecting antique open salts since childhood but purchased my first one made in Meriden in Snohomish, WA in 1985. Shortly after that, I spent one happy afternoon at the Andrews Homestead pouring over catalogs that Allen Weathers (Curator of the MHS and a walking encyclopedia of all that is Meriden) patiently pulled out for me. At that time, I think they were all still in boxes in one of the upstairs rooms. At the end of the day, I discovered I didn’t have correct change to pay for Xerox copies, so I gave Allen $20 to pay for the copies and a membership. When my work hours changed, I was able to take Wednesday afternoons off. I spent those afternoons for the next 2-1/2 years going through all the catalogs, researching my salt collection. It was the best part of my week!
What activities have you helped with during your volunteer time? At the end of the 2-1/2 years, I figured it was time to give back and asked Allen what I could do to help. He gave me a project collating 50 categories of the businesses in the city directories. I remember at the time thinking that no one would ever use the reference, but I have been amazed at how many times we have turned to that research for answers. The next big job was continuing to sort and organize the books in the library, after the previous volunteer was unable to continue. (The MHS holds a collection that deals with anything related to Meriden and the books written by Meriden authors.) It has proven to be an ongoing project. Over the years, I have helped with packing and moving twice, driven a sag wagon during a parade, learned how to create a PowerPoint presentation, and been a Board member and held offices of Vice President and President. Other jobs have included doing inventory, filing, taking photos, researching telephone and mail requests, and hosting a fundraiser tea at the Homestead. There are so many ways for volunteers to help out, but for me, the best part is the researching. I love going through all the wonderful old catalogs.
When you are not helping out at the MHS, what other things do you enjoy doing? When not at the Historical Society, I enjoy reading, knitting, and playing bridge. But my big passion is still collecting open salts. When I bought that first one back in 1985, I thought there might be a dozen or so made in Meriden. Today I have 450 – mostly silver-plated ones, but also some sterling, cut glass, and porcelain. With the catalog research, I have been able to identify and date many, which is importation information for collectors. Open salts were only a small fraction of the production of the silver companies. We are very fortunate to have such a rich manufacturing history in our town and the Historical Society to preserve it.
Show and Tell – Thursday, March 30th, 2023 6:30 pm, 41 W. Main St. downtown Meriden
Meriden Show and Tell: What is it? Where is it? Who is it? – Thursday, 3/30/2023 6:30 PM
Join us at the Society’s Museum and History Center to share your stories, discoveries and queries relating to Meriden and its history. A panel of members of the Society will be on hand to answer questions and present unusual items from the Society’s collection. Seating is limited. Admission is free. Reservations are recommended, by calling the office (203-639-1913) or emailing us: info@meridenhistsoc.org
OCTAGONAL HOUSES – Thursday, February 23rd, 2023 6:30 pm, 41 W. Main St. downtown Meriden
Sherwin Borsuk, past president of the Meriden Historical Society, will present a PowerPoint illustrated program on the mid-19th century craze for octagonal houses.
Admission is free. Seating is limited.Please send us an email (MeridenHistoricalSociety@gmail.com) or call the office (203-639-1913) to reserve your seat.
PAST EVENTS
THE HISTORY OF MARKHAM AIRPORT– Thursday, 1/26/2023, 6:30 pm 41 W. Main St. downtown Meriden
The Meriden Historical Society will be hosting a lecture on Meriden Markham Airport presented by Constance Castillo, Markham Airport Manager. Ms. Castillo is a certified flight instructor and has been an active member of the local Ninety-Nines, an international organization for women pilots. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information or to reserve a seat at our lecture room, please contact Michael J. Zaffino, Administrator at 203.639.1913.
ANNUALMEMBERSHIP MEETING
The Meriden Historical Society’s Annual Membership Meeting will take place on Thursday, September8, 2022
6:00 pm
at our downtown Museum & History Center 41 W. Main Street, Meriden.
Agenda: Committee reports; President’s report; Meet Michael J. Zaffino – our administrator; Eat and schmooze on the patio
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JULY PROGRAM: An Aerial View – Meriden Present and Past
Thursday, July 28, 2022 6:30 pm at our Museum and History Center 41 W. Main St. Meriden, and streaming on Zoom.
Free admission. Donations gratefully accepted and help keep our doors open.
Sam Carr – Will present photographs of Meriden from the view of drones providing mostly current images of both iconic and typical views of the City from unique perspectives. There will also be some older views of Meriden, taken from an airplane from the 1930’s thru 1980’s, that will be compared to recent images to show how the city has changed over the years. A short discussion of drone rules and regulations will be included. Sam holds a private pilot license from the FAA as well as a commercial UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle – drone) license.
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JULY PROGRAMCo-sponsored with the Meriden Public Library:
Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 6:30 pm at the Meriden Mall, 470 Lewis Ave, Meriden – next to Champs. Presented by Christina Rewinski
Which side are you on? That’s the question that every single person in Connecticut had to answer in 1775, as the thirteen colonies began a rebellion against British rule. Loyalty was not only a matter of words or opinion, For soldiers and civilians alike, loyalty could mean loss of fortune, of friends, and even of life. This presentation reveals stories – some well known, some obscure – of Nutmeggers who risked and sacrificed to support their chosen side during this “tumultuous jarring time of civil war”
SYLVESTER POLI – THEATER MAGNATE, his life and involvement in Meriden.
Presented by Michael J. Zaffino.
Thursday, June 30th at 6:30 pm at the Meriden Historical Society’s Museum and History Center, 41 W. Main St. Meriden CT
41 w. Main St., downtown Meriden
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Join us at our Downtown History Center Location on Sunday, 6/11/22 between the hours of 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. On display are photographs and artifacts featuring Meriden’s People, Products and Places. Free admission.
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Our feature exhibit at our October Open House will be dedicated to Rosa Ponselle.
James T. Powers, author of ShadowsOverDawnland will discuss the historical experience of the Quinnipiac people during the first fifty years of the English colonization of their ancestral home, the Dawnland, 350 years ago. Book signing following the lecture. This lecture is free and open to the public. Zoom registration is required.To register,go to our website https://MeridenHistoricalSociety.organd follow the link. Sincere thanks to the Meriden Public Library for hostingthe registration on their event scheduler.
GRAND OPENING & OPEN HOUSEOF THEMERIDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S HISTORY CENTER
Sunday, April 24, Noon – 4:00 PM 39-41 W. Main Street, downtown Meriden – featuring displays ofMeriden’s Places, People & Products.Free ice cream cones to the first 250 attendees, courtesy of the YMCA and ZAHA Ice Cream Shop. This fun event is free and open to the public.
OPEN HOUSE AT THE MOSES ANDREWS HOMESTEAD, the Meriden Historical Society’s Museum
Every Sunday in May 11:00 – 3:00 located at 424 West Main Street, MeridenThe museumwill be open to the public May 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd& 29th..On display are items highlighting Meriden’s rich manufacturing history. Admission is free, donations will be appreciated.
MEET MIKE ZAFFINO OUR ADMINISTRATOR
Michael J. Zaffino came to Meriden Historical Society via the great resignation movement occurring in the U.S. during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Previously, he was a Reading Specialist at Bunnell High School in Stratford. He has over 30 years of experience in education, working in both private and public schools. He holds a M.S. in History from Southern Connecticut State University and has taught a variety of history classes to middle school, high school and college students. Mike resides in West Haven with his wife, Lynn, daughter, Michaela, and a mixed breed rescue named Oakley. He has officially adopted the city of Meriden as his personal sister city. In his spare time, Mike enjoys spending time with his family, walking, reading, movies, sports, gardening, and going to tag sales.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
As a result of moving, we have fallen behind on our responses to research inquiries and on organization of items. We could really use more volunteers. If you can help, please call Ruth Borsuk at 203-464-2751, or Mike Z, our administrator, at 203-634-1913 or 475-775-5049. Volunteers can now access our 41 W. Main location every day except Monday.
GRANTS
We’d like to recognize the following organizations for their generous grant contributions: The CUNO Foundation, Meriden Economic Development Co., and CT Humanities.
OUR MISSION To steward the rich and diverse history of Meriden, Connecticut and its people. We collect, preserve, research, and exhibit artifacts; create educational programming; and support research that accurately interprets Meriden’s past. We inspire and engage others to learn about and take pride in the history of our community.
OUR VISION To be a vibrant center, providing multi-media access and resources for all members of our community, scholars, students, and others, to understand, appreciate, and experience the history of Meriden.
THE FACES OF HUBBARD PARK – The Men and Women Behind the Making of a Masterpiece
Join us on Thursday, May 20 at 6:30pm as Justin Piccirillo, author of the newly-released book “Hubbard Park,†tells the stories of the people who made this celebrated Meriden masterpiece a local landmark.
This program will be presented on Zoom and also streamed to the Meriden Historical Society’s Facebook page https://fb/me/e/GlwN7q4B
Registered attendees will receive a link to the program via email the day of the program.
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VICE IN MERIDEN – Smoking Drinking Gambling MERIDEN ITEMS For Bad Habits
is our current exhibit AT THE ANDREWS HOMESTEAD located at 424 W. Main Street and sharing a parking lot with Benjamin Franklin School. Designed as a self guided tour, the exhibit features items made in Meriden or for Meriden, for use with bad habits which, done to excess, are considered vices. The exhibit will be open to the public EVERY SUNDAY IN MAY – 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM & on Saturday, June 12th as part of the CT Open House program.
Observing COVID-19 safety recommendations, social distancing, wearing of masks and a limitation on number of groups in the building, will be strictly enforced.
A walk-through VIDEO of the exhibit, narrated by Sherwin Borsuk and captured by videographer Marcus Hamilton, will be available on our YouTube Channel
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LIVE THE STORY – A WALK THROUGH HUBBARD PARK With Justin Piccirillo is scheduled for Saturday, June 12 (rain date Sunday, June 13) 2021at 10:00 AM
Meet at Hubbard Park’s parking lot for a walk through the lower park. Justin’s newly-released book “Hubbard Park,†will be available for purchase.
This is a free program. Donations are welcome.
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THE MERIDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY COMMUNITY TAG SALE FUND RAISER Will be held at the Society’s Bernice Morehouse Research Center parking lot (1090 Hanover Ave, Meriden) Starting on May 15th 2021 and every 2nd Saturday of the month starting June 12th on, weather permitting, with a rain date on the following Saturday. Setting up is open to the public at a cost of $15.00 per set-up ($10.00 for members of the Meriden Historical Society). For more information please contact our board member Peter Slavinski at 203-721-4640.
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NAPIER BOARD OF DIRECTORS TABLE DONATED TO THE MERIDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY BY ION BANK
In an extraordinary gesture, Ion bank has donated the exquisite board of directors table of Meriden’s Napier Company, thus returning the table to Meriden. Originally, the oversized table was given to Meriden’s Castle Bank where it was used until the bank was acquired by Ion (then Naugatuck Savings) Bank.
We hope to be able to display and use this historic table in the near future.
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WE WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBER
Arthur Dutra III of Meriden CT
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FOR THEIR GENEROSITY WE THANK
All who voted for the Meriden Historical Society at the Ion Bank Community Award Program. Thanks to your supporting vote, the Society received a $400.00 check from Ion Bank.
BUSTER KEATON – THE GREATEST OF THE SILENT CLOWNS Tuesday, March 17, 2020 6:30 p.m. Meriden Public Library 105 Miller St., Meriden, CT Three silent comedians ruled the silver screen before the arrival of sound to the movies: Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton. Sherwin Borsuk MD, president of the Meriden Historical Society and a Keaton aficionado, will present Buster Keaton – his life and phenomenal acrobatic movie achievements. The talk will be accompanied by stills and short movie clips.
Admission is free. Refreshments will be served.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR – MERIDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS:
• Historic Hubbard Park – Part I with Justin Piccirillo
Tuesday, April 21, 2020 6:30 pm at the Meriden Public Library.
• South Meriden’s Hanover Trolley Park with Lesley Solkoske
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 6:30 pm at the Meriden Public Library.
• Vice in Meriden – the Products and Services for Smoking Drinking Gambling and More in Meriden’s Past – Open House and Special Exhibit
Every Sunday in May (3, 10, 17, 24 & 31) 11:00 am – 3:00 at the Meriden Historical Society’s Museum, the Andrews Homestead, 424 W. Main St, Meriden, CT.
ANDREWS HOMESTEAD CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS – A FOLLOW UP Our Christmas Open House (12/7&8/2019) was a heartwarming success. Close to 200 people came through the exhibit, many visiting for the first time. Not only did they enjoy the decorations, but they also learned about the history of Meriden and its manufacturers. The door prize, a generous donation by the Thompson Chocolate Co. was won by Lynn Dean.
BEN FRANKLIN SCHOOL 5TH GRADE GIRLS CLUB HELP DECORATE THE ANDREWS HOMESTEAD The Society, in partnership with Ben Franklin School, welcomed the 5th Grade Girls Club. They brought with them a variety of hand-crafted ornaments to decorate our Christmas tree. They also showed an interest in hearing about Meriden’s past and were given a tour of the Homestead. In return, the Society gave them a souvenir ornament as a token of our appreciation.
LATEST ADDITIONS TO OUR COLLECTIONS
An acquisition fund has been established from the proceeds of the sale of items from The Lester Dequaine and Frank Chiarenza collections. Those collections were given to the Society for the purpose of fundraising. The Collections Committee has been busy acquiring items to add to our permanent collection. New additions to the Bradley & Hubbard display: We now have a 12†statuette entitled “le Gamin†which depicts a young boy who looks like a street urchin from the 1800s. There is also a cast iron, japanned finished shelf clock with gold and floral stenciling.
You may remember seeing a large, framed drawing of a clock in the form of a soldier wearing a wig and three-cornered or “cocked†hat, with his hands holding a clock face in his belly. This drawing was done in 1856 by Pietro Cinquinni and accompanied his patent application. These clocks were known as “Blinking Eye†or “Winker†clocks because the eyes moved via a connection to the clock mechanism. We have always wanted to find one of these clocks for our display and now we have one! Ours is missing its mechanism; however, it is the cast iron figure of “The Continentalâ€. It was manufactured by Bradley & Hubbard and is worth seeing.
Our clock was produced prior to the granting of the patent and is marked in the base as “Patent Pending 1856†and “PCF,†presumably signifying Pietro Cinquinni. Design Patent No. 916 was issued in 1857 and subsequent clocks were marked “Patented July 14, 1857.†The hat portion of the clock case is independent from the rest of the casting. This allowed B&H to substitute a different hat on the same body and offer the clock as “the Admiralâ€. An example of this design is included in the collections of the Smithsonian. New additions to the Silver City Glass Co. display caseinclude a frosted glass bowl & candlestick console set donated by a Society member. A black glass box in their early “Daisy†pattern was also purchased for the collection.
We have added a cobalt blue, medium sized dresser box with a “blown out†zinnia flower on the cover, done by the C. F. Monroe Co. This acquisition was made possible through the Don & Carol Lyle Fund. Thompson Chocolate Co.has generously donated some of their outdated candy molds. They are now on permanent display at the Andrews Homestead. These and other newly acquired items will be on display at our Museum’s upcoming May Open House & Special Exhibit event (Every Sunday in May, 11:00 – 3:00, at the Andrews Homestead, 424 W. Main St.).
HELP US PRESERVE MERIDEN’S PAST
There are so many Meriden related items waiting to be discovered. Items from any of the Meriden manufacturers, old sales catalogs and advertising items, photos showing street scenes and buildings are especially interesting. Even things that may seem insignificant can be an insight into the past. If you are in the process of downsizing or wondering what to do with Meriden related items, be sure to contact us at our email address: meridenhistoricalsociety@gmail.com or by phone: 203-639-1913 (please leave a message).
UNDERCLIFF SANATORIUM: INFORMATION WANTED Our member Eileen Sypher had sent us the following call for help: “I am writing a book on my father who spent a year at Undercliff in 1951-2 for his tuberculosis. He died in 1952 before he could tell me about his life there. I am eager to hear from anyone who had a relative or friend there while it was a tuberculosis sanatorium—do you have stories? Letters? Photos? Any tidbit most welcome! In my writing I will mention no names, of course, should you share with me. I am eager to restore these forgotten histories that are a part of so many lives and of Meriden’s past. Rev. Dr. Eileen Sypher. Email: esypher@comcast.net or call 860-391-1860 and leave a message.â€
We hope you or someone you know can help.
WE NOTE WITH SORROW THE PASSING OF OUR MEMBERS:
Lawrence McLane Morehouse
Walter Shamock
FOR THEIR GENEROSITY WE THANK:
Jacquelyn Beale, Sherwin & Ruth Borsuk, Bruce and Suzana Burchsted, Michael & Lizbeth Cardona, Ellen Carter, William Glick, Gregg D. Hugo, Judith Laczek, Robert Marchetti, Dan Metz, Diantha Morse, Joan M. Munger in memory of Leon Bartholomew, Robert B. Siegler, The Suzio Insurance Center Inc., Philip Toussaint, Tuxis Ohr’s Fuel, Suzanne Zajac, our anonymous donor at Your Cause, and the many visitors to the Andrews Homestead and to the Bernice Morehouse Research Center. Donations in Memory of Larry McLane Morehouse were received from: Arnold Bloch, Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc., Joseph Lanterna, John & Martha McCarthy and Susan Webber
WE WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS:
Barbara Austen and Family, June Banack, Michael Banack, Michael Cardona & Family, Hergott Dental, Jonal Laboratories, Jocelyn S. Linnekin, Darrell Lucas, Robert Marchetti, The Russell Hall Co., Eileen Sypher, Cindy & Bob Tencza & Family, and Tuxis Ohr’s Fuel.
HISTORIC FICTION AS A PORTAL TO THE PAST: The Lyman Family of Lyman Orchards
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 6:30 p.m. Meriden Public Library 105 Miller St., Meriden, CT
Meet author Diana Ross McCain as she discusses her new novel Thy Children’s Children, based on the true story of the first five generations of the Lyman family of Lyman Orchards of Middlefield, CT, as an example of how well-researched historical fiction both entertains and informs. Books (hard cover, 634 pages) will be available for purchase and book-signing ($20.00 includes CT sales tax). This program is co-sponsored by the Meriden Public Library and the Meriden Historical Society. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served.
ANDREWS HOMESTEAD CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS
Join
us Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8 from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. to
tour one of Meriden’s oldest homes, all dressed up for the holidays.
FUNDrive – SAVERS FUNDRAISER
Thanks to your generosity, we collected and turned in over 700 lbs of soft items. Sincere thanks to all who dropped off clothing and other soft goods for this fundraiser.
FOR THEIR GENEROSITY WE THANK:
Arthur Bell, Ollie Collins, Mr. & Mrs. Mark Corte, Sandra Ennever, Eugene Glen, Don Lyle, Neda Weathers, Our Anonymous Donor at Your Cause, and to the visitors to the Andrews Homestead and the Bernice Morehouse Research Center.
MERIDEN HALL OF FAME:
George S. Jeffrey was inducted to the Meriden Hall of Fame in the Historical Person Category. Dr. Sherwin Borsuk, president of the Meriden Historical Society, presented and accepted the honor.
The three other inductees to this year’s Meriden Hall of Fame were Major Dr. E. Robert Bertolli O.D. in the category of Science and Medicine; Joan Edgerly in the category of Community Service, and Stanley Hancock in the category of Business and Commerce.
MAKING HISTORY / MAKING PLACE: A CELEBRATION OF CONNECTICUT MUSEUMS
Picture Show and Lecture with William Hosley.
Connecticut has 169 towns and as many community-based historical museums. Most are small. Many are run by volunteers. No two are alike. They preserve & present great local stuff and stories. They collect. They offer public programs. They advocate for preservation. They serve schools and greet tourists. They are a civic miracle. This is their story and why they matter.
This program is co-sponsored by the Meriden Historical Society and the Meriden Public Library. The program is free and open to the general public.
OUR MUSEUM’S OCTOBER OPEN HOUSE & SPECIAL EXHIBIT:
THOMPSON CHOCOLATE Celebrating the 140th Anniversary of Meriden’s Chocolatier
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 13, 20 & 27
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The Andrews Homestead – Meriden Historical Society Museum, 424 West Main St., Meriden, CT
Andrews Homestead, Meriden Historical Society Museum, will be open to the public every Sunday in October from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Dedicated to the history of our city’s manufacturing era, the museum is chuck-full of examples of items made here in town. Come see our newest acquisitions.
OUR SPECIAL EXHIBIT THIS YEAR is dedicated to THOMPSON CHOCOLATE in conjunction with the company’s 140th anniversary.
The Andrews Homestead shares a parking lot with Benjamin Franklin School. By permission of the Police Department, for this exhibit – Sundays only, you may disregard the “do-not-enter†sign posted at the entrance to the parking lot.
We will be raffling a Thompson Chocolate basket on each of the open house dates.
Admission is free – donations are always appreciated.
A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT:
I am writing to introduce myself, Sherwin Borsuk, as incoming president of the Meriden Historical Society (The Society), and to let you know what we are up to this year.
Our board of directors is engaged in the revision of the bylaws and the formalization of the standing committees.
The standing committees will be:
Marketing and Public Relations – promote and publicize events, provide access to media, and maintain The Society website and bulletin.
Membership – promote new membership, maintaining member records and renewals, as well as thanking donors.
Collections Management – acquire items for The Society’s collections, keep records of holdings, and sell or donate items not related to the mission of The Society.
Programs – arrange for 5-6 speaker programs yearly, coordinating site, equipment and refreshments, as well as arranging exhibits at The Society’s museum (Andrews Homestead).
Facilities – maintain and improve The Society’s properties.
Grants – apply for grants as directed by the board of directors and report the status of grant monies to the board and grantor(s).
Nominating – nominate board members and officers annually and provide biographies to the Secretary.
Tag Sales – coordinate, staff, and publicize the summer tag sale fundraisers.
Finance – steward the financial assets of The Society, investments, real estate, etc.
You, as a member of The Society, are encouraged to join any of the standing committees that appeal to you. Your participation will enhance the vitality of our organization. The work of The Society is never-ending and the various committees outlined above can always use more hands.
If you are interested in joining one of the committees, please e-mail me at meridenhistoricalsociety@gmail.com or leave me a message at 203-639-1913
We will be having a continued series of talks in partnership with the Meriden Pubic Library. Please see our newsletter or our website (www.meridenhistoricalsociety.org) for updated details.
Our Fall exhibit at the Andrews Homestead is devoted to Meriden’s Thompson Chocolate Company, founded in 1879. Rumor has it that there will be free samples of Thompson products (according to Mayor Kevin Scarpati). You are encouraged to come and enjoy it!
Finally, we are currently looking for a larger home for our research center here in Meriden, as our research and other materials have us bursting at the seams. Sometime in the near future we hope to find a suitable solution be it a new location or a major expansion and we’ll likely need to have a fundraising campaign to enable us to afford a larger home.
As always, your support of the Meriden Historical Society is, and will be, greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Sherwin Borsuk
NEWS FROM THE ARCHIVES: Rockwell and silver city Overlay by: Paul S. Butkus
Meriden was home to several silver overlay companies, most notably the Rockwell Silver Company and the Silver City Glass Company. There are references to other companies producing silver overlay in Meriden but none to the same extent or notoriety. Overlay companies did not produce their own glass but rather decorated pieces made by the large glass, china or ceramic companies and the same blanks were frequently used by competing overlay companies. The use of the same blanks, paper labels or similarly themed designs can often complicate the proper attribution for some pieces. As a result, collectors often identify a piece simply by the glass manufacturer due to the greater availability of information on those companies. Another complicating factor in overlay identification is the way in which some patterns were adapted to varying sized pieces. The overall composition was cropped as needed to fit smaller pieces.
Don Lyle for his donation of C. F. Monroe Co. research material. The comprehensive research material came from the collection of Don’s wife, Carrol of blessed memory.
Andy Piatek who lent us some of his Silver Overlay catalogs so that we could digitize/copy them and add them to our collection of reference catalogs.
All our friends who have been bringing items of Meriden interest to the Research Center.
All who supported us by bringing items for our tag-sale booth and for our Savers Fund Raiser event.
Our Anonymous Donor at Your Cause.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Our November Lecture will take place on
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
6:30 p.m.
Meriden Public Library, 105 Miller St., Meriden, CT
HISTORICAL FICTION AS A PORTAL TO THE PAST.A PROGRAM ABOUT A NEW NOVEL BASED ON THE TRUE STORY OF THE LYMAN FAMILY OF LYMAN ORCHARDS with author Diana Ross McCain.
In 2020 we mark the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in the United States. The fight for women’s right to vote was long and took many twists and turns. Join us to learn about the Connecticut women who fought on a local, state, and national level and on whose shoulders we stand. Be inspired by their stories to use your vote to give a voice to women. This program is co-sponsored by the Meriden Historical Society and the Meriden Public Library. The program is free and open to the general public.Â
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MERIDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY COMMUNITY TAG SALE
SEPTEMBER 14. 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
LOCATION: Meriden Historical Society’s Bernice Morehouse Research Center’s parking lot 1090 Hanover Ave. Meriden, CT 06451
RAIN DATE: the Saturday following the original date
COST TO SET UP: $15.00 donation to the Society per set-up ($10.00 for members).
CONTACT: Bill Siegel 203-237-2217
As in previous years, the Meriden Historical Society will set up its own booth in the shed. Â We hope to see you there.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We are looking for dedicated volunteers for the following projects:
Cataloging and organizing our collection of photographs
Photographing and cataloging items in our collections
Researching (doing detective research work) to help answer the many queries addressed to the Society
Greeters/docents for our open house events at the Andrews Homestead
Come meet our volunteers at the Bernice Morehouse Research Center, 1090 Hanover Ave. in South Meriden on Wednesdays between 1:30 and 4:00 pm.
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FUNDrive – FUNDRAISER THROUGH SAVERS
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14Â
9:00 AM – 1:00 PMÂ
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
1:30 PM – 4:00 PM
AT THE RESEARCH CENTER 1090 Hanover Ave. Meriden CTÂ
Your no longer needed, gently-used clothing, linens, jewelry, shoes, accessories (such as belts and purses), and small household goods can raise funds for us. We have teamed up with Savers Stores and their fundraiser program. Â Savers will pay us 20 cents per pound of soft goods and 10 cents per pound of small household goods we bring to them, so PLEASE think of us when you clean your closets.
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CUNO FOUNDATION GRANT
We were delighted and honored to receive a $2000 grant from the Cuno Foundation. This grant allowed us to purchase a new, state of the art new computer/Work Station complete with a new wide screen monitor and will allow us to purchase more, much needed, acid-free, storage materials. While the first will consolidate all our digitized archival records and facilitate research, the latter will help preserve many of our fragile paper, cloth, and photographed materials.
Our heartfelt thanks to the Cuno Foundation for their continued support of our mission to preserve Meriden’s past for future generations and our purpose: being an active research center disseminating information on Meriden’s industry and Meriden’s History.
There’s a word for it
And words don’t mean a thing
There’s name for it
And names make all the difference in the world
The lyrics above, from a song by the Talking Heads released in 1985, illustrate one of the frustrations with identifying cut glass patterns. With hundreds of patterns introduced by each glass company, developing unique names must have been a challenge and many times only numbers were used. Are the names we commonly use today to describe some of the more collectible patterns their original names?
Several Meriden Cut Glass Company designs are among the most collectible patterns. Names like “Alhambra†immediately bring to mind pieces with a crenelated rim and a series of interlocking hexagons. The original patent, numbered 41,091 and issued to Thomas A. Shanley on January 17, 1911 does not list a name for the pattern but the Alhambra name appears in multiple company catalogs and period advertisements that exist in reference collections throughout the country and in reprints of some of those catalogs. For other patterns where documentation has not been readily available, some names may have been invented by those who were compiling pattern guides. As research continues and new evidence is discovered about pattern names, will collectors adopt the original names or hold onto the names they have been comfortable with for decades? “Names make all the Difference.â€
Recently acquired printed catalog materials from a number of wholesale and retail companies has shed light on the original names for the highly collectible patterns known in the trade as Theodora, Byzantine and Cetus. By cross referencing documented pattern names and images from Meriden Cut Glass Co. materials in the Meriden Historical Society’s collection and patent records with these advertisements, it was possible to identify which groups of cut glass items were made by Meriden (and also J.D. Bergen) even though not labeled as such. The wholesalers and retailers were relying on their own reputations for presenting the quality of goods instead of offering a branded product.
The following illustrations are from the “13th Annual Illustrated Catalogue and Price List of A. C. Becken, The Chicago Wholesale Jeweler, 1904.â€
Commonly referred to as Theodora, this pattern by Wm. R. Eliot is described in patent No. 32,211, Feb 13, 1900: “springing upward are feathers . . . giving them the semblance of peacock- feathers.†Printed name is FEATHER.
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Commonly referred to as Byzantine, this pattern by Wm. R. Eliot is described in patent No. 32,210, Feb. 13, 1900: “As herein shown, the design comprises four bands festooned, the surfaces of which are checkered, and on each band is a series of punties, differentiating in size.†Printed name is GARLAND.
***
.
A variant of the GARLAND pattern has a characteristic miter cut in place of the terminal punties and is named LONGWOOD.
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Commonly referred to as Cetus, (a name apparently ‘made up by the Pearsons’ according to CriticalGlass.com), is actually named CLUNEY.
.
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Other illustrated patterns in this catalog correlate with well documented MCG Co names so it is unlikely that the names shown with these particular bowls were made up. Based upon the findings, we should give them back their names.
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
Karen Erasmus, Dave Fugge, Laureen Galayda, Joan Kilby, Justin Piccirillo
Commonly referred to as Theodora, this pattern by Wm. R. Eliot is described in patent No. 32,211, Feb 13, 1900: “springing upward are feathers . . . giving them the semblance of peacock- feathers.†Printed name is FEATHER.
described in patent No. 32,210, Feb. 13, 1900: “As herein shown, the design comprises four bands festooned, the surfaces of which are checkered, and on each band is a series of punties, differentiating in size.†Printed name is GARLAND.
place of the terminal punties and is named LONGWOOD.
Commonly referred to as Cetus, (a name apparently ‘made up by the Pearsons’ according to CriticalGlass.com), is actually named CLUNEY.
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