- Celebrate Easton Revolutionary War Weekend Reenactment
September 19-20th, 2015
515 Morehouse Road, Easton
Four regiments of British and Continental troops recreated the burning of the Morehouse Farm. Over 100 soldiers, along with cannon and horses, participated in an experience we will not soon forget.
- Easton Farm TourAugust 22nd, 2015 12:00-3:00
The Bradley-Hubbell Homestead was a stop on the Easton farm tour. We celebrated the agricultural past and present of this special community.
- BRADLEY-HUBBELL HOMESTEAD SOCIAL GATHERINGAugust 14th, 2015 6-8 PM
- 5th CONNECTICUT REGIMENT REVOLUTIONARY WAR ENCAMPMENT AND LIVING HISTORY DAY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11th, 2014 11AM – 4 PMBRADLEY-HUBBELL HOMESTEAD, 535 BLACK ROCK TURNPIKE
CO-SPONSORED BY EASTON PARKS AND RECREATION
The 5th Connecticut Volunteer Regiment will be encamped on the grounds of the Bradley-Hubbell Homestead on Saturday, October 11th for an unforgettable experience for you and your family. Come see, smell, hear, and touch history in a truly unique way.
Children and adults can drill with the regimental soldiers and watch as they fire their weapons. Practice loading and drilling with a Revolutionary War cannon. Learn about life at camp and on the home front from soldiers, surgeons, cooks, spies, and other colonial reenactors. There will even be a surprise attack by British marines!
The 5th Connecticut Volunteer Regiment is made up of local individuals that enjoy learning and teaching about the history of America. Members include men, women, and children from the surrounding areas that are dedicated to the creation of a living history experience for their community. By including women and children in the regiment, a broader representation of colonial life beyond the military is brought to each event.
This family friendly event will surely be fun for children and adults of all ages. We look forward to sharing this aspect of local history with you and hope you enjoy the hands-on approach to learning about the past. The cost for the event will be $5 per person, $20 per family, HSE members will receive half-price, and children under 5 will be admitted for free. For more information on the 5th Connecticut, please visit their website: www.5cr.org.
- ‘BRADLEY-HUBBELL HOMESTEAD SOCIAL GATHERINGSMay 23rd, June 13th, July 11th, August 8th, September 12th, and October 3th, 6-8 PMThe Board of the Historical Society of Easton cordially invites you and your friends to our monthly informal social gatherings. Please bring your own beverages and hors d’oeuvres to share with the group. This is an opportunity for members of the community to come together and enjoy the Homestead property as well as socialize with new and old friends.
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY 2014 FREE FALL LECTURE SERIES
One New England Country Parish
By Jonathan Stock
Saturday, September 27th, 2014, 1:30-3 PM
Congregational Church Hall
336 Westport Road
The Easton Historical Society is proud to sponsor- One New England Country Parish: Learning to Learn from History. This event will feature a two-hour television program professionally edited and broadcast by Newtown-based CTV21 of Jonathan Stock’s lecture from 2012.
Jonathan Stock, former law librarian for 33 years and church historian has spent countless hours turning Easton’s church records from 1762 until 1930 into a digital tome of valuable historical data. Mr. Stock takes us on a journey through time while he provides his insight on how historic documents once digital can be used to understand the history of an organization and pave the way for how past history can be used to plan for the future.
All other Lectures are at the Easton Library Community Room, 691 Morehouse Road:
Witchcraft Prosecution: Chasing the Devil in CT
by Richard Tomlinson
Sunday, October 19, 2-4 PM
Join us for an exploration of witchcraft trials in colonial Connecticut with author, Richard Tomlinson. This talk will highlight three major trials in Connecticut history: the Hartford Witch Panic of 1662-63; the landmark prosecution of Katherine Harrison of Wethersfield; and the trial of Mercy Disbrow, the last woman convicted of witchcraft in Connecticut, a case that was contemporary with Salem.
One Family’s Civil War
By Carolyn Ivanoff
Sunday, November 2 at 2:00 PM
Carolyn Ivanoff, Civil War Historian, returns to share her knowledge about the French family and their amazing story of the Civil War: living through and surviving those difficult and extraordinary years. The talk is based on almost 600 letters of Captain Wilson French, Company G, 17th Connecticut Volunteers, his beloved wife Martha Bouton French, and the remarkable journey of those letters through the generations. Captain French was wounded at Gettysburg, captured, and paroled. Through his letters to his beloved wife, and hers to him, his strong character as a good officer and a good man shine through all his trials and hard service.
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TROUBADOUR AT THE BRADLEY-HUBBELL HOMESTEAD-Sunday, September 7th, 2014 2-4 PM
Co-sponsored by Easton Parks & Recreation/Red Mango
We enjoyed a late summer afternoon overlooking the bountiful Bradley garden and the graceful Hemlock Reservoir with music, children’s crafts, farm demonstrations & refreshing treats.
Renowned Connecticut’s first “Official State Troubadour” Tom Callinan composed an entertaining song about the Bradley’s family farming history which he debuted at the social event. Tom regaled us with music from yesteryear including popular songs from the colonial and Revolutionary War.
All tickled their taste buds with refreshing nutritious and delicious treats courtesy of Red Mango of Fairfield, CT. While the crowds were small, a fun time was had by all.
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BRADLEY-HUBBELL HOMESTEAD AT THE EASTON FARM TOUR: August 16, 2014, 10 AM-3 PM
The Bradley-Hubbell Homestead was a featured stop on this year’s 6th Annual Easton Farm Tour, presented by the Citizens for Easton. It was held on August 16th from 10-3. Guests started at the Firehouse Green on Center Road and obtained a free map of farms on the tour to see Easton grown farm fresh food. Fun for the whole family was had! Visitors enjoyed the many farming delights that Easton has to offer and learned about where food comes from. At the Bradley-Hubbell Homestead activities highlighted what it was like to work the land, grow and cook food, and maintain the farm in the 18th and 19th century.
- Exhibition featuring Easton’s One-Room Schools : Sunday, June 1. 2014 2-4 PM, Adams Schoolhouse
The Historical Society of Easton presented a pictorial exhibit featuring the history of educating students in the one-room schools in our town from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. Sonia Bodie was the curator for this exhibit, with intern support provided by Amy Stachan. This exhibit was the largest exhibit the Society has held in the past two decades. The entire schoolhouse was filled with items scanned from our archives on display to the public for the very first time. Some of the featured items on display were photographs of the school houses in addition to their teachers and students as well as original curriculum, student classwork, school newspapers, report cards, tuition bills and invoices of school expenses.
- Regional Historical Society Letterboxing Scavenger Hunt-Spring 2014
Eight local historical societies participated in a scavenger hunt activity. It culminated in a raffle and brought each community together in a fun and engaging way.
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Paranormal Investigative Group Lecture, Sunday, March 16, 2014, 2-4 PM at the Easton Racquet Club, 36 Wimbledon Lane
Adam Shefts, chief investigator of the Northeast Paranormal Investigations Society (NPIS) shared his team’s findings of spirit activity and haunting of historic houses around the state. They also presented findings from their investigation of the Bradley-Hubbell House here in Easton too!
- Indian Wars in Connecticut History, Sunday, March 9th, 2014 2-4 PM
David Koch, Associate Professor of History at Housatonic Community College, returned to Easton for the fourth time to present Indian Wars in Connecticut History. Early in Connecticut’s history, the state saw bloody battles, both between Native American tribes and between natives and colonists. This talk centered on two major Indian wars of the period: the Pequot-Mohegan War and King Philip’s War. It also dealt in part with the battle fought in Fairfield that ended the Pequot-Mohegan War in 1637.
- Alaska and Yukon: The Last Great Road Trip Sunday, February 9th, 2014 2 – 4 PM
We travel the last great road trip from Connecticut to Alaska taking a virtual tour of the great North American continent with Carolyn Ivanoff. Along the way, we visited the great National Parks in the U.S. and Canada, drove the Alaskan Highway and the Golden Circle, and viewed the wildlife. Ms. Ivanoff was named Civil War Trust Preservationist Teacher of the Year in 2003.
- A History of Connecticut Food and Wine, Sunday, January 19th 2014 2 – 4 PM
Eric D. Lehman and Amy Nawrocki, professors from the University of Bridgeport and co-authors of A History of Connecticut Food and A History of Connecticut Wine: Vineyard in Your Backyard spoke on the history of Connecticut’s regional cuisine.
- Bradley-Hubbell Homestead BYOB
In June, July, August, September, and October of 2013 the Historical Society sponsored a series of BYOB cocktail events, once a month on a Friday night. Folks brought snacks and their choice of drinks and enjoyed the Bradley-Hubbell Homestead house and property with musical accompaniment. Mostly they enjoyed the company of one another. Here are a few photos from those events:
- History of Connecticut’s One-Room Schoolhouses” – 2 pm, Saturday, April 28, 2012 at the Adams Schoolhouse on Westport Road (CT 136 – just south/west of Center Road). What was school like in the 1800’s in a one-room schoolhouse.
Ms. Mary Palmieri Gai, historian and antique house specialist, gave a free lecture sponsored by The Easton Historical Society.
The lecture was a big success. We had a full house.
- Society host Free Lecture, “ Stories and Tales,Connecticut’s 17th Volunteer Infantry,” by Mr. Ed von Schmidt
Answering Lincoln’s call for “300,000 more”, over 1,000 Fairfield County men gathered in Bridgeport to join the 17th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Edmund Schmidt, spoke about the history of this Regiment, their role in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and stories of their capture and imprisonment in the South.
Edmund Schmidt, is currently Chairman of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation and former president of the Darien Historical Society.
Website: http://historicalsocietyofeastonct.org
- The Historical Society of Easton hosted a Free Lecture, “The Forgotten War of 1812”, on Saturday, February 18th, 2012 at the Easton Library Community Room, 691 Morehouse Road, Easton
The United States of America declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776, but it took 36 more years — and a second war — to guarantee that independence. Now in 2012, its bicentennial anniversary, this important but often forgotten war is the topic of our first lecture of the year. The Society will host guest lecturer, Betty Oderwald, President of the U.S. Daughters of 1812, shared her knowledge about the War of 1812 and the impact it had on the residents of Connecticut.
- Holiday Open House – The Adams Schoolhouse
The Holiday Open House at The Adams Schoolhouse on Sunday, December 4, 2012 was a big success. We had lots of visitors. Check out the little slide show below to see photos from this event and from other recent Historical Society events. And thanks to Dean and Cathy Harvey for Adams Schoolhouse Holiday Open House event.
- Bradley-Hubbell House Wine Tasting and Art Exhibit – Fall 2012
This past fall The Historical Society held a delightful fundraiser in the form of a wine tasting and art exhibit at the Bradley-Hubbell House Museum and Farmstead. A number of local artists displayed and offered their artwork for sale. The paintings and drawings were all local scenes depicting the history and countryside of our town. Paintings of The Adams Schoolhouse, done by local artists by invitation of The Historical Society in June, were featured. Some of those works can be seen in the Art Gallery section of this website along with the personal gallery websites of some of the artists.
- The Easton Historic Barn Tour Fall 2012
On the Sunday following the wine tasting and art exhibit, another great event was held, a tour of some of Easton’s historic barns. Below you can see photographs of some of the barns that were on the tour.
Please join the Historical Society of Easton for an intriguing presentation “Exploring Connecticut’s Natural Wonders: Contributions of local people, places and discoveries to our knowledge of life on earth” given by Brendan Hanrahan on Saturday January 12th at 2 PM to 3:30 PM in the Easton Library’s Community Room, 691 Morehouse Road, Easton, CT.
This award-winning program “Exploring Connecticut’s Natural Wonders” focuses on the bounty of our state’s natural history. Much of the inspiration for this program can be traced to Connecticut-born Benjamin Silliman (1779-1864). When Benjamin Silliman left New Haven for England in 1802 he sailed into the “Heroic Age of Geology,” a time when early concepts of earth‘s history and natural science first took shape. The ideas Silliman brought back with him to Connecticut sparked a Grand Tradition of Exploration of our local natural places – one that resulted in significant discoveries about geology, paleontology and ecology being made here ever since.
Brendan Hanrahan, Publisher of the Great Day Trips Series of guides to our state’s most extraordinary natural places, takes participants on a slideshow tour of places where millions of years of natural history – and centuries of cultural history – come to life. The slideshow tells seldom heard tales of local people and discoveries that reveal how Connecticut may look tame but it is actually a place where evidence of continental collisions, cataclysmic volcanism, ancient extinctions and long lost glaciers are easily explored.
For more information please contact the Historical Society of Easton: hseastonct@gmail.com or 203-261-2090 or Website: historicalsocietyofeastonct.org
- Bradley-Hubbell Christmas
HSE ANNUAL MEETING
AND ADAMS SCHOOLHOUSE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, December 2th, 1-3:30PM
Adams Schoolhouse
345 Westport Road
The Historical Society of Easton’s Holiday Open House will be held Sunday, December 2nd, from 2:00 – 3:30pm in the one-roomed historic Adam’s School House located at 345 Westport Road in Easton. An exhibit of early 20th century vintage holiday cards will be on display in the schoolhouse from the Society’s collection. Children and their families are invited to make a holiday craft and enjoy hot cider and sweet treats.
From 1:30 – 2:00 a brief Annual Meeting will be held to discuss the 2012 financial report, future plans and 2012-13 election of board members. The public is invited to attend the meeting and learn about our programs, events and volunteer activities.
A Holiday Open house will follow from 2 – 3:30 PM with cider and treats, carolers and crafts activities for children.
Carolers from Joel Barlow High School’s Select Choir will close our holiday celebration. The Society is accepting non-perishable food donations for local food pantries. In the spirit of the season of helping others, assist us in filling the school with canned goods for those in need.
Please join us on Sunday, December 2th. We look forward to seeing you. For more information call Dean or Cathy Harvey at (203) 451-6015 or email at deaneyes@hotmail.com.
CIVIL WAR LIVING HISTORY EVENT
The Civil War living history event takes place on July 21 on the grounds of the Bradley-Hubbell House.
Here is the schedule for the Civil War living history event on July 21 on the grounds of the Bradley-Hubbell House at 535 Black Rock Turnpike. For more information, call 203-261-2090 or visit historicalsocietyofeastonct.org.
10 a.m. — (public access) Camp life of the Union soldier;
civilian presentations
11-12 p.m. — Camp life of the Union soldier; Civilian presentations; Military drill and firing demonstrations
Noon — Soldiers and civilians prepare for their noon meals
1 -2 p.m. — Camp life of the Union soldier; Civilian presentations; Knapsack vs. blanket roll presentation
1 -1:30 — “Music of the Late Unpleasantness” to be led by Jen Eastman-Lawrence; this set of vocal pieces will highlight the popular mood and sentiment of the antebellum, war-time, and post-war periods.
1:30-2:30 —“The Grand Old Game” — A brief discussion about the origins of modern baseball from its roots in the venerable folk game of town ball, to be led by Jeff Lawrence. “The Massachusetts Game” is one variant codified in 1858 and will be demonstrated and open to public participation.
2-3 p.m.— Camp life of the Union soldier; Civilian presentations; “Joseph Pierce presentation”; the Chinese were among the soldiers fighting in the Civil War, and the highest ranking of those fighting was Joseph Pierce, who fought with the 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Irving Moy will present a program about Pierce’s Civil War experience along with Gary Horton, retired teacher and historian. Military drill and firing demonstrations.
Civilian women will be giving throughout the day presentations on how the home front helped the North win the war, nursing and medical care on the battlefield and the United States Christian Commission. Marge Bucholz will come to the event; the children’s period games run throughout the day in the civilian area. The soldiers will be drilling young civilian recruits from the public.
For immediate release
Please join the Historical Society of Easton as we celebrate the 151st Anniversary of the Civil War on Saturday, July 21st from 10 AM to 3 PM with a Civil War Encampment Day at the Bradley-Hubbell House located at 535 Black Rock Turnpike, Easton. Soldiers and civilian re-enactors from Company F of the 14th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, a not-for-profit, living history and preservation organization will portray the original 14th CVI’s daily life and activities.
Of all the regiments Connecticut sent to the Union armies in the Civil War, the most famous was the 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. The regiment marched and fought with Lincoln’s Army, the army of the Potomac and participated in 34 battles and skirmishes. The 14th Connecticut lost more men killed in battle, in proportion to its size, and captured more prisoners, cannon and battle flags than any other Connecticut regiment.
The re-enactment will provide a glimpse into the daily life of the 14th CVI starting with a military drill and firing demonstrations, preparation for the noon meal on an open fire pit as well as a presentation of camp skills such as rifle loading, knapsack and blanket rolling. Civilian women will present how the home front helped the North win the war and demonstrate medical care and family life during the conflict. Additionally, period children’s games will run throughout the day.
Music of the period will be highlighted at 1 PM with vocal pieces led by Jen Eastman – Lawrence that depict the popular mood and sentiment of the antebellum, war-time and post- Civil War periods. Following the musical performance, a brief discussion about the origins of modern baseball from its roots in the venerable folk game of town ball will be led by Jeff Lawrence. “The Massachusetts Game”, one variant codified in 1858, will be demonstrated on the Bradley-Hubbell grounds and open to public participation!
A popular misconception of the Civil War is that it was fought exclusively by white Anglo-Saxons, but many ethnic groups took part in this great struggle. However, few people are aware that the Chinese were among them and the highest ranking of those, Joseph Pierce, fought with the 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Irving Moy will present a program about Pierce’s Civil War experience along with Gary Horton, retired teacher and historian.
Come and join the Historical Society of Easton and Company F 14thConnecticut Volunteer Infantry on Saturday July 21st and learn how soldiers and civilians lived during this critical era in American history.
Company F is unique in offering both the military and civilian aspects of the Civil War Era. For more information about them visit their web site:www.cof14thcvi.com.
Admission to the day-long event is $5.00 per person.
The program’s sponsor, The Historical Society of Easton manages two historic properties: the Adams Schoolhouse (c. 1850) and the Bradley-Hubbell Farmstead (c. 1816) listed on the National Register. For more information call the Society at (203) 261-2090, email: hseastonct@gmail.com or visit the website: http://historicalsocietyofeastonct.org.
Helen Keller at her Easton Home – Arcan Ridge – , 163 Redding Road, 1951
Twain & Keller – Easton & Redding’s Special Connection
Historical Society of Easton proudly announces a special display commemorating the unique and engaging relationship between Redding’s Mark Twain and Easton’s Helen Keller curated by Twain Scholars- Brent M. Colley and Heather Morgan (former Director of the Mark Twain Library). The exhibit will be showcased at the Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Road, between Wednesday May 16th and Saturday June 30th.
This exhibit is a celebration of their friendship and the interesting parallels between these world-renowned individuals who just happened to select Easton and Redding, CT as their final residences. In addition, there will be online exhibit topics highlighting the special relationship, their final residences – Arcan Ridge and Stormfield as well as a photo gallery that can be easily accessed.
The exhibit has been made possible by donations to the History of Redding website and the generous assistance of Helen Selsdon, Archivist at the American Foundation of the Blind in New York City.
Helen Keller, age 29 & Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka Mark Twain, age 74 – 1909
For more info call (203) 581-0850 or email HSEastonCT@gmail.com
Website: http://historicalsocietyofeastonct.org.
Online Exhibit: http://historyofredding.com/epl/twain-keller-exhibit.htm
with Easton Author, Patricia Hubbell
Sunday, May 20th,
1:00 – 3:00PM
Please join us for a fun Story Time, Pony Rides and games on the Historic Bradley-Hubbell Homestead. Children’s author, Patricia Hubbell will read a selection of her books including new books about Horses and Dogs. Patricia Hubbell, poet and author for almost forty years, has lived in Easton all her life. Her childhood home, the Bradley-Hubbell House is on the National Register of Historic Places and is used as a museum to educate visitors about Easton’s history.
Admission: All children are welcome; however the books are geared for Preschool to Kindergarten. $5 per child; Pony Ride for an extra fee.
Directions: Bradley-Hubbell Homestead is located at 535 Black Rock Road, Easton (Rt. 58), Exit 44 of the Merritt Parkway
Sponsored by the Historical Society of Easton
Information: hseastonct@gmail.com or 203-261-2090 or see our Website: historicalsocietyofeastonct.org
On Saturday, April 28 at 2pm at the Adams Schoolhouse on Westport Road (RT 136 – just ssouth/west of Center Road) Ms. Mary Palmieri Gai, historian and antique house specialist, gave a free lecture sponsored by The Easton Historical Society. The lecture was entitled “History of Connecticut’s One-Room Schoolhouses.”
We have just posted a history of our town to this website. You’ll find it on the menu at the top of this page. There you will find excerpts from the full document, some images, and a link to the full document PDF, just over 17 pages in length. It’s an interesting story, probably more interesting than you might have thought. Take a look.
If you have anything to contribute, stories, photos, artifacts, you can contact us as indicated in the right margin of the home page to the website.