CHESHIRE, CONN. - FEBRUARY 2012 FRIEND US ON FACE BOOK!
Do
you want to visit the Cheshire Historical Society? If so, from January through
March, you'll need to phone us to make an appointment for research visits and
tours. Our Sunday Afternoon Visiting hours resume in APRIL 2012.
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NEW!
PHOTOS OF OUR 2011 HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Including photos the Gingerbread House of St. Peter's Church And Holiday Party photos from previous
years: How To Find Us (Directions to our building) Our latest newsletter - FALL 2011 OUR NEW SPRING PROGRAM SHOULD BE POSTED FOR YOU SOON! CHECK BACK |
SUNDAY
VISITING HOURS We
are located at 43 Church Drive, Cheshire, CT 06410 Contact
us:
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P R O G R A M A recap of our Fall 2011 Program: This was an exciting fall! In addition
to regular Monday night program meetings at the Hitchcock-Phillips House
in October and November, we co-sponsored with the Cheshire Historic District
Commission a series of three Sunday
afternoon talks on Historic Preservation: The two Historical Society programs were: "A History of the Cheshire Masons" presented by "Cheshire Railroad Stations" presented by Robert J. Belletzkie - who lives in Prospect, is web stationmaster of Tyler City Station, a website which documents old Connecticut railroad stations. At the turn of the 20th century, Cheshire was served by two railroad lines with at least five active station stops. Using his website, Bob will show us he original Cheshire rail routes and stations together with a weath of fascinating information on how the early train schedules operated. (November 28, 2011) |
SPRING 2 0 1 2 CALENDAR Events listed are held at the Phillips-Hitchcock House unless otherwise noted BOARD MEETINGS ARE EVERY THIRD MONDAY EVENING OF THE MONTH
March 26, 2012, Monday 7:30 p.m. -
SPEAKER
April 23, 2012, Monday 7:30 p.m. - SPEAKER The Hitchcock-Phillips House will have our Sunday visiting hours starting in APRIL 2012 and we will be open to the public on Sunday afternoons, 2-4 p.m., |
View our DVD that welcomes visitors to the Cheshire Historical Society and offers some insight on the history of the Hitchcock-Philips house. The eight-minute video, "Introduction to the Hitchcock-Philips House," is narrated by Cheshire's Josiah Rowe whom you may remember from the Titus Moss Walk Back In Time event where he portrayed Joseph Perkins Beach. (Our DVD was revised in 2010)
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April 25, 2011 Program Summary Annual Meeting & Reception In honor of the Civil War Sesquicentennial, Society member Bob Larkin will present a power point presentation on the new Civil War monument honoring the Ninth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers and the US Navy monument, which features a large statue of Admiral Andrew Hull Foote, both at Vicksburg National Military Park, and also our own Cheshire Soldier's Monument on the green.
FARMING IN CHESHIRE CONN Known as The Bedding Plant Capitol of the World, Cheshire Connecticut has a long history of farming. Here are two articles, one from 1935 and the second from 2008, discussing farming in Cheshire 1935 - "CHESHIRE FARMING" from
Program of the Cheshire Tercentenary Celebration of the 300 Anniversary
of the Settlement of Connecticut 1635-1935 (includes winter farm
photos)
Earl and Ruth Kurtz are pictured standing in front of their home at 1604 Peck Lane back in 1941. Click on photo for more information about Cheshire Farms
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CHESHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Our newsletters cover a wide range of topics and in depth research. Please click here for a Table of Contents that includes hyperlink to the Newsletter reference Click Here for Table of Contents for Newsletters Take a look at our website
- you will find many interesting items! Please e-mail us with any questions
or interests you may have.
Cheshire Town History: PDF FILE of "CHESHIRE, CONN An Old New England Town"
Reference Documents available at the Cheshire Historical Society (updated November 2009) Books available at the Cheshire Historical Society (updated April 2008) |
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The Cheshire Historical Society presented "Cheshire Goes to War" in November 2009. This impressive collection was photographed and is available for viewing by clicking above..
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STOP BY OUR GIFT SHOP! Don't forget! Gift Giving is EASY when you stop at our Cheshire Historical Society GIFT SHOP! Town Historian, Ron Gagliardi's book: Images of America: CHESHIRE is a GREAT gift. LANDMARKS of Old CHESHIRE is also a lovely gift for anyone with an interest in Cheshire's history! We can mail books to you for a nominal shipping charge. Contact us:
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The Cheshire Green, Cheshire Connecticut 1835
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Do you have an interest in period costumes, clocks and watches, dolls, dishes, furniture, jewelry, minatures, Native Americans, toys, slavery, or other topic? Do you have experience in searching town land records or doing genealogical or other research? Do you collect old stamps, coins, bottles, guns, tools? Can you make a poster or set up a display? Whatever your interest or talent, we'd like to add your name to our "Subject Specialist" List. If you can help, please call Curator Mary Ellen Kania (203) 272-8771 |
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Are you trying to locate information about someone buried in Cheshire prior to 1934? #205
PDF documents of the Headstone Inscriptions, Town of Cheshire of 1934. This list includes all the headstone inscriptions in Cheshire cemeteries. The list was sponsored by the Connecticut State Library and copied under the auspices of FERA (Federal Emergency Relief Administration) and WPA (Works Progress Administration), two Depression-era, federal agencies that provided "work relief." It is reproduced here with the permission of the Connecticut State Library. |
HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN CHESHIRE CONNECTICUT - Compiled in 1986
Historic Resource Inventory Building and Structures - 82 properties in Cheshire Connecticut surveyed in 1986 PDF of original survey forms available. Also Available with PHOTOGRAPHS - 1986 Black and White photos AND 2008 photos of the same properties and access to the PDF documents of 1986. (Note -- this will take some time to load as there are over 160 photographs). Buildings located on Main Street, Church Street, South Main Street and West Main Street. Photos and descriptions from nearly 25 years ago of these historically noteworthy properties.
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Are you interested in the George Keeler Family that lived at 168 South Main Street? ALICE WASHBURN HOMES IN CHESHIRE CONN There were six Alice Washburn Houses built in Cheshire, Connecticut. Take the HERITAGE WALK OF CHESHIRE TOWN CENTER (personal walking tour)
Get ready for a little spring cleaning? These cleaning tools are on display at the Cheshire Historical Society. AIRPLANE FRAGMENT A piece of the airliner that crashed in Cheshire in 1946 - on display at the Cheshire Historical Society. (see Spring 2006 Newsletter for more details)
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THE LUCILLE D. WILLIAMS MEMORIAL GARDEN Located behind the Hitchcock-Phillips House, the Lucille D. Williams Memorial Garden has been lovingly tended to throughout the seasons since 2004. PHOTO OF THE LUCILLE D. WILLIAMS MEMORIAL GARDEN: Cheshire Garden Club members Inge Venus, Vicky Brady and Carol Goertz pose after their monthly maintenance chores in the garden in mid-October 2009.
The Lucille D. Williams Memorial Garden photographed just as Fall overtakes it.
"THE
BARITE MINES OF CHESHIRE 36-Page Pamphlet written by Crawford E. Fritts - State Geological and Natural History Survey of Connecticut, Natural Resources Center, Department of Environmental Protection is available at the Cheshire Historical Society
Copies are available from the Cheshire Historical Society. The cost is $10 for this informative pamphlet.
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In 2006 - We took A Walk Back In Time to Cheshire Connecticut
in 1862. President Lincoln Calls For 300,000 Troops and Who From Cheshire
Will Go? A WALK BACK IN TIME - TITUS MOSS: CHESHIRE FARMER AND CIVIL WAR
SOLDIER -- A PRESERVATION MONTH ACTIVITY
Partially Funded by a grant from CT Trust for Historic Preservation in cooperation with the CT Humanities Council Organized by the Cheshire Historical Society and the Cheshire Historic District Commission, 2006 |
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NEWSLETTERS AVAILABLE HERE: Table of Contents for Newsletters HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2011 HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2010 HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING/SUMMER 2009 HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2008 HISTORICAL SOCIETY WINTER 2007-2008 HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2007 HISTORICAL SOCIETY WINTER 2006-2007 HISTORICAL SOCIETY WINTER 2006 HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2006 HISTORICAL SOCIETY WINTER 2005-2006 HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2005 HISTORICAL SOCIETY WINTER 2004-2005 HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2004 HISTORICAL SOCIETY WINTER 2003-2004 HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2003 HISTORICAL SOCIETY WINTER 2002-2003 HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2002 HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2001 HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2000 Do you have any older versions of the Newsletter (1999 and earlier)? Can you please let us know? We would wish to borrow them to scan and to post on our website. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A TOUR OF THE HITCHCOCK-PHILLIPS HOUSE? Call curator 203 272 8771 to schedule an appointment for research or to visit the house.
Curator Mary Ellen Kania welcomes visitors to the Cheshire Historical Society DOLLS ON DISPLAY AT THE CHESHIRE HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
INDIAN ARROWHEADS
Judge Ray Voelker donated these 11 white quartz Indian arrowheads and one black, flint arrowhead from the Krampitz farm, 1559 Peck Lane. Mineralogist Roy Smith examined these artifacts to verify the materials. (Spring 2006) |
Medal of Honor Display (Sgt. Eri D. Woodbury 1864) During the regiment's charge when the enemy was in retreat Sgt. Woodbury encountered 4 Confederate infantrymen retreating. He drew his saber and ordered them to surrender, overcoming by his determined actions their willingness to further resist. They surrendered to him together with their rifles and 12th North Carolina (C.S.A.) regimental flag. Come see our collection of Cook Books 1845-1962 Created by Assistant Curator Kathleen Connolly. It has 36 cookbooks from both Connolly's collection and the Society archives and includes several Cheshire cook books as well as commercial recipe booklets and recipe clippings from old newspapers.
Crazy Quilt on display at the Cheshire Historical Society
DOCUMENTS AND REFERENCES AVAILABLE AT THE CHESHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY (compiled November 2009) PDF FILES AVAILABLE FROM THE CHESHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WEB SITE: Heritage Walking Tour Map of the Cheshire Town Green Cheshire Town History: PDF FILE of "CHESHIRE, CONN An Old New England Town" Chronology of Cheshire Events from "Our Town" Titus Moss Letters Letters home from a Cheshire Civil War Corporal A Kindergarten Photo from 1946 sent to us by Mr.Thomas Pitre of Sequim, WA
TRAIN SERVICE IN CHESHIRE 1850-1900's NOTE: Mr. Belletzkie will be our speaker this FALL
2011 - check back for date and time.
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PHOTOS FROM OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY - HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE HELD ON DECEMBER 19, 2010 |
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To schedule a visit to the Museum, call (203) 272-8771 or (203) 271-2378 Membership Our Gift Shop More About Us Cheshire Then: A photojournal of Cheshire homes and properties Cheshire Town History: PDF of CHESHIRE, CONN An Old New England Town
Looking out the Front Doorway |
THE CHESHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY - VIEW ACROSS THE GREEN WITH CIVIL WAR MEMORIAL Organized in 1951, the Cheshire Historical Society is a group of old and new residents who have a desire to discover and preserve the heritage of Cheshire, Connecticut. They educate and assist others in their inquiries into our past and promote a love for our town and its inhabitants. Our first home was in the 1st. District School (1951-1956), then the old Cheshire Public Library (Williams House) on Main Street (1956-1972). We are presently located at the Hitchcock - Phillips House on the Cheshire Green, as shown above. Our membership dues are most reasonable, so please join our Historical Society. Contact us for more information. We would love to hear from you! |
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Contact Information Call us - our telephone number is: |
Send us a letter - our postal mailing address is: The Cheshire Historical Society P.O. Box 281 Cheshire, CT 06410 |
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Send us an e-mail:
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Come and vist us: We are located on Route 10 at the Town Green |
Related Links or Links of Interest
Links of Interest: CHESHIRE
The Town of Cheshire The Cheshire Chamber of Commerce The Cheshire Land Trust
The Cheshire Historic District Commission Cheshire Historic District BROCHURE
Historic Preservation Study Committee (2002-2004) The Cheshire Herald
The Cheshire Public Library: has every link you can imagine!
Links of Interest: CONNECTICUT
The State of Connecticut Tourism in Connecticut The Connecticut Historical Society
State of Connecticut Historical Preservation and Museum Division Connecticut Historical Societies and Museums
Connecticut Freedom Trail Covered Bridges in the Northeast
University of Connecticut MAGIC: Maps and Geographic Information Center
Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation
Site Revised: FEBRUARY 2012
"[1723] It was called 'New Cheshire Parish' a name no doubt proposed by Thomas Brooks, because he fathered most proposals and was himself from Cheshire, England."
Pg. 15 Program of the Cheshire Tercentenary Celebration of the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the Settlement of Connecticut, 1635-1935.
Commodore Robert Hitchcock
1804 to 1888
Born in Cheshire, son of Amasa Hitchcock, Jr. Their home was across South Main Street where the Medical Center (formerly a bank) is now.
Become
a member! It is so easy to be a Member of the Cheshire Historical Society!
Both old and new
town residents interested in preserving Cheshire history are encouraged
to become Historical Society members. 
