CHESHIRE, CONNECTICUT - MAY 2008 - Visiting The Hitchcock-Phillips House? Open Sundays, 2 - 4 p.m., from April through December (except for the Sundays before Labor Day and after Christmas). Also by appointment. Closed January through March except by appointment. To schedule an appointment, call the curator at 203-272-8771.

Click Here for the Walking Tour Map of the Town Green - Print this out, get an ice cream, take a stroll, learn some stuff!

CLICK HERE FOR SPRING-2008 NEWSLETTER

Physician Looks at 1880s Prescription Drug Register from Foot & Co. Druggists, Cheshire, Conn. - See Page 3

The Cheshire Green, Cheshire Connecticut 1835                 

PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN US!

Spring / Summer 2008 Calendar

May 19, Monday, 7:30 p.m. Board Meeting

June 14, Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Antiques & Collectibles, Strawberry Festival

July 26, Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Antiques & Collectibles Sale*

August 30, Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Antiques & Collectibles Sale*

* Weather Permitting

Effective April 6, except for holiday weekends, the Hitchcock-Phillips House will be open to the public on Sunday Afternoons, 2-4 PM, through December.

 

I

THE HITCHCOCK-PHILLIPS HOUSE VIDEO TOUR!

The Cheshire Historical Society is a place where you learn about Cheshire's history - but the 1785 Hitchcock Phillips House has a history of its own. View highlights of the home's 200-plus year history.

INTRODUCTORY VIDEO!     
Come see our new DVD that welcome's visitors to the Cheshire Historical Society and offer 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.

Click Here for a listing of books in the collection at the Cheshire Historical Society

HELD ON March 24, 2008

HELD ON April 28, 2008

"Coins of the American Revolution"

Gene Gandelman

Numismatist Gene Gandelman of Cheshire will present an historical look back at coinage in the American Colonies during the Revolution and the decades before and after 1776. During the United States Bicentennial in 1976, Gene produced detailed replicas of the 1776 Continental Dollar coin and three "state-designed" pattern coins never put into circulation. Gene began his interest in coins in 1954, at age eight, when Wheaties cereal included foreign coins in their packages. Gene retains the knowledge of more than 200 years of United States Coinage.

"What's In A Name?"

Ann Moriarty, Archivist at Cheshire Academy

For her talk following the Annual Meeting, Cheshire Academy Archivist Ann Moriarty has chosen the intriguing title, "What's in a Name?" The Academy has had many names in its 200-plus year history. Ann will review them all and discuss how a name can affect the school and its relationship to the community.

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 or President Marshall Robinson (203) 271-2378

#205
HEADSTONE INSCRIPTIONS
TOWN OF CHESHIRE CONNECTICUT
1934

click here to access

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 Resource Inventory Building and Structures - 82 properties in Cheshire Connecticut surveyed in 1986 PDF of original survey forms available now.

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.

 

Speaker from April 23, 2007
CHESHIRE'S CIVIL WAR HERO - ADMIRAL ANDREW HULL FOOTE

JOHN WHITE, local author, educator, and Cheshire Historical Society member, will discuss thelife of Chesihre's Civil War hero, Admiral Andrew Hull Foote. John has been interested in Admiral Foote since, as a high school studen, he first saw the names "Lincoln" and "Foote" on the Civil War monument on the green. His interest was further piqued last spring when he portrayed the admiral in the "Walk Back in Time" historical reenactment sponsored by the Society and the Cheshire Historic District Commission.


Speaker from March 26, 2007

"Dear Sarah... Words, Life, and Love during the Civil War from the 20th Connecticut" by


Carolyn Ivanoff, Historian
and Assistant Principal at Shelton High School, will talk about her experiences transcribing and researching letters written by Friend Smith, a Civil War soldier from Derby. Ivanoff, who was named Civil War Preservationist Teacher of the Year in 2003 by the Civil War Preservationist Trust, will accompany her talk with a PowerPoint presentation. She will focus on how to go about finding information and how to research your own Civil War soldier. Friend Smith served with the 20th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, Company B, which was considered "the Derby Company." Ivanoff holds a degree from Sacred Heart University, a MA degree from the University of Bridgeport, and a sixth-year degree in school administration from Southern Connecticut State University.

 


NEWSLETTERS AVAILABLE HERE:

HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2008

HISTORICAL SOCIETY WINTER 2007-2008

HISTORICAL SOCIETY FALL 2007

HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2007

HISTORICAL SOCIETY WINTER 2006-2007

HISTORICAL SOCIETY FALL 2006

HISTORICAL SOCIETY WINTER 2006

HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2006

HISTORICAL SOCIETY WINTER 2005-2006

HISTORICAL SOCIETY FALL 2005

HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2005

HISTORICAL SOCIETY WINTER 2004-2005

HISTORICAL SOCIETY FALL 2004


 

A bit of history on Cheshire Farming from Program of the Cheshire Tercentenary Celebration of the 300 Anniversary of the Settlement of Connecticut 1635-1935

 

 

A NEW DISPLAY IN THE EXHIBIT ROOM:
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.


MAIN STREET, CHESHIRE CONN 1909


Crazy Quilt on display


November 28, 2006 - Harold R. Kramer and THE LORE AND HISTORY OF TELEGRAPHY
Photos from Harold R. Kramer's Website



Cheshire resident, Harold is a collector of telegraph keys and telegraphy instruments and spoke about the history of the telegraph, beginning with Samuel Morse's first transmission in 1844, and how the invention, the Internet of its day, overnight moved mankind into a new era.



Oyster Kegs on display


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

 

1882 O.H. Baily Map

THE CHESHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ROCKS!

Click for photos from our HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 2007 2006 2005 2004  

 

There were six Alice Washburn Houses built in Cheshire, Connecticut. Click here for more information.

Are you interested in the George Keeler Family that lived at 168 South Main Street? Click here for more information.

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! Hours: Sundays 2-4 PM. Do you live far away? We can mail books to you for a nominal shipping charge.

What a Great Way to spend a few hours! Stop at Bella Luna Bakery and get a little something and take the HERITAGE WALK OF CHESHIRE TOWN CENTER (personal walking tour) - click here for the walking map


Hmmmm... Not sure what to do just this moment? Why not join the fun! 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. Membership information is available at the Society or from Membership Chairman Brad Zambruski (tel: 203-988-6701).

Just Click Here for more information!   

Get ready for a little spring cleaning?

 

The Lucille D. Williams Memorial Garden photographed just as Fall overtakes it.


"THE BARITE MINES OF CHESHIRE

The 19th Century Barite Mining and Milling Industries of Cheshire and New Haven, Connecticut"

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

Click Here for some excerpts from this publication

Copies are available from the Cheshire Historical Society. The cost is $10 for this informative pamphlet.

 

INDIAN ARROWHEADS from Krampitz Farm

AIRPLANE FRAGMENT A piece of the airliner that crashed in Cheshire in 1946 - on display at the Cheshire Historical Society.

 

Photos from the May 7, 2006 Civil War Re-Enactment: Titus Moss, Cheshire Farmer, A Walk Back In Time to 1862

To schedule a visit to the Museum, call (203) 272-8771 or (203) 271-2378

Click here - photos from 2005 Cheshire Memorial Day Parade!

 

Photos of the Memorial Garden

Membership

Titus Moss and Titus Moss Letters - PDF Version and Titus Moss Walk Back in Time Sunday May 7, 2006


Click here for Medal of Honor Display (Sgt. Eri D. Woodbury 1864)

Click Here to see Photos of the December 19, 2004 Open House

Click here for photos of the Old Fashioned Christmas Ornaments (2004) on display in the Exhibit Room

Dolls at The Cheshire Historical Society

Click and Look!!!
1882 O.H. Baily Map

Our Gift Shop

More About Us

How To Find Us (Directions to our building)

Historic North End Properties (Word version of same)

Cheshire Then: A photojournal of Cheshire homes and properties

Cheshire Town History: PDF of CHESHIRE, CONN An Old New England Town

 

THE CHESHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY - VIEW ACROSS THE GREEN WITH CIVIL WAR MEMORIAL

Looking out the Front Doorway

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.

During the year we hold four programs. The programs cover the History of Cheshire, Local Area History, Crafts, and Other Topics of Interest to our Membership. In addition we hold special events that concern our town at the time.

Our membership dues are most reasonable, so please join our Historical Society. Contact us for more information. We would love to hear from you!

 

Contact Information

Call us - our telephone number is:
(203) 272-2574
Send us a letter - our postal mailing address is:
The Cheshire Historical Society
P.O. Box 281
Cheshire, CT 06410

Send us an e-mail:
mkrobinson@cox.net

President, Marshall Robinson

Come and vist us:
The Hitchcock-Phillips House
43 Church Drive
Cheshire, CT 06410

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!

CLICK HERE FOR HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION REGULATIONS DOCUMENT

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   

Links of Interest: UNITED STATES / NATIONAL

NARA: US National Archives & Records Administration    United States Holocaust Memorial Museum  

National Historical American Flags   Office of Coast Survey - Historical Maps and Charts

The Naval Historical Center    The National Trust for Historic Preservation     The National Historic Landmarks Program

US History.org     The US Newspaper Program   The National Atlas of the United States    Civil War Information

National Park Service: Links to the Past    The United States Flag Page   Smithsonian Institution

Links of Interest: WEATHER

National Hurricane Center   National Weather Service   USGS Earthquake Hazards Program   

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration   Weather Underground

A really useful search engine: Dogpile Web Search. Good Dog. Great Results.®

Webmaster: Diane Calabro dacalabro@cox.net
Site Revised: January 2008


 

"[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.