Joe has been the Facilities Chair for the Historical Society of Glastonbury (HSG) since the 1970’s. He and his committee have overseen for HSG the relocation and revitalization of the Welles Chapman Tavern into a rental property, dismantling and reconstruction of the Eastbury barn, Moseley Tavern Privy, and the construction of a reproduction smoke house, wood shed and well head at the Welles Shipman Ward house (WSW) among many other projects relating to HSG’s properties. He and the Facilities Committee’s recent accomplishment is the newly reconstructed Tobacco Shed at WSW. His Talk on May 28 will focus on the process of finding the Tobacco Shed, taking it down and reconstructing it.

 

 

I would like to thank our out-going president Gil Tyler for an excellent presidency. He was a hands-on president, who brought new insight into the workings of the Society. His efforts made sure that the Society continued to move smoothly in the face of hard economic time, and during a major expansion of the Society’s facilities in the form of the Tobacco Shed. Gil’s presidency and vice presidency oversaw growth in membership and development with a dynamic vision for the future. He was always available with his good counsel and unique insight. The Society was blessed to have Gil as president for the past two years. Thank you Gil for a job well done!

 

 

 

Both The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and The Connecticut State Historic Restoration Fund have paid $99,300. All bills and loans have been paid.

 

During 2013, the Curatorial Department will plan for the implementation and development of displays and activities for the Shed with help from Education, Facilities and Glastonbury’s Social Studies Curriculum Dept.I would like to thank all those who made in-kind donations, cash donations or loans, without which this project would never have been possible.

 

In-kind donations:

1.   Tobacco Shed                                     Daniel Delmastro                                 

2.   Drawings for take-down and initial drawings/building plans David Cox Architect

3.   Site plans & representation before zoning    Megson & Heagle Civil Engineers

             (John  Heagle)

4.   Numbering tags                                        Quality Name Plate

5.   Storage of shed until reconstruction          Anonymous

6.   Oversight & Labor                                   Facilities Committee (Joe Greene)7.   Stone                                                       Town of Glastonbury

8.  Agricultural expertise                                 Horton Farm (Howard Horton)

9. Trailer plates & assist in moving the trailer   Hallmark Tires (Bob Harrington)      

10. Moving trailer from to WSW and back     Dalton Rigging (Kevin Dalton)  

11. Trucking stone & Trucking siding              Robert Shipman                            

12. Loading stones                                         Mark Babeneau           

13. Glastonbury Partners in Planting           Planting of trees, shrubs etc.                 

14. Legal issues                             Purtill, Purtill & Pfeffer, P.C., (Kathleen Pfeffer)

15. Historical Society Facilities Committee

 

Tobacco Shed Cash Donors
Bennett, James & Dana	9000
Motycka, Dave & Sue	8577
Greene, Joe & Jean	8000
DelMastro, Daniel	5000
Linderman, Mary Ellen	3000
yler, Gil & Ginny	2000
Clark, Frank & Pat	1200
Alvord, Anne	750
Chiffer, Brian & Dale	500
Collins, Mary & Russell	500
von Wodtke, Henry & Janet	500
Damon, Lynn & Joe	450
Cowles, Pete	200
Holden, Jean	150
Mason, Richard	150
Russell, Alvah & Iris	125
Bywaters, Lynn	100
Deane, Charles	100
Domke, Robert & Jane	100
Goodhue, Janet	100
Hollister, Robert	100
Horton, Howard	100
Inman, Richard & Sue	100
Melzen, James	100
Packard, Mark	100
Schmitt, Betty	100
Sullivan, Joe & Sue	100
Reed, Phyllis	70
Pratt, Ellen	65
Curtis, Marti	50
Guimont, Robyn	50
Haggis, Charlotte & William	50
Raycroft, Jack & Betsy	50
Haendle, Tania	35
Kinne, Lyn	25
Mulcahy, Nancy & John	25
Wlodarezyk, Stanley & Stella	20
Peterson, Susi	10
Total:	41652
Wine Tasting 2009	3316
Wine Tasting 2011	2181
Total:	5497
Raffle Dn. Lect.	338
Raffle Dn. Lect.	245
Raffle Dn. Lect.	255
Total:	838
Service Club of Glastonbury	500
George H.C. Ensworth Memorial Fund	2000
Exchange Club of Glastonbury	2000
CT Trust for Historic Preservation	5000
Naubuc Fire Dept.	300
Total:	9800
Large Grants:
CT Hist. Rest. Grant	99,300
Hartford Foundation	99,300
Anonymous Family Foundation	25,000
Total:	223,600
Kitty Cowles Fund	31,000
Hist. Soc. Glastonbury
Total:	312,387

 

 

 

I would like to especially thank Joe Greene who oversaw every aspect of this project, making sure things were done correctly and on time, and John Dugan who assisted him. Finally, I thank Dave Motycka who handled all the financials.

 

 

 

 

The date of the first Dinner Lecture is June 9. There was an incorrect cut & paste in the invitation.  It has not been moved to July.

 

There are still reservations available for both the Dinner Lectures!

 

The Sunday, June 9 Dinner Lecture will be at the beautiful home of Jane and Brian Fox known as the Hale-Goodrich House at 2016 Main St., built in the French Second Empire style for Frances Hale in 1876, at the height of the Victorian age.

 

The Sunday, Sept. 8 Dinner Lecture will be at the stunning home of Pat & Tom Yandow, 1099 Main St. This c. 1840 house has seen many grand changes in the past few years, more than doubling its size. Join us for a tour of this beautiful home and learn about the history of the house and surrounding area.

 

Susan Goodrich Motycka will be the speaker at both Dinners. Parking will be directed the day of the event.

 

 

 

The Farm Festival canceled for 2012 because of the ongoing construction of the Shed, will be returning September 15, 2013. This year it will be more than just a celebration of Glastonbury’s history and agriculture, but also a celebration and dedication of the newly reconstructed Tobacco Shed. Anyone wanting to volunteer to help plan this celebration please call Jim at the Museum 860-633-6890.

 

 

 

Since our March Newsletter

We welcomed the following

 

Jean Hopkins

Doug, Deb, Katie & Lydia Morgan

John & Laine Vontell 

 

 

Quality Name Plate

(Sustaining)

22 Fisher Hill Rd.

 

Margaret Wilcox- Realtor

William Raveis Residential Brokerage

(Sustaining)

Margaret.Wilcox@raveis.com

 

 

 

Supper at the Welles Tavern

On Saturday, March 23, Joseph and Susannah Welles, with the very able help of Cynthia (Cynthia Parczyk) opened the doors of the Welles Hotel for one more evening, behind a most attractive tavern sign painted by Henry von Wodtke.  Many residents of Glastenbury stepped back into 1796 to enjoy a supper menu of Ham, Hot Slaw, Apple Pie (baked by Janet von Wodtke and June Blacksten), Potato & Flour Bread, Rice Bread, Cheese, and butter, all enjoyed with a glass of sparkling cydur.  The food consumed was seasonal foods that would have been available in March, stored through the winter.  A post rider (Dave Loda) arrived on horseback with the mail that Mr. Welles delivered to several recipients.  Mr. and Mrs. Welles were additionally pleased to entertain Mr. David Humphreys, Minister Resident to the Country of Portugal (Dave Loda), who arrived on his horse, played by Huckleberry Finn McCool.  (Both of these gentlemen did extremely well in their dual roles.)  Mr. Humphreys was enroute to Derby, which is his home, to visit family.  He was very cordial and spoke of his travels and things he had seen.

 

As the evening progressed, Joseph and Emma Gregory (Victor and Claire Gregoire) arrived from Newtown.  The Gregorys almost did not stay the night at the hotel.  Mr. Gregory found the price of 1 shilling each person too expensive but as the coach had already left, Mrs. Gregory was able to convince him to stay. 

 

Mr. Gregory and his wife had found it necessary to leave Newtown because of their Tory sympathies, which were very strong.  Every time Mr. Humphreys spoke of our recent Revolutionary War, Mr. Gregory loudly mumbled, “Civil War!” If Mr. Humphreys spoke of our new states, Mr. Gregory countered, “Colonies!”

 

In the end, Madeira was passed for toasts which were led by Mr. Humphreys, and a good time was had by all. 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Welles look forward to your company next year when they once again open their tavern for an evening.

 

On Sunday, April 14, Welles Shipman Ward was opened for Handcraft Day.  Anne O’Connor was greeter.  Kathleen Plucker and Mary Vetreno were ready to give knitting lessons to anyone who wished, either right- or left-handed.  Elizabeth O’Brien cut silhouettes in the kitchen bedroom.  Elizabeth is not a member of the Historical Society.  She works for Nathan Hale Homestead and Webb-Deane-Stevens.  She comes to cut silhouettes for us on occasion. Georgess Borrow had finger knitting in the kitchen for young people to try.  Children who made something from her brightly colored yard could bring their creation home.  Janet von Wodtke demonstrated tatting.

 

Upstairs, Jane Domke demonstrated hand sewing.  Eva Bowden demonstrated counted cross stitch.  She had a young woman, about 7, who asked for a lesson and Eva obliged.  Cheri Collins demonstrated drop spindle, the predecessor to spinning wheels.  She had a few students who wished to try it.  Claire Gregoire had a crewel embroidery workshop and Linda Oakley had a quilting workshop.  I wove in the loom room.

We made an interesting discovery.  After looking for someone to demonstrate both right-and left-handed knitting, and asking a lot of veteran knitters, we found that there is no right- or left-handed knitting.  Everyone knits from their left needle onto their right. 

 

Once again, we had a small turn-out, although we did have a few more visitors than previous years.  The number of visitors has continued to crawl upward since I began as Program Coordinator but the turnout for this event is always rather disappointing.  Welles Shipman Ward is your museum.  As a member of the Historical Society of Glastonbury, you have stock in it.  What activity would you like to see in April?  What would get you to bring your family for part of an afternoon?  It must relate to something that was an 18^th century activity, it must be able to be contained in our House, barns, and property, and it must not endanger the property, docents, or visitors.  Any ideas?  Send them forward.  We’d love to hear them!

 

On Tuesday, April 14, we had our fourth Kids in Jerusha’s Kitchen.  Jean Bartlett and I got to the House early to get the fire started and ready the utensils and dishes for Tuesday’s lunch.  We had Macaroni with Parmesan Cheese and green beans, with Birds Nest Pudding for dessert and sparkling cider to drink.  Our beans were fresh and not salted, our cheese sharp Parmesan that mimicked colonial cheese that had aged through the winter, and our cider sparkled as colonial cider did but had no alcohol in it. (The only way to preserve cider in colonial times was to allow it to ferment.) However, our lunch was comprised of dishes that might have been enjoyed by a family in the 18^th century.  We even made our own macaroni.  Like Jerusha, we did not use a pasta machine.  We hand rolled it with rolling pins, then cut it into narrow strips with a knife.  We had 6 marvelous cooks, 4 girls and 2 boys, all of whom had a wonderful time, and the lunch was delicious.

 

 

The Walk-Dinner Tour April 29 down the south side of Roaring Brook on the Nature Conservancy path was a big success.  Over 50 walkers enjoyed the historic stroll on a beautiful spring day looking at the mill sites where some of Glastonbury’s most important mills existed.

 

The second walk May 6 featuring the industrial history of Historic South Glastonbury center was also a wonderful occasion with over 44 walkers moving down Main Street to High Street, to the feldspar mill and grist mill, and down Water St.  The Luby family whose home is next to the Feldspar mill, opened their property to us, while their children had a lemonade stand for thirsty hikers. This tour explored the early industry of the area, featuring mill sites, mill worker's homes, tap rooms, and small businesses.

 

Most walkers joined Brian Chiffer, Sue Motycka and Anne O’Connor after the walks for a delicious dinner at South Tavern where a slide show was presented and various attendees spoke, including Howard Horton who grew up and still lives in Nayaug.  I would like to thank Brian, Sue and Anne for developing and presenting these walks, the Lubys for sharing their beautiful property, all those contributed to the discussion such as Howard Horton, Sandy Allen and South Tavern for a delicious dinner. If you missed the walks this year, please join us next year!

 

 

 

The Nutmeg Pastelists comprised of artists Susan Bosworth, Patricia Bullock, Helen Davis, Linda Gotta, Lynda Regina and Patricia Trapp put on a fantastic show at the Museum on the Green during the week of May 5. An educational presentation Thursday of their techniques drew a lot of people. The opening reception Sunday, May 5 was a fun occasion with delicious food and drink, while we admired their art. I would like to thank Jane Fox our new President who helped organize the event. Please join us again next year when HSG celebrates Glastonbury’s artists at the Museum.

 

 

Please join us at the Society’s 40^th Annual Antiques Show on the Green June 22. The Antique Show has consistently been our most successful fundraiser due to all of the hardworking volunteers and the many donations to the Society’s booth. One new and very crucial volunteer position is parking cars at the east end of the Hubbard Green. Anyone willing to fill this position for one or more time slots please call Jim at the Museum.

 

All positions are for specific time slots.  Other Volunteer Opportunities include:  Booth setup and takedown, field setup and takedown, publicity, brochure ads and text, signage, getting the dealers situated on the field and helping them when needed, ticket sales, booth sales, coffee and doughnut sales, finances and Museum monitoring.

.

DONATIONS NEEDED!!

Please help the Historical Society’s Booth with a donation!  We are looking for old and new; good, used knick-knacks; and “treasures”.  Also, please let your family, friends and neighbors know that we need items for the booth!

 

You may drop your items off at the Museum on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays,

9 A.M. - 4 P.M or we will pick them up at your convenience. 

 

Please have all donations in by

Wednesday, June 1!

For more information please call

Co-chairmen David & Debbie Lemieux (633-5750) or Jim Bennett (633-6890)

 

Advertisers Needed!!!

Antique Festival Brochure

Each year we publish a Festival Brochure for the Antique Festival.  As part of this fund-raising event we sell ads in the Festival Booklet.  It’s easy to do, just send us your business card or a photo ready ad and a check for the size you would like.

1/4 page          $  25   

1/2 page          $  50   

1    page          $100   

Inside cover    $125   

Back page      $175   

PATRONS

If you don’t have a business to advertise you can be a Patron of the Festival for a $10 donation or more.  The names of all the Patrons will be listed in the brochure as supporters of the Festival.

 

 

 

Welles Chapman Tavern:

1.  The Thrift Shop moved and are now on Hebron Ave. behind TD Bank.  Glastonbury Residential Mortgage Co. is the new tenant in the vacated space.

2.  In prepping the area for a new tenant, Facilities set popped nails, screwed down wall board, tapped and spackled all repaired walls, painted main area walls and wood work. Working in the two back rooms Facilities obtained a hung door and installed it between the two back rooms.

3.  Removed a wall hung sorting table.

4. The carpet was cleaned and the space is now available for the Glastonbury Residential Mortgage Co.

 

Welles Shipman Ward House:

1.  Weather stripped side door of WSW house.

2.  Rebuilt the large grape arbor completely, installing new posts and rails.

3.  Started work on cabinet in Tobacco shed to hide electrical panel.

4.  Moved wagons from Eastbury Barn to Tobacco Shed.

5.  Moved sledge in Eastbury Barn to back wall in preparation for building storage wall in Eastbury Barn.

6.  Installation of the landscaping near the Shed will be completed in the spring/summer with the help of Glastonbury Partners in Planting.

 

Committee Members:

R. Bowden, J. Dugan, J. Greene,

H. Hunt, R. Inman, A. Jankot,

P. Manfredi, R. Mason, J. Milich,

D. Motycka, K. Sartoris, R. Smith

 

 

 

At the May 28 Membership Meeting we will be voting for a new Vice President, Treasurer, Director, and Bylaw updates.

 

Nominations will be made at the Membership meeting and the members present will vote. The following are the Board’s recommendations.

 

President

(2013-2015)

Jane Fox

Jane as according to the by-laws replaces Gil Tyler as President.  Gil becomes a Director for 2 years.

 

Recommendation for Vice President:

(2013-2015)

Brian Chiffer

Brian has been an excellent Director and brings to the Board a love of Glastonbury and the Society. He has been very active in research, writing, speaking and presentations for HSG, involving articles for the Citizen, Walk Dinner Tours, House Tours, Dinner Lectures, talks before other non-profits such as the Exchange Club and much more. He has been very helpful in the areas of preservation, dealing with issues such as the Slocumb mills and Roaring Brook to name a few.

 

Recommendation for Director:

(2013-2017)

Mike Berdan

Mike is freelance writer who lives in the Glastonbury Historic District. He and his wife Stacy have opened their home for a Dinner Lecture and House Tours to help raise money for the Society. He has been involved in the Antique Show and is keenly concerned about the preservation of Glastonbury and Education, having two daughters in the Glastonbury School System.

 

Recommendation for Treasurer:

David Motycka  (2011-2013)

Dave has been a great Treasurer. His reports are excellent and have given HSG the financials it needs to go after the larger and more diverse grants.

 

The remaining Board Members are:

Secretary

Debora Duch       (2012-2014)

 

Directors

Craig Garneau     (2011-2015)

Judith Harper       (2010-2014)

Robert Shipman   (2011-2014)

 

Board Members

Joseph Greene      Facilities Chair

Anne O’Connor   Education Co-chair

Sue Motycka        Education Co-chairr

Heather Pulito      Membership Chair

Aileen Charland   Marketing

 

Employees

James Bennett     Executive Director

Phyllis Reed        Librarian & Genealogist

Lin Scarduzio     Curator & Programs

 

 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF GLASTONBURY, INC.

(Glastonbury, CT)

 

Recommended by vote of the Society’s Board of Directors on May 7, 2013.

 

RESOLVED, Article III, Section 5 of the Bylaws of the Historical Society of Glastonbury, Inc. (Society) is hereby amended to eliminate an erroneous reference to Section 2 of Article III, which mistakenly includes Directors in the Executive Committee, thereby conforming Section 5 with what has been the Society’s practice, so Article III, Section 5 will be in its entirety as follows:

 

Section 5.   The Officers named in Section 1 of this Article shall comprise the Executive Committee.

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, Article V, Section 1 of the Bylaws of the Society is hereby amended to conform it to the Society’s practices by including on the Board of Directors Chairpersons of all Standing Committees and not just the Chairpersons of the Education, Facilities and Membership Committees as now provided, so Article V, Section 1 will be in its entirety as follows:

 

Section 1.   Board of Directors.   The responsibility for the administration of the affairs of the Society shall be vested in the Board of Directors, which shall consist of Officers named in Article III, Section 1, Directors named in Article III, section 2, plus the Chairpersons of the Standing Committees named in Article V, Section 4, Subsection (a) (1).  The Executive Director shall serve ex officio on the Board of Directors without a vote.

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, Article V, Section 4, Subsection (a) (1) of the Bylaws of the Society is hereby amended to conform it to the Society’s practices by deleting the references to Standing Committees called Acquisitions, Organization, Personnel and Sales and combining Publications as a single committee with Communications and Docents as a single committee with Education so Article V. Section 4, Subsection (a) (1) will be in its entirety as follows:

 

(a)  Standing Committees.

 

(1)   The Standing Committees shall be as follows:

Communications/Publications

Development

Education/Docents

Facilities

Finance

Membership

Nominating

Preservation

Program

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, Article V, Section 4 (d) of the Bylaws of the Society is hereby amended to conform it to the Society’s practice by adding to the end thereof the words “and for conducting an annual internal audit using whatever additional help Finance Committee deems appropriate” so that this subsection will be in its entirety as follows:

 

(d)  Finance Committee.   The Finance Committee shall consist of the Vice-President as Chairperson, the Treasurer, and two independent investment advisors to be chosen by the aforementioned.  The Finance Committee shall be responsible for the Society’s investments and for conducting an annual internal audit using whatever additional help Finance Committee deems appropriate.

 

 

 

Where: 

Historic Bushnell Farm Old Saybrook

 

When:

Friday Evening, June 7

Saturday, June 8

Information:

Latest updates:  www.cttrust.org/celebrate

Questions:          barns@cttrust.org      

  203-562-6312

Register online at:

celebratebarns.eventbrite.com

 

Demonstrations, tours, seminars, food, entertainment and more! Unveiling of the new Connecticut Barns Trail. The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation has been documenting historic barns in Connecticut for nine years. Its database at www.connecticutbarns.org holds information on over 8,400 barns in the state. Hundreds of community volunteers helped

identify barns in their communities. Two thousand of those identified were included in the state’s Historic Resource Inventory in 2010 and, as of late 2013, two hundred of the most distinctive barns will be listed on the State Register of Historic Places. All this barn research led the Trust to offer small barns grants for building stabilization and to develop a Connecticut Barns Trail. Our Celebration of Barns signifies the end of the major research on barns; the grants and the trail signify our commitment to continue to advocate for protecting and preserving

Connecticut’s precious historic asset, the barn.

 

Funding for Historic Barns of Connecticut has come from the State Historic Preservation Office, Department of Economic and Community Development.

 

The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation presents A Celebration of Barns

• Join us for educational sessions on barns.

• Help raise a timber frame building.

• Learn all about mortise-and-tenon timber framing from master timber framer Reynard Thompson.

• Discover all the unusual uses of historic farming tools and enjoy model barn displays.

• Is your barn in our database? Stop by and see. Help us add new information.

• How can you put a date on your barn? Connecticut Trust staff and timber framer Jack Sobon will help you. Bring lots of pictures!

• Enjoy weaving demonstrations, shingle shaving, trunnel making, building a stone wall, plowing a field and other seasonal farm activities.

 

 

 

HSG is participating in the Exchange Club of Glastonbury’s Touch a Truck event with the Eastbury Hearse. The Exchange Club has been a big supporter of the Society’s projects for many years and we are pleased to be part of one of their fundraisers. Bring your kids, grandkids and friends to:

Smith Middle School Parking Lots

216 Addison Road

Sat., June 1, 10AM - 2PM, with a rain date Sun. June 2.

Toot the Horns! Sit in the Driver's Seats!

Food and Beverages!

Admission: $10/Family of 4, $3/Single