 Search this site Home Table of Contents Calendar Newsletter Archives Membership Information Properties Hands-on-History |
Box 212 Monroe, CT 06468
Halloween Happenings at Beardsley House 31 Great Ring Road On Sunday, October 28th children's school librarian and story teller, Sue Selk will tell stories about Monroe's 19th century witch, Mrs. Hannah Hovey, known as Hannah Cranna. Halloween stories will also be shared with the participants. This program is geared for children and their parents, guardians, or Scout leaders. Call the Society answering machine to reserve a spot for your group at 261-1383. Leave the number of people in your group and the ages of the children and a call back number. There will be 3 times available 4-4:30, 4:30- 5 and 5 to 5:30pm. There is no charge but donations are always welcome. Beardsley House, built circa 1770, is located on 31Great Ring Road. The History of the Stevenson Dam The history of the Stevenson Dam will be presented by John Babina in the new community room in the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library on November 15th from 7-9pm. The Monroe Historical Society will host this event. Refreshments will be served. Take a Peek Inside Historical Society President's 1790 Home! Nancy Zorena has been president of the Monroe Historical Society since 2002 and served as President 20 years ago as well. She lives with her husband, Brian, in a Federal cape built circa 1790 when Monroe was still considered "New Stratford". Nancy, a retired schoolteacher, and Brian, a former schoolteacher and antiques dealer, have resided in their Federal home since 1974. In addition to their collection of antiques, Nancy and Brian own a Burr painting titled Peonies, by Jennie Burr, which Brian purchased as a gift for Nancy in a small shop in Milford years ago. Both Nancy and Brian feel privileged to live in a home such as theirs, a home rich in history. Although the structure of the home itself has remain unchanged, in as much as possible, a local fieldstone addition was added in the 1940s by then homeowner and artist George Erban who used the large room as his art studio. According to an 1867 map of Monroe, a Mrs. Spring owned the home, which was then known as the Bostwick-Spring Homestead. In the late 1880s the Beers family owned and farmed the land. Brothers Royal and Ernest Beers are depicted in an 1896 photograph, which the Society has as part of their collection today. The brothers are pictured with their dog, classmates and teacher at the East Village one-room schoolhouse. The Zorenas purchased their house from the Shemeth family in 1974. Mr. Shemeth was a town police officer and his wife was a local schoolteacher. When they moved, they left the Zorenas a painting of the stone walls by George Erban whom they bought the house from in 1964, as well as a collection of old photographs of the house before it was restored in the 1930s. According to Nancy, prior to Erban owning the home, a highly skilled carpenter bought the house for his future bride and remodeled the home which had been left vacant for many, many years. When he was all done, he brought her from Bridgeport to Monroe, though she refused to move so far into the country. He was forced to rent the home out and eventually sold it to artist George Erban and his wife. Many years before restoration, a young Harold Loveland, who lived in Stevenson with his family, brought the family's cows to graze on the fields. He would often look into the broken windows and down into the cellar. Some believe that an antique dealer stole the front door and floorboards from the house itself! When Governor Trumbull, the 54th Governor of the State of Connecticut, known as the "flying governor", was flying his plane from the capitol to this part of the state, he encountered on one such journey engine trouble and was forced to land his plane in the pasture behind the house when it was farmland in the 1920s. The Zorenas have unearthed many artifacts on their property including old bottles, a hand carved soapstone ink well, chards of crocks, including large pieces of a crock with blue flowers from Brown Brothers of Huntington, L.I. several oxen shoes, and pieces of leather shoes. The Federal cape is situated on a slight hill overlooking Route 111, before High Meadows. There are many sugar maples on the property in front of the house which were most likely planted when Route 111 was first constructed. Prior to that, the road went behind the house, and its fields and pasture were in front of the house. Keeping this in mind, it is almost hard to imagine that the property once extended in front all the way to Barn Hill Road! There were several barns behind the house, as well as in front, the foundations of which are below the road across Route 111. The wood from the old barn that was once attached to the house was used to make the kitchen cabinets which are still in the kitchen today, in perfect condition! Nancy and Brian Zorena's home is beautiful in many ways; not only is it in wonderful condition, proving that the owners truly love and cherish their home, but it is in many ways a precious piece of history. One thing our president, Nancy Zorena, would like to convey to all those who might be reading this newsletter, and are not yet members, is that you do not necessarily have to own an historical or early home to be a member. That is a sad misconception. All that is required really to be a member of the Monroe Historical Society is a strong sense of pride in our community and an interest in those things of antiquity, whether it be an old home you are restoring or an antique painting that you specifically admire or even something as beautiful and simple as an old collection of milk glass in your corner cupboard. Lori A. Guerrera, Senior Editor Hands-on-History Summer 2007 Another successful Hands-on History for Children was held in June. We could not have presented a large variety of activities for 27 children without all of our volunteers. The high school students helped to either take an assigned group of children to each station over the 3 day period or presented an activity. Abi Schultz headed up the baking activities and brought all the supplies needed to bake our traditional scones and hobnail cookies. Jennifer Coffey helped the children with their weaving at the loom and with braiding. The following student leaders kept the children moving to each station where adults taught the hands on activities: Carly Wolfe, Lindsay Kirkham, Becky Woodford, Monica Herzog, and Alison Steinborn. Abi, Carly, Becky and Jennifer have been involved with Hands on History Summer Programs since they were 7 or 8 years old. Nancy Zorena served as the coordinator, Judy Standerford presented dyeing wool fleece with natural vegetation, drop spindle spinning and prepared her loom for the children to weave on. Rachel Wolfe taught reversed glass painting and stenciling, Millie Ohm presented needlework activities, Brenda Schultz taught the children how to make corn husk dolls, Christine Ehlers, Jean Weicker, and Sheila Kolesar presented paper crafts and lemonade production. Karen Woodford headed up making and playing old time toys and games, and Brian Zorena helped the children make vanilla ice cream in old fashion ice cream freezers. DONATIONS TO TOWN OF MONROE IN MEMORY OF BARBARA PATTYSON Original lithographs, paintings, needleworks and over fifty books of historical significance to Monroe are presented by Monroe Historical Society past Vice President and Director Brian H. Pattyson in memory of Barbara Ann Pattyson who died in 2004. As a twenty seven year resident of Monroe, Brian and his wife were active in supporting Monroe historical events and made many contributions to their beloved community. The new donations will be showcased at the Town Hall, Edith Wheeler Library and Monroe Historical Society Room and buildings. Book Reviews Revolutionary War Records of Fairfield, Connecticut, Vol. III Edited by David Lines Jacobus, Abstratcted by Kate S. Curry Reviewed by Edward N. Coffey, Monroe Historian This book is a reprint by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. of Baltiore, Md of one of the finest and most detailed local genealogies of New England published in the 20th century. The editor, Donald Lies Jacobus, is one of the most noted American Genealogists of the 20th century and founder of the Americn Genealogist. He wrote and edited numerous family genealogies, and articles on New England and Connecticut family genealogy. This volume is invaluable to anyone researching Revolutionary War records of Fairfield, CT and other areas and towns. Fairfield included Black Rock (now Bridgeport), Weston, most of Easton and Redding. This volume includes testimonies of family members, friends, a fellow serviceman who knewor witnessed or served with these Revolutionary soldiers. This volume would be invaluable for historical and genealogical research in upper Fairfield County, and will be an asset to our collection as Monroe (formerly Stratford) borders on old Fairfield and a number of its early settlers came from Fairfield. The Ricker Compilation of Vital Records of Early Connecticut Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, Maryland ©2006 By Jacquelyn Ladd Ricker Reviewed by John T. Brennan, Monroe Historical Society This CD is the single largest alphabetized collection of Connecticut town records ever assembled. It contains 1.2 million vital records, births, marriages, and deaths from 137 Connecticut towns, plus another 300,000 records from cemeteries, probate and tax records, and family bibles. It also contains tombstone transcriptions from 409 cemeteries. The information within is based extensively on the Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records. It covers the period from approximately 1633 to circa 1850. Its contents, 14,464 pages, are an excellent and important source of Connecticut genealogy. The Barbour Collection was named for Lucius Barnes Barbour who was the State Examiner of Public Records from 1911 - 1934. Under Mr. Barbours direction the project of transcribing the vital records of many Connecticut towns was begun. Jacquelyn Ladd Ricker is an expert in Connecticut genealogy. Mrs. Ricker was the editor of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists magazine, "The Connecticut Nutmegger", and served the society for many years as executive Secretary. Mrs. Ricker spent the last ten years consolidating and editing a database of the information contain within. The information on the Town of Monroe covers the period of 1823 - 1854. There are no cemetery transcripts but there are 698 vital records; birth and marriage and death entries. Textile Sale Our annual textile sale was held this year on September 14 and 15th. Donations this year were numerous and varied. We had everything from high-quality decorator fabric to pristine vintage linens. Thanks to everyone who helped sort, price, display and sell. And special thanks to Art Baker and the Public Works department for their quick help on Wednesday morning. We arrived at the barn to continue sorting and pricing to find that the crab apple tree had fallen across the lawn during the night! After the initial shock, we realized that it could have been much worse. No one was there when the tree fell, it didn't hit the house or the porch, and with the quick response from the town crew the tree was removed from the lawn in plenty of time for us to set up tents and get ready for the sale. Sales were not quite as much as we had hoped, probably due to the less than perfect weather. Friday was cloudy and cool and Saturday started with a steady drizzle. But we still made over $2000. We accept donations year round for this event. Please call Judy at 268-5511 or Nancy at 261-8551 if you have textiles, fabrics, notions, books and magazines related to fiber arts/quilting/crafts, patterns, or anything else of interest. We will arrange for drop-off or pick up of your donation. Beardsley House "Meet the Neighbors" a Success! In August Historical Society president, Nancy Zorena, and a group of members including Lori Guerrera, Ed and Marcia Coffey, Bob Tranzillo, Paul Liscio, and Sheila Kolesar spent the day reorganizing, cleaning and decorating the Beardsley House----all in anticipation of our summer open house----Meet the Neighbors----an evening at Beardsley House. We scrubbed floors and woodworking, cleaned out the three main fireplaces and waxed and moved furniture, and we even cleaned the windows----inside and out! Special thanks are in order for Angie Valentino, who addressed all of the invitations, Kate Chase who donated flowers from her flower farm, Irna Gomez for flower and food arrangements and to all of the members who baked. A big thank you to Bob and Marge Tranzillo who donated the money for our new canopy which was used for the first time at this event. The evening was a complete success, due to the many announcements made of the event both on television and in the local newspapers, and the Board would like to thank all those who attended. Due to the lovely warm weather, refreshments were served outside under a canopy and a raffle was held. The winner of this year's raffle (an old Monroe town map) was Josh Hamilton. Congratulations! Josh, who studied architectural landscape in college, volunteered to donate attractively potted orchids for our fund raiser on November 3rd at the new library. Those who visited were able to speak personally with our town historian and board member, Edward Nichols Coffey, and were free to tour the first floor of the Beardsley House----its two parlors and main keeping/dining room. Some of the highlights inside the homestead including a real-working "cooking" hearth, period Colonial and Victorian furniture, decorative woodworking and original windows, floorboards and doors, not to mention the exquisite detail in woodworking around the main parlor room fireplace. Two families that attended joined that night and our vacant apartment was rented out by a friend of one of our neighbors! For those who missed this truly wonderful event, and would like to visit the Beardsley House in the future or give a contribution to help maintain and preserve this "living museum", contact Nancy at 261-8554 or Lori at 445-8832. |
. |