Category: Connecticut Travel

The New Canaan Historical Society located on 13 Oenoke Ridge Road in New Canaan CT has an new costume exhibit that ends in May 2015 called “As we were”. The exhibit connects two historical events, the first meeting to found the Historical Society, and the wedding of two prominent founders, Edna Hoyt Rogers and Henry Benjamin Rogers.

Edna Hoyt Rogers was a lifelong New Canaan resident and granddaughter of the founder of Hoyt’s Nurseries. She was involved in the Congregational Church as early as 1872, where at the age of 14, she helped raise money for a new organ. During the next 58 years, she worked to maintain the simple architectural design of the Church. Edna was further interested in, “Trying to keep undesirable developments from marring the beauty of the village,” which was of great importance to her. In 1901, she helped organize New Canaan’s Centennial Celebration.

Her husband, Henry Benjamin Rogers, grew up in Darien and in young adulthood became a clerk for New Canaan’s mercantile store, Comstock & Co. In 1860, he joined the firm of Comstock, Rogers & Co., where he and Albert S. Comstock sold and manufactured clothing. Upon Comstock’s retirement in 1876, Henry continued the business under the name H.B. Rogers & Co., until it was sold and turned into a shoe factory in 1903. Also active in the Congregational Church, Henry was a deacon as well as Sunday School Superintendent for 37 years.

Edna Hoyt Rogers and Henry Benjamin Rogers were married in her parent’s house on 477 Carter Street on November 10, 1888. Edna Hoyt’s father, Edwin Hoyt, built the home in 1859 by mixing together lime, gravel, and cobble stones from his own property. He created an affordable, concrete home that stood 26 feet high and contained three stories, 18 rooms, three halls, and two bathrooms.

A year later, Edna and Henry attended the first meeting regarding the formation of the New Canaan Historical Society in August of 1889. As descendants of the town’s founders, the family joined 62 others to discuss an organization that would gather and preserve New Canaan history. The meeting took place at the Comstock-Bensen house on 46 Main Street.

The Comstock-Bensen House, built in 1841, came under the ownership of Albert Comstock in 1871. Albert was a partner in the clothing firm of Comstock & Rogers, Co, where he and Henry B. Rogers manufactured men’s clothing. His wife was a founder and early president of the New Canaan Historical Society, while Albert was one of its first directors. It was in this house that the first of many Historical Society meetings were held.

As We Were ties together two snapshots of the year 1889, when New Canaan began to create and maintain its historical narrative. The exhibit features clothing like those that would have been worn at the Historical Society’s first meeting. Edna Hoyt Rogers wedding dress, as well as other dresses that would have been worn at a 19th century wedding reception, are also on display.

This exhibit will be open until May 2015. For more area event information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com For information on the New Canaan Historical Society http://nchistory.org.

The Easter Bunny will once again pay a visit to the Danbury Railway Museum and you can take a ride in a vintage train through the historic railyard to visit him. This popular annual family event will take place on Saturday & Sunday, March 28 & 29, and Friday & Saturday, April 3 & 4. Museum hours are 10:00-4:00 on Friday and Saturday; noon-4:00 on Sunday.

Trains leave every 30 minutes from 12:30 to 3:30. Admission is $10.00 (age 2 and over); each child will receive a small gift from the Bunny. Reservations are suggested and may be made by visiting the museum’s Web site at http://www.danburyrail.org.

The short train ride in a fully-restored 1953 New Haven RR Rail Diesel Car (Budd RDC), will take visitors past the fully operational turntable, over 70 vintage railroad cars and locomotives, and many unique pieces of railroad history, including a Boston & Maine steam locomotive built in 1907. The train ride will stop at the Easter Bunny’s special railroad car. The museum’s beautifully restored circa-1910 Railway Post Office (RPO) car will also be open.
Of course, the exhibits inside the restored 1903 Danbury station will be open, along with a coloring station, temporary tattoos, Thomas® play table, and the operating model train layouts. A fully-stocked gift shop will also be open.

The Danbury Railway Museum is a non-profit organization, staffed solely by volunteers, and is dedicated to the preservation of, and education about, railroad history. The museum is located in the restored 1903 Danbury Station and rail yard at 120 White Street, Danbury, CT. For further information, http://www.danburyrail.org or call the museum at 203-778-8337.

Seeds are getting ready to sprout, and the Kent Historical Society wants everyone to be ready for spring planting. In another of its continuing “Sunday Series” presentations, the Kent Historical Society, in collaboration with the Kent Garden Club, will host Ken Greene, founder of the Hudson Valley Seed Library, who will present the hows and whys of preserving and growing heirloom seeds. The lecture will be held Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. at the Kent Town Hall.

Like all great libraries, the Hudson Valley Seed Library is filled with stories that have become essential elements of regional culture. But this library is dedicated to one of the most important parts of our horticultural heritage: seeds. Unlike heirloom antiques, seeds are alive and always changing. Their ever-evolving nature has led to the diversity of flowers, vegetables and herbs still with us today. The Hudson Valley Seed Library is a project Greene germinated in a small town library that has now blossomed into a company and farm devoted to producing organic seed for home gardeners and farmers, and fostering a regional seed-saving community.

Greene is a tireless advocate for seed diversity, security, and sovereignty, and for the cultural stories that celebrate farms and gardens. His engaging presentation will explore new ways of keeping seed heritage alive, from restoration to preservation, and growing the heirlooms of tomorrow. He is on the board of directors for Organic Seed Alliance and has given presentations at the NOFA-NY conference, Seed Savers Exchange, Young Farmers Conference, Culinary Institute of America, Organic Seed Conference, National Heirloom Expo, Cornell and many other organizations.

Hudson Valley Seed Library also celebrates seeds through art, and annually commissions original art for a select number of unique seed packs in its catalog.
For the 2015 collection, over 400 artists applied for only 16 available commissions. Greene will display some of the contemporary art commissioned by the Seed Library along with photos of the Seed Library Farm, in addition to speaking about easy, beautiful and tasty heirloom varieties for gardeners to grow at home.

Hudson Valley Seed Library memberships and a wide variety of vegetable and flower seeds from the 2015 collection will be available for purchase following the program. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Kent Historical Society.

For area information visit www.litchfieldhills.com. For more information about the Kent Historical Society www.kenthistoricalsociety.org

The Fairfield Theatre Company located on 70 Sanford Street in Fairfield has just announced a series of concerts in their award winning intimate 225 seat theatre that is consistently noted as the best caliber of the artists.

If you like the blues, don’t miss the show on Saturday, March 21 with Roomful of Blues. This band is a tour de force of horn-fired blues. So tight, and so right: a masterful combination of jumping, horn-heavy, hard-edged blues, and R&B. Since ’67, the group’s deeply rooted blend of swing, rock ‘n’ roll, jump, blues and soul has earned it a slew of accolades. But you really don’t need to know their history to join in the fun. If knowing they have earned five Grammy Award nominations, and seven Blues Music Awards gives them credibility for you, so be it.

For a change of pace, on March 29 the Pine Hill Project takes center stage. Pine Hill Project is the reunion of Richard Schindell and Lucy Kaplansky with special guest Larry Campbell. Their work together in the folk revival supergroup Cry Cry Cry represents a turning point in American folk music, and in their separate careers they have helped to broaden the definition of folk.

Each writer brings their own unique view to the project; Schindell, his esoteric story telling, and Kaplansky, her unique outlook on life. Schindell’s work is hallmarked by the unlikely heroes that he depicts. Kaplansky left behind a career in clinical psychology in order to pursue songwriting, and has been a vital voice ever since.
The April 8 headliner is Lee Dewyze. There is a special VIP package that includes a Pre-Show Meet & Greet and Acoustic

Dewyze is a cross between Cat Stevens and Paul Simon, and has certainly broken the mold of American Idol winners.
With his rough-hewn voice and laid-back Midwestern charm, DeWyze won over millions of viewers as a contestant and eventual winner of the 2010 season of American Idol. There’s an easy-going sprit on his major-label debut Live It Up — a breezy blend of rootsy pop, rock, and folk, anchored by DeWyze’s soulful, husky voice and bright-sounding acoustic guitar.

For ticket information visit http://fairfieldtheatre.org. For more event information on Fairfield County visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

This spring the Newtown Historical Society has organized a series of events sure to please the entire family. Events will take place at the historic Matthew Curtiss House located on 44 Main Street in Newtown, just down the street from the iconic giant flagpole.

On March 9 at 7:30 pm., the C.H. Booth Library Karen Karen DePauw, a Research & Collections Associate at the CT Historical Society, will help you recall the clothing of your ancestors, your parents, and your own fashion choices as she takes you on this trip through over 100 years of fashion. You can even contribute to the discussion by bringing a favorite garment and sharing your memories.

For a change of pace, the Society is offering an open house and colonial dancing at the Matthew Curtiss House from 12 noon to 4 pm on March 15. Guests will be invited to join Patricia Campbell, a Dance Caller, who will be accompanied by Fran Hendrickson on keyboards. They will conduct three sessions that will include an introduction and instruction. Each session lasts 45 minutes and is limited to 20 participants. This event is free, but registration is required by e-mailing bkwilsonhistory@yahoo.com. Please indicate which session you would like to attend (12:30, 1:30, or 2:30). This activity is appropriate for ages 8 and up.

On April 26 from 12 noon to 4 pm the Historical Society will host an open house and Victorian block building event at the Matthews Curtiss House. If you have ever wondered what children used before Legos this event is for you. Join the Society’s staff for a fun filled afternoon of block building Victorian style. The society has recently acquired a set of Richter Stone Blocks which in its day rivaled Lego Building Blocks, complete with starter kits, supplemental sets, and instructions on how to build certain models within a series.

For more information on the Newtown Historical Society visit http://www.newtownhistory.org and for area information visit www.litchfieldhills.com