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In the News

Manchester Historical Society Courier Newsletters
To read a newsletter, click on the date in the left box.

Date Articles Included Are...
May, 2010 • National recognition for Case brothers historic district • Exhibit at museum: 100 years of Boy Scouts • Hilliardville memories sought • Notice of special member meeting on Sunday, June 27 at 2 p.m. at the History Center to approve bylaw change and a resolution to create an endowment fund • Carpenters' volunteer work on floor in loom room at History Center • Giant tag sale; description of thank-you party for window fund donors; wish list of items needed by Society, new melodeon; other newsbriefs
February, 2010 • Center Memorial Park threatened • Window project a big success • Homestead spruced up • Meet new directors • Saluting our volunteers • Benjamin Lyman account book of 1837-1850 donated to Historical Society • Museum store expanded hours • 100 Years ago in the "South Manchester News" • Welcoming new members.
November, 2009 • Tribute to Thelmas Woodbridge (1911-2009) • Window preservation at History Center • New heating system at Cheney Homestead • List of donors October 2008 to September 2009 • Comments from children's school tours • Dancing bear statue anniversary coffeemug • Children's Living History program at Homestead with Fireside Patriots.
   May, 2009 • Recognition of Highland Park section of Manchester by Connecticut Historic Preservation Board • Origin of certain street names in Manchester • Center Park renamed Center Memorial Park • Murder in Manchester, book about 1919 Cheney Brothers Silk Robbery published by local historian Walter Scadden • Woodland Gardens' 70th anniversary • Two Eagle Scout projects benefiting the Society • Fireside Patriots, 19th century living historians and their activities.
February, 2009 • History of Manchester Green and Old Manchester III Manchester Green ... A Picture Book • Cataloging activities of Society intern Joe Sobanski • Upcoming lecture on impact of Civil War on Manchester industry, including importance of gun industry and Spencer repeating rifle • Continuing need for and appreciation of volunteers • Updates on Society's television shows on Cox Cable, including one about Manchester's origins before it became a town in 1823.
November, 2008 • Volunteer of the Year award to Joe Lawler and the Historical Society's continuing need for volunteers and docents • Curator report on completed restoration of Spanish American War flags, four Seth Cheney pieces still out for conservation, and donations recently received • Second article on history of Manchester Fire Department • Opening of new Museum Store • Upcoming program on history of Manchester Road Race • John Olds House on Tolland on State Register of Historic Places property • Updates on Society's television shows on Cox Cable on Saturdays.
September, 2008 • Report on progress of window restoration drive for Manchester History Center • Concern over Manchester's development • Upcoming Bruce Stave lecture on history of University of Connecticut • First of two-part article on history of Manchester Fire Department • Grant from Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation to study barn at Woodbridge Farmstead • History of local Grames Printing • Eagle Scout project at History Center • Recent community presentations of Manchester history.
May, 2008 • Start of "No Pane, No Gain" window restoration drive for Manchester History Center • New exhibits, including Shakers in America, antique voting machine, and Korean War • Loan of several Russell Cheney paintings for display in Portsmouth, New Hampshire • Upcoming Heritage Day activities • History of Royal Ice Cream and family behind it • Updates on Society's television shows on Cox Cable on Saturdays, including one about Pitkin Glassworks.
February, 2008 • Essay on beauty and history of Wyllys Falls • Request for Korean War artifacts for Old Manchester Museum • Continuing need for volunteers and docents • Exhibit "Celebrating Manchester's Women" • Updates on Historical Society's televsion shows on Cox Cable on Saturdays, including Manchester Road Race and Cheney Railroad (Silk Along Steel).
November, 2007 • Donation of medals, trophies and memorabilia of Manchester native and Olympian Joe McCluskey • Early Manchester Road Race article, and donation of a scrapbook of early races • Death of long-time Historical Society volunteer Mark Sutcliffe • Updates on Historical Society's televsion shows on Cox Cable on Saturdays, including most recent, on Connecticut geology.
September, 2007 • Town of Manchester agrees to $50,000 Community Development Block Grant for purchase and installation of heating and air conditioning system at History Center [grant rescinded when Federal review said project ineligible] • Two skylights in roof of Scalamandré loom exhibit • President's column on making ends meet while Historical Society continues to grow • Resignation of Executive Director Mary Dunne • Activities of summer intern Ashley Reichelt • Report on the Loom Project • Description of new exhibits at History Center • Historical Society's television show on Cox Cable, including "Return to Hilliardville" and others.
May 2007 • Events during Pride in Manchester Week and Heritage Day • Update on Scalamandré Loom Project •Oral history workshop to be led by Susan Barlow • Roof replacement progress • New booklet published by Historical Society, Customs and Incidents of Early Days in Manchester – Reminiscences about a South Manchester Boyhood in the Post-Civil War Era by E.L. Bidwell • Updates on Historical Society's television show on Cox Cable television on Saturday nights, including the Garden Club's 80th anniversary.
February, 2007 • Planning for installation of Scalamandré looms (see May 2005 Courier for receipt of the looms and spooler, donated by Anthony Viscogliosi • Art Gala Auction and Sale • Various fund drives and what they support.
November, 2006 • Historical Society has gifts for holidays, commemorating Manchester's past and present • Need for small donations • Participation in walking and historic tours • Progress report on Manchester History Center restoration: window and roof replacements, caterer's kitchen installation • Manchester Cooks for Special Occasions follow-on to Manchester Cooks! cookbook now available.
September, 2006 • Town Directors agree to the recommendation of the Connecticut Attorney General's office to preserve three Bennet School buildings on Main Street, formerly slated for demolition • Pitkin Glassworks products • Request for donations of family photo collections • History of charcoal production in Connecticut hills • Updates on Historical Society's Cox Cable televsion show, including "On My Honor," a history of local Girl Scouting, and previous shows.
May 2006 • Fate of three Bennet School buildings on Main Street now rests with State Attorney General • Continuing need for volunteers and docents • Request for recipes for upcoming follow-on to Manchester Cooks! cookbook • Acquisition to collection of mailboxes and postmaster's desk from Manchester Green Post Office • Welcome to Ezequiel "Memo" Alejandro to the Historical Society Board • Upcoming lecture on Civil War Chaplain Joseph Hopkins Twitchell.
February, 2006 • Possible demolition of three of four Bennet School buildings • Announcement of "Old House Fair 2006" with workshops and lectures on preservation of old buildings • Historical Society members help on Hurricane Katrina relief • Brenda Paullo appointed Volunteer Coordinator • Updates on Historical society's Cox Cable show, "The Hispanic Experience" and previous shows.
November, 2005 • Meet John Dormer, new president of Manchester Historical Society • Holiday activities -- open house and wreath gala • Spotlight on Cheney Homestead collection • Part 2 of essay about Manchester Civil War General John Lord Otis, 10th Connecticut Volunteers • Updates on Historical Society's Cox Cable show, "Hilliardville," "Hockanum River," "100th Anniversary of Center Park," and previous shows • News briefs and activities.
September, 2005 • 40th anniversary of Manchester Historical Society • Reminiscences of outgoing Historical society President Dave Smith • Exhibits celebrating Manchester's Hispanic community • Eileen Jacobs Sweeney new Development Director • Manchester Civil War General John Lord Otis, 10th Connecticut Volunteers • Updates on Historical Society's Cox Cable show, "75 Years of Music" and previous shows.
May 2005 • Donation of four looms and spooler from textile manufacturer Scalamandré and the planned exhibit • Welcome to Thomas Ferguson to Historical Society Board of Directors • Death of long-time Historical Society treasurer and volunteerGert Sweeney • Updates on Society's Cox Cable show, "East Side Treasures" and previous shows.
February, 2005 • "Old House Fair 2005" with talks by Bob Yapp of PBS series About Your Old House With Bob Yapp • Need for "on call" volunteers • Sale of Cheney Mills in 1955 • Vivian Ferguson named Manchester'sHistorian • Need for museum docents • Updates on the Society's Cox Cable show, including "Historic Oak Grove" and previous shows.
November, 2004 • Receipt of a federally-funded $200,000 grant from Save America's Treasures for repairing roof of History Center • holiday gift and exhibit ideas and items • Request for construction volunteers • Request for Manchester Road Race memorabilia.
September, 2004 • Recently demolished house at 91 Union Street, one of the earliest "mill houses" in the country • Conservation of Manchester Civil War Monument • Challenges of exhibiting donated items • Donation of former mill-worker interview transcripts • Membership Satisfaction survey results • Charming places of Manchester.
May 2004 • Preservation of historic Bennet Middle School, formerly known as Education Square • Welcome of Carolyn Kaufman as part-time Development Director • Cheney Homestead roof replacement • Cheney Homestead Preservation Achievement recognition • Docent volunteer need • Manchester's links to the disastrous July, 1944 Hartford Circus fire • Bequests and membership lists • Recent Historical Society television shows.
February, 2004 • Archaeological excavations and results at Pitkin GlassWorks site • Cheney Homestead roof replacement update • Continuing call for Docent volunteers • Shady Glen Restaurant and Reig family • Recent bequests and acquisitions • Great Lawn, central part of Cheney mansion district • Updates on Historical Society's television shows on Cox Cable.
November, 2003 • Holiday Open House exhibits and special features • Status of Cheney Homestead repair fundraiser activities • Courier now available on Historical Society's web site • Request for vintage clothing donations • Results of first consignment auction • Updates on Historical Society's television program, including "Hazel Lutz and Her Museum" and other shows • Member awards and activities of note.
September, 2003 • MHS receives three-year $90,000 seed grant to hire Executive Director • Mary Bellor Dunne selected as new Executive Director • Old Manchester Museum's new, expanded hours • Progress on the Machine Shop exhibit • Request for items for the first Antiques Auction • Request for new Docent volunteers • 25th Anniversary of Cheney Brothers National Historic Landmark District • Exhibits on Manchester's Connection to Aviation since 1854 • Updates on Historical Society's television show.

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ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
Manchester Historical Society's
History Center
175 Pine Street
Manchester, CT 06040
(860) 647-9983
Email: manchesterhistory@juno.com

MAILING ADDRESS
Manchester Historical Society
106 Hartford Road
Manchester, CT 06040