May 23, 2013	6:30 pm-Business Meeting 7:00 pm -Program Town Hall 21 Field Park Drive	From Hula Hoops to High Fashion: G. Fox in the 1950's Elizabeth Abbe, Director of Public Outreach, Connecticut Historical Society 6:30 pm Business Meeting 7 pm Presentation Haddam Town Hall/Brainerd Academy 21 Field Park Drive, Haddam, CT 06438 Free for supporters-$3 suggested donation for non-members Light refreshments See more below!
May 29, 2013	6:30 pm Brainerd Memorial Library, 920 Saybrook Road, Haddam	Arm Chair Chat An informal exchange with long-time Haddam/Higganum residents as they reminisce about growing up and living in town and the changes they have seen. Free and open to the public.
June 8, 2013	12 noon to 4 pm Museum	Connecticut Open House Day Thankful Arnold House Museum, 14 Hayden Hill Road, Haddam The museum will be open for free tours with spinning demonstration by Vivienne McGarry of Cold Goats Farm of Haddam Neck. Try your hand with a drop spindle or card some wool and learn how fiber was used in the 19 th century. Light refreshments will be served.
June 15, 2013	9:00 AM	100th Anniversary of the Swing Bridge Join the towns of East Haddam and Haddam to celebrate the Swing Bridge Centennial on June 15, 2013 starting with a parade at 9 AM. There will be a lawn party outside the Goodspeed Opera House, riverboat rides, and children's carnival. More information below.

MAY 23, 2013 6:30 PM AT TOWN HALL, 21 FIELD PARK DRIVE, HADDAM, CT From Hula Hoops to High Fashion: G. Fox in the 1950s Elizabeth Abbe, director of public outreach at the Connecticut Historical Society, will lead you down memory lane with a look at Connecticut’s favorite department store . She will take you back, floor by floor, to the days when G. Fox was the largest privately-owned department store in the U.S. For most Connecticut residents, the words “G. Fox” hold powerful associations. They remember a tall department store on Main Street filled with every imaginable garment, home furnishing or, domestic necessity. They recall the broad front windows decorated for Christmas or shopping trips for back-to-school clothes. They remember cream cheese on date-nut bread with mother in the Connecticut Room. Elizabeth herself, who grew up in Wethersfield, says she remembers how special it was to take the bus “uptown” to spend the day shopping with her mother at Fox’s. Elizabeth will also give you some insight into the woman who made every shopping experience a joy – Beatrice Fox Auerbach. In addition to a substantial collection of clothing, furniture, and photographs tied to the story of G. Fox, the Connecticut Historical Society houses some of Mrs. Auerbach’s personal records including correspondence between the G. Fox President and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. So revisit G. Fox, where the customer was always right! Bring your memories along with your favorite purchases from G. Fox. We’ll have some tables for display of G. Fox treasures and time for you to share a favorite G. Fox story.

SWING BRIDGE- 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION JUNE 15, 2013 Town officials from East Haddam and Haddam and representatives from both Historical Societies are pleased to announce a morning parade across the bridge and commemoration ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2013, to celebrate the “Swing Bridge Centennial.” The East Haddam Swing Bridge was officially opened on Flag Day, June 14, 1913, with a community celebration that included, a band concert, an automobile parade, addresses by Governor Baldwin and others commemorating the life of Nathan Hale, the Revolutionary hero who taught school in East Haddam. A century later, similar community-themed festivities will include participation from Goodspeed Musicals, Moodus Drum & Fife Corps, Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, businesses and community groups on both sides of the Connecticut River. A detailed Event Program will be available as the event draws near, however various activities have already been confirmed. A season-long exhibit on the history and construction of the bridge, considered an engineering marvel in its time, will take place at the East Haddam Historical Society Museum. An Art Exhibit featuring the Swing Bridge theme is also planned at the Museum. The Haddam Historical Society will be preparing a traveling exhibit titled “Crossing the River,” about the ferries and the bridge. Antique cars will participate in the parade across the bridge beginning at 9:00am on June 15th and car clubs will hold a Car Show in the area. Goodspeed Musicals, celebrating their 50th Anniversary, will hold a “Family Lawn Party,” outside the Goodspeed Opera House from approximately 10:30am until noon. Stations of hand-on activities will showcase various facets of musical theater, such as tap dance instruction, stage makeup, and set design. Steam train and riverboat rides to and from the Swing Bridge celebration will be offered by Essex Steam Train and Riverboat. A Children’s Carnival with old-fashioned games and prizes will be sponsored by the East Haddam Business Association. Visit the calendar section of www.easthaddam.org for updates and more details on the Swing Bridge Centennial and other activities in the town that loves to celebrate “History, Arts and Natural Beauty.”

	Connecticut Historic Gardens Day Sunday, June 23, 2013, 12 NOON to 4 PM, Thankful Arnold House Museum Visitors to the Wilhelmina Ann Arnold Barnhart Memorial Garden will learn how the Widow Thankful Arnold used herbs in the early nineteenth century for medicinal, household and culinary purposes. The garden features over 50 varieties of herbs and plants. There will be hands on crafts for both children and adults. Light refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public.
	Summer Camp Program June 28, July 1-3, Thankful Arnold House Museum The Haddam Historical Society is pleased to announce its eighth annual “ AWeek in the Life of an Early American Child,” a program for girls and boys ages 8-12. To accommodate the late end to the school year and the July 4 th holiday, please note that the dates fall within two weeks. This year the program will take place from Friday, June 28 to Wednesday, July 3, 2013. Students will travel back in time to the year 1830 and spend the week with Mrs. Thankful Arnold. All activities take place at the Thankful Arnold House Museum in Haddam, and they include caring for farm animals; carding, spinning and felting wool; writing with a quill pen; making butter; baking; playing with Colonial toys and games, and even dancing! The fee is $139 for the four days. June 28, July 1 and July 2 will be half-day sessions (9 am to noon), and July 3 will be a full day session (9 am to 3 pm). For more information and registration, go to www.haddamhistory.org . For questions, contact Sarah Neal, Education Coordinator, The Haddam Historical Society, at education@haddamhistory.org or call 860 345-2400.
	Lobster Bake Fundraiser , Saturday, June 29, 2013, 5 PM The Haddam Historical Society will kick off the summer with a fabulous fundraiser lobster bake dinner provided by Thimble Island Lobsterbakes. For additional information call 860-345-2400. Cost $75 per person. Silent Auction. More information soon!

 

New Haddam Historical Society Scholarship ! The Haddam Historical Society is pleased to announce the creation of a new scholarship program which will award an annual $500 scholarship to a graduating high school student from Haddam, Higganum, or Haddam Neck. Applicants with an interest in history are encouraged to apply. Please contact the Haddam-Killingworth High School guidance office or the Haddam Historical Society for an application. Call 860-345-2400 for further information. Applications are due by March 31, 2013. Haddam Historical Society Scholarship Guidelines Haddam Historical Society Scholarship Application 2013

40th Annual Connecticut Spring Antiques Show Hartford Armory 360 Broad Street, Hartford, CT The 40 th Annual Connecticut Spring Antiques Show will take place at the Hartford Armory on March 16 & 17, 2013. The show is one of the country’s most important venues of early American furniture and accessories. Leading dealers will display outstanding examples of furniture, textiles, porcelain, pottery, silver, pewter, fine art, prints and more. Saturday hours are 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday hours are 11 am to 4 pm. Admission is $15 and parking is free. The Hartford Armory is located at 360 Broad Street, Hartford.

 

Janteenth Night Winter Social January 19, 2013 Potluck Dinner 946 Saybrook Road, Haddam, CT Join us for our annual post-holiday pot-luck dinner social at the beautiful home of Town Historian Jan Sweet. Warm your toes by the fire & enjoy the company of good friends and neighbors. Your $10 contribution per person will automatically place your name in the wine basket drawing and help support the organization and its programs. Please bring an appetizer, side dish or dessert and we will provide the main course. Soft drinks will also be provided but feel free to bring your choice of spirits to enjoy. r.s.v.p. 345-2400 or contact@haddamhistory.org   Wear a PIN BACK BUTTON of your choice. There will be prizes in many categories including oldest, Haddam-related, funniest and more!

21 st Annual Winter Woolies January 20 and February 3, 2013 21st Annual Winter Woolies 1 pm to 3 pm  Thankful Arnold House, 14 Hayden Hill Road, Haddam.  Enjoy a "historic" Sunday afternoon in the early 19th century kitchen of the Arnold House Museum to work on your unfinished knitting or needlework project. Join knitting master, Beth Hartke and enjoy the company of others with NO modern day intrusions. Share knitting knowledge, patterns and stories. Registration is required, since space is limited. Admission is free. Light refreshments. For further information call Lisa at Haddam Historical Society 345-2400 or contact@haddamhistory.org.

 

2012 Founders' Day On Friday, November 9, 2012, the Haddam Historical Society presented the 2012 Founders’ Day Award to Susann Costa. Each year the Haddam Historical Society bestows the award to a person who has performed an outstanding service to the Haddam Historical Society and contributed substantially to furthering the mission of the Society. Sue served on the Board of Directors for two full terms, which included a term as President and co-President. She initiated the Society’s new scholarship program and continues to be an integral part of our fundraisers, social events, and programs. She and her husband David have opened their stunning home for many events including a “far out” 70s party, meetings, and a progressive dinner. Their family business, Bennies Farm Market in Centerbrook, has donated generously to many programs and events. While on the board she oversaw the Society’s newly approved strategic plan and supported staff in professionalizing the organization through the Steps program. Sue’s dedication to the community is an inspiration to all. Thank you, Sue!

Get Lost in Heritage A group of local historical societies and museums have launched a collaborative promotional brochure “Get Lost in Heritage” on May 6, 2012 at the East Haddam Historical Society at 4 pm. Lower River Valley Heritage is made up of six Middlesex County organizations including the Chester Historical Society, Deep River Historical Society, East Haddam Historical Society, Haddam Historical Society, Middlesex County Historical Society and Old Saybrook Historical Society. The brochure will showcase the region’s historical assets including the Chester Museum at the Mill, The Stone House in Deep River, East Haddam Historical Society Museum, Thankful Arnold House in Haddam, General Mansfield House in Middletown and the General William Hart House in Old Saybrook. Each site has a unique and special story to share with visitors. The museums featured in the “Get Lost in Heritage” brochure will be giving out special colorful bracelets with the “Get Lost” theme and encourage visitors to collect all six. Also visitors will be entered in a special drawing to win an overnight stay at the Saybrook Point Inn in Old Saybrook or the Inn at Middletown in Middletown. The brochure was funded by a generous grant from the Connecticut Humanities Council.

 

Barn Survey of Haddam

Barns have long been an integral part of the Connecticut landscape. These outbuildings are the story of our agrarian past and since Colonial times have played a vital role in our community. With the decline of farming in our state many barns have become obsolete and with the pace of rapid development are quickly disappearing.

In the summer of 2006 the Haddam Historical Society plans to conduct a town-wide survey of historic barns and outbuildings and is seeking volunteers to help. Surveyors will be trained and the data collected will be on file at the Society and submitted to the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation to be posted on the Connecticut Barns website. The Trust is currently conducting a comprehensive survey of historically significant barns throughout the state and is seeking help from communities in completing the survey.

Haddam has many fine examples of barns ranging from the early “English” style barn to the later “ New England” form. Most, if not all, early homes in town had barns to house animals and finished crops. Some barns were built for specific purposes such as tobacco, poultry, dairy and apples. Some of these buildings are simple in construction and design, others more ornate.

Haddam also has a number of accessory outbuildings and structures which are worthy of documentation including corn cribs, outhouses and root cellars. The Historic Jail property for example has a corn house/piggery and pump house on the property which are important reminders of the history of the site as a working agricultural facility.

If you are interested in helping out with the survey please call Lisa Malloy at the Historical Society for information 345-2400.

Images in America, Haddam 1870-1930
The Haddam Historical Society is please to present Haddam 1870-1930, a pictorial history of the community. Co-authored by Town Historian, Jan Sweet and Professor Charlotte Gradie, Haddam 1870-1930 recounts the story of a dynamic period in the history of our town. Following the Civil War, Haddam's population like many rural New England localities stabilized. Shipping declined and the town lost its courthouse. Rejecting stagnation, the people of Haddam capitalized on their Connecticut River location and fast-running streams to develop industries as complements to agriculture and quarrying. This period of industrial expansion is exemplified by the Cutaway Harrow and Scovil Hoe companies, among others. The population also changed, as immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Czechoslovakia and other countries moved to town to work along side the native Yankees in both agriculture and manufacturing.

The publication features 200 fascinating photographs, some rarely seen before, from private collections and the archives of the Society. The authors interviewed town residents and used historic records and documents in researching the book. Published by Arcadia Publishing, the book is available for $19.99 and may be purchased at the Thankful Arnold House, 14 Hayden Hill Road and other designated locations around town including the Town Office Building, Higganum Pharmacy, Hi-Way Package Store and the River Gallery. For further information please call 860-345-2400.

The Haddam Guides
The Haddam Historical Society has recently instituted a new program called the "Haddam Guides". The guides will offer a personal driving tour of Haddam to new residents, which will highlight historic and significant landmarks in town. The tours which will last about 1 ½ hours will tell how our community evolved from a shipbuilding river town in the 1700s to an industrial center in the 1800s. Highlights will include historic Haddam Village and Higganum Center. This is an opportunity for new residents to learn about our community's fascinating heritage and important historic sites.

Contact the Society to arrange a tour at your convenience. Weekend and summer evening tours readily available. Shorter, family friendly tours are also available. In addition, we have a Haddam Neck tour available for new residents on the "other side" or for other interested parties.

Call 860-345-2400 for your tour TODAY!