Unionville Museum Fall 2023 Newsletter

The Unionville Museum News Fall 2023

15 SCHOOL STREET UNIONVILLE, CONNECTICUT 06085

UnionvilleMuseum.org

That’s Entertainment The Unionville Museum’s fall exhibit “That’s Entertainment - Celebra ons and Fun in Unionville” opened on September 24th chronicling Unionville celebra ons, town events, entertainments venues, and ways residents enjoyed family me and music.

Drawing upon the museum’s extensive collec on of photographs, documents, ar facts, and vintage clothing, the exhibit will present the events, commemora ons, parades, and celebra ons of the last century.

Also featured will be the story of early entertainment venues like the Luxor Theater and the old Town Hall. From the Victrola to the Apple computer, the show will chronicle how Unionville residents entertained themselves with games, radio, television, record players, and MP3 players.

You’ll experience an FDR fireside chat, hear music from records across the decades, view a scary video of the beloved Lion’s Club Haunted House and see 60 years of performer signatures from the old Town Hall stage curtain.

“We are excited to present this walk down memory lane for all who have enjoyed fun and games in Unionville from carnivals to board games. You’ll also learn about how we consumed news and music throughout the last century with a special display of original ar facts.” says Pa y LeBouthillier, Museum Board President.

This free exhibit will be open weekly from through December 30th at the Unionville Museum, 15 School Street, Unionville, on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. It has been extended though December to give those who come back to Unionville for the holidays a chance to come see it.

For more informa on visit the Museum’s website at unionvillemuseum.org or call (860) 673-2231.

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The Unionville Museum Newsle er

President’s Message Hello Friends, I’m always taken by surprise when I see the beautiful colors nature shows us in the Fall. We are fortunate in New England to have four different seasons to enjoy.

This year as in others the museum has been busy and productive. We were instrumental in saving the 1928 Farmington High School from demolition and now it will be our new Town Hall.

We have had two exhibits since the Spring, the first one was “Farmington High School Past, Present and Future 1868 -2023” that chronicled the 150-year history of the building, students, activities, and sports. We also introduced our latest ornament which commemorated the building. It was one of our most successful exhibits. We hope you had a chance to see it.

The second one was presented in conjunction with the Unionville Historic District and Properties Commission. It showcased homes on Lovely Street where owners of the many manufacturing businesses in Unionville center resided. The Commission also conducted walking tours of Lovely Street and told the history of the homes. We thank them for their cooperation.

This summer we were fortunate to have two student college interns: Gabriella Sweet and Molly Gerace. They worked all summer with museum board members and other volunteers sorting newspapers, cataloging, filing, and data entry doing an incredible professional job. I would also like to thank Carrie Vibert and Dot Gavalis, who have been volunteering for many years and have done a tremendous amount of work. Another volunteer is Janet Culver who has been working for many years creating the beautiful window boxes for each season and holiday that we all enjoy so much. So, to all who have assisted the museum in any way, shape, or form, we cannot thank you enough.

Lastly, I would like to remind you to visit the museum during the holidays and enjoy the spirit of entertainment we have displayed. Also, watch our website www.unionvillemuseum.org for information on upcoming events.

Stay Well,

Patty

Officers and Directors Patricia LeBouthillier – President Tim LeBouthillier – Vice President Maureen Jenks – Treasurer Sara Abbatemarco – Recording Secretary Laura Matroba sta - Corresponding Secretary

Sara Abbatemarco Gianfranco Abbatemarco Diane Bowden Julie Burke Laraine Codrey John Hancock Jeffrey Hawkes Sarah Hawkes Rob Ingvertsen Maureen Jenks Ivan Khrystenko

Patricia LeBouthillier Timothy LeBouthillier Robin Lindstedt Laura Mastroba sta Lorraine Neff Anne Raymond Andre L.J. Simons Marsha Varin John Vibert Ann Vibert Wuelfing

The Unionville Museum Newsle er

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The Holiday Spirit is in the Air !

The Unionville Museum will kick off the 2023 holiday season on Sunday, December 3rd and con nue the celebra on through December 30th. Stop by the Museum for the Gi Sale, join in the Carol Sing and Santa Visit, plan to stop in and see the current exhibit now extended through December 30th.

Yule de Open House and Gi Sale

Carol Sing & Santa Visit

at the Museum

Gazebo—Clover Pinney Park

Sunday, December 3, 10AM-4PM

Saturday December 9, 5PM—6PM

The Gi Sale will include the always popular Unionville Landmark Commemora ve Holiday Ornaments and other items related to Unionville's history. New items include the 1928 high school ornament, the 2024 Unionville Museum Souvenir Calendar and note cards depic ng Unionville in days past with photographs from the Museum’s collec on.

Join friends and family for this annual holiday tradi on and sing along as Unionville’s Gazebo becomes Jingle Bell Square.

Stop by and enjoy some holiday cheer, refreshments, a concert by the Union School choir and the always popular visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Fes vi es begin at 5PM with a special performance by the Union School Choir singing classic holiday songs followed by live entertainment—don’t miss the fun!

“That’s Entertainment” Exhibit

Extended through December 30th The Unionville Museum’s fall exhibit “That’s Entertainment – A Century of Celebra ons and Family Fun in Unionville” chronicling Unionville celebra ons, town events, entertainment venues, and ways residents have enjoyed family me and music will be decorated in vintage holiday decora ons and extended through December 30, 2023 to give those coming home for the holidays the chance to see it.

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The Unionville Museum Newsle er

South Main Street Bridge With all the a en on on the South Main Street bridge in recent years we thought it would be interes ng to look back at the bridges that came before it.

The first bridge that most of us know of is the 1859 covered wooden bridge which replaced earlier wooden bridges destroyed by floods. The 1859 bridge was a two-span wooden bridge with footpaths on either side .

This lateral view of the bridge was taken from the south east banks of the river. Across the river you can see the Frederick Broadbent Woolen Mill on the corner of Mill and South Main Streets and the Case Paper Company mills.

In this photograph bridge is decorated in bun ng for the September 20, 1911 Fireman’s Parade as were most of the homes and businesses in Unionville center. The bridge was on the parade route. Marchers went across the bridge to New Britain Avenue then back to Tunxis Square.

The Unionville Museum Newsle er

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New Steel Bridges The covered bridge stood for 62 years before being replaced by a steel bridge in 1921. A steel bridge that was lost in the Great New England Hurricane of September 21, 1938, one of the most powerful and destruc ve hurricanes to strike the United States in the 20th century.

The bridge that replaced the first steel bridge, the one we’re all familiar with, is seen below in a view that looks north facing the Broadbent Mill and the Case Paper Company mill. It opened for traffic on May 5, 1939. There was some controversy about the design of this bridge as many in town thought it was going to be an ugly eyesore.

The town pe oned the State Highway Commissioner asking for a concrete bridge. They were not successful as the Commissioner, while saying he understood the town’s desire to have the most a rac ve bridge possible, said that the state couldn’t build the concrete bridge the town wanted due to engineering considera ons.

This aerial view of the bridge during the Flood of 55 showed that the bridge held which was amazing given the catastrophic damage Unionville suffered.

Hopefully, with all the work that’s been done repairing the current bridge, it will remain in place for years to come carrying us safely across the river.

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The Unionville Museum Newsle er

Portraiture Photography The Museum is fortunate to have collected over 10,000 ar facts, photographs, artwork, newspaper ar cles and other items related to Unionville’s history. There is much more than we are able to share in our exhibits so from me to me we will highlight some of our collec on here.

The first photographic portrait was taken by Robert Cornelius in Philadelphia in 1838. It was his reflec on in a mirror—a selfie if you will. The first photographic portrait studio opened in Boston in 1842 bringing portraiture into widespread use in America. Before then portraits were painted, something usually only the wealthy could afford. We have many photographic portraits in our collec on. One of Unionville’s first and most prolific photographers was Alon Newell pictured here in front of his studio on Farmington Avenue near the entrance to Suburban Park.

Alon Newell was as interes ng as any of the people he photographed. In addi on to his studio he had a home on Farmington Avenue. In 1898 there was a fire at his home. No one was injured but fire burned the roof off and broke out in many places in the house doing $2,000 worth of damage which would be about $75,000 today.

Newell received a se lement for the damage. Unfortunately, rather than rebuilding the family home, he took the money and skipped town ringing up some debt for 3 suits and a winter overcoat before he le . He was eventually traced to New York where he had boarded a boat. He was never heard from again and le his wife heartbroken and penniless. As he had always had a good reputa on, many thought mental illness was the issue.

The Unionville Museum Newsle er

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by the A A Newell Studio Here are some photographic portraits of village residents taken by Alon Newell in his studio.

Chris an T. Georgia (1830-1912), with his wife, Emeline, their son Charles and their daughters Lillie and Clara. Chris an Georgia operated a dry goods store in the village for 80 years erec ng an impressive brick threestory building at the corner of South Main and Mill Streets known as the Georgia Block.

Cora Goodhind (1874-1961) whose father was a paper master for the American Wri ng Paper Company.

She graduated from Smith College and was offered a teaching job at Miss Porter's but instead became Farmington’s first telephone operator.

Dr. Edwin Ripley (1848-1940) practiced in Unionville for 44 years.

He was the Town of Farmington’s Medical Examiner for many years and at one point served in the Connecticut General Assembly.

Linda Lucille Thompson, daughter of Edward Thompson who owned a grocery owner on South Main Street, was photographed in A.A. Newell’s Studio in 1892, she was one.

Ellen (Smith) Rourke (18411918), the wife of Daniel Rourke who worked as a coachman for the Rev. James Mary (Morgan) Smith, (Congregational Church minister). Ellen worked at the Platner & Porter Paper Company.

The Unionville Museum 15 School Street

Visit our website at unionvillemuseum.org For a convenient way to join the Museum or renew your membership.

To make a dona on to support the Museum.

To shop at the Museum Store for great gi items like our - decora ve afghan of iconic Unionville buildings, - our always popular Holiday ornaments, - our 2023 Souvenir Calendar, and - other items related to Unionville history.

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