Polly Hall 1917 - 2013
December, 2013
The inimitable Polly Hall died Nov.10, but her accomplishments in Granby and the Salmon Brook Historical Society will be long remembered. She was involved in the Society from its earliest days in 1959 and helped write our first history, “The Heritage of Granby” in 1965. Polly was Society President in 1968-69 and was very active in the restoration of the Abijah Rowe house, obtaining a grant for necessary funds. The recording of every gravestone in Granby was initiated by Polly in the 1970s. Polly chaired the town committee to celebrate the United States Bicentennial in 1976 and was there to help with Granby’s Bicentennial ten years later. Through the years, Polly served on a variety of Society committees, was at every program and party, participated in parades and was involved in a myriad of Society activities. She enjoyed the yearly Wassail Party and attended every Annual Dinner and usually had something to say. The name of Polly Hall is synonymous with quilts, both as a renowned collector and as a legendary quilter. She chose to donate the bulk of her magnificent quilt collection to the Society and wanted them used for fund raisers. “Quilt Turnings” were held in recent years to fulfill her request and Polly joyfully attended every one, often sharing her expertise. Polly never lost sight of what was important in life and always kept her lively sense of humor. She leaves an empty space in our lives. This is truly the end of an era.
by Carol Laun
Wassail Dec. 8
SBHS Year in Review
(see page 4)
(see next page )
1
A Great Year for Salmon Brook Historical Society By Bill Ross, President Dear Members: No doubt about it, 2013 was a superb year for our historical society, made possible in large part by your fantastic volunteer spirit. Here are some of the highlights: Summer Garden Tour On June 22 and 23, Granby gardeners were in the spotlight as the Salmon Brook Historical Society sponsored the 2013 Summer Garden Tour. More than 175 visitors toured 11 high-quality gardens in Granby. Many were Farmington Valley residents but some people came from Westfield, Southwick, Amherst, and even as far away as Albany, NY! The weather was perfect and many participants enjoyed fresh lunch fare at The Peppermill Country Deli & Bakery, Lost Acres Orchard, and Lite-N-Up Eatery while others sipped on wine at Lost Acres Vineyard after touring the gardens. SBHS has established many great partnerships in Granby that enable us to host events. Spring and Fall Flea Markets As in past years, the Society hosted two flea markets which were resounding successes. So many antique vendors come back year after year. Hot dog sales were brisk and the weather cooperated for both days. We had the most number of vendors and sold the most hot dogs of any previous flea market in recent memory! Summer Tours The SBHS Summer Tours were very successful this year as we had what appears to have been a record number of admissions and books and gift sales. The Downton Abbey Era exhibit was especially popular and drew rave reviews from visitors. The Downton Abbey Era Afternoon Tea that was held in late September was well-attended, with visitors enjoying refreshments along with the exhibit, which was a unique Granby history lesson. A special thanks go out to all members who helped create, set up, and host the Downton Abbey Era exhibit and the tea. It was no easy task. Engine Shows The Antique Tractor and Engine Show was held on Oct 5, with good weather and good attendance. The majority of the exhibits were tractors (13) and model engines (4). We also had the fair organ, the shingle mill, the cord wood saw, an operating home-built steam engine, and 2 old cars. Thanks to our volunteers for keeping the parking lot open for Engine Show visitors and directing Celebrate Granby visitors to other parking lots. Chamber of Commerce Business after Hours In late May, the Salmon Brook Historical Society, as a member of the Granby Chamber of Commerce, hosted an event at the Society that was attended by at least 80 people from the SBHS, the Granby and Simsbury Chambers of Commerce, and several other people representing other Chambers in the Farmington Valley. Lite-N-Up catered the event and Center Spirits provided wine, soft drinks, and beer. Everyone had a great time on our lawn in front of the Preservation Barn and some Chamber members were interested in joining and learning more about the various collections owned by the SBHS. Memorial Day Parade The Society entry featured volunteers with our banner followed by Granby students dressed as Civil War soldiers and carrying the names of Granby soldiers. We also had two antique cars honoring the 100th birthday of the Civic Club and transporting Civic Club members Polly Hall and Ethel Lyman. Finally, a group of antique tractors joined the parade.
2
Archivist Report by Carol Laun, Archivist and Acting Curator
Recent Donations to the Society The Library received a number of interesting books. Phyllis Starkie donated two old books on Newgate Prison that her late brother had collected. George Tuffin gave a book on the Farmington Canal. Two WWI military books came from Fred Griffin. Doris Ahrens gave two of her mother’s childhood books on flowers and birds. Three 1920s fashion books came from Jean Potetz. A collector of children’s books gave us a copy of “The Silver Robin” by Dean Marshall of Granby. We received an early Civil War photo book from Marge Goslee. South Windsor Library donated six c.1900 West Granby postcards. Howard Carlson gave us several old Granby photos. We also received many photos from Kearns School documenting the 1991 renovations. A beautiful watercolor painting of George Tuffin’s barn on Day Street was given by George. Pat Vibert brought in several old Granby documents, Granby Post Office Books from 1877 and 1902, WWI sheet music and other items from a Granby family estate. We received a 1906 Loomis Store Account Book from Susan Werner and a package of 1974 Guay & Kellogg plastic bags from Marge Gardow. Ed Boardman brought in many interesting old tools and some doll furniture and doll dishes. The Textile department got some men’s long johns from Karen Wilber. Peter Dinella donated a delightful child’s rocker from an old Granby family. And the late Polly Hall gave us three samplers, a black wool coverlet, a wonderful collection of textile papers and a treasure of many outof-print quilting books. We gave some glass plate negatives of Evie (Elm) Tuffin’s West Hartford childhood to a grateful West Hartford Historical Society. Someone gave us a small notebook from North Berwick, Maine, which I sent to their historical society. They were delighted to receive it and happily recognized the names in the notebook.
Newsletter Delivered By E-mail? The Historical Society’s board wants to know if there is any interest among members in receiving the quarterly SBHS News by e-mail instead of by snail mail. The idea is to better serve members and save paper and postage costs. Members who are not online or who otherwise prefer to get the newsletter the old-fashioned way, through the post office, could still do so. At this point, we’re just gauging interest. If you would be interested in receiving the Society’s newsletter by e-mail, reply to Ken Kuhl (kennykuhl @ gmail.com), Bob Schrepf (rschrepf70 @ gmail.com) or call the Society’s office at 860 653 9713. Leave a message with your name if no one’s there.
3
Annual Wassail Dec. 8 . . . Join Us! The Society’s popular annual “Here Come the Holidays” Wassail Party will be held on Sunday, Dec. 8. Food and drink, prepared by our volunteers, will be served as usual from 3 to 5 p.m. in the splendidly decorated Rowe and Enders colonial houses at our campus on Salmon Brook Street. The Wassail date was changed from the traditional first Sunday of December to the second Sunday because this year Thanksgiving comes so late, falling as it does on Nov. 28. Wassail has been one of the Society’s favorite events for some 50 years – a chance for friends to mingle and chat and soak up holiday ambiance. Current Salmon Brook Historical Society members are encouraged to invite friends and neighbors who might be interested in joining the society. The Wassail Party provides an ideal setting to introduce who we are and what the Society has to offer. The Wassail Party is free for members and guests, but any contributions to help defray costs would be gratefully accepted. Remember: Wassail is Dec. 8 this year!
Give a Gift of Granby this Christmas by Carol Laun
The Museum Store in the Salmon Brook Historical Society has many items for Christmas gifts. A short listing includes copies of old Granby maps, Granby Oak notecards, original 1914 Granby postcards and other postcards, mugs, cookbooks and a few bargain 225th items. Someone on your Christmas list would certainly appreciate the DVD Historic Tour of Granby or one of our Granby history books. Histories of the Cossitt Library and the Granby Bicentennial quilt are also available. Old Granby Town Reports are fascinating to read and many years are in stock. Open Tuesday and Thursday mornings or by appointment. Please call the Society and leave a message. 4
SBHS Building and Grounds Report
By David Laun Chairman
I contacted Steve Stupenski of S & S Wired Systems (our security and alarm system provider) and asked him to provide a report of our alarm system activity for this year. A short summary of the report shows 13 incidents: Six seem to be related to opening or closing for the Sunday tours; three tobacco barn motion sensors (animals); two Preservation Barn motion sensor (unknown); one Preservation Barn door (my error); one Rowe house interior door (sensor failure); and 1 practice session. Adjustments to the alarm system are being investigated to improve reliability and coverage. Training sessions are also being considered. The committee has been discussing ways to eliminate dampness in the Rowe house basement. The dirt floor, small crawl space, and the high water table make this a challenging problem. Interior storm windows (Innerglass Window Systems) have been ordered for 5 windows in the Enders house from Bob Burke of Burke Products. These will replace the Magnatite windows that have been in use for the last 30 years. Painting of the Enders office room is nearing completion.
SBHS Officers:
Board of Directors:
President: Bill Ross Vice President: Ken Kuhl Secretary: Jim Finnance Treasurer: Roger Hayes Archivist & Acting Curator: Carol Laun Textiles Curator: Jean Potetz
Kevin Harter, Dave Laun, Phil Main, Karen McNey, John Morgan, Bill Pease, Patty Sansone, Bob Schrepf, Heather Tomasetti, Todd Vibert, Ginny Wutka, Richard Zlotnick
5
Another Successful Flea Market By Todd Vibert Two ingredients which make the flea market so successful are one, the weather, and two, the volunteers. Oct. 19 was our fall flea market and we had both ingredients. The weather was sunny with a high temperature of 67 degrees. As well, we had more than 50 Society members volunteer their time to make this fall flea market the second most profitable: the Salmon Brook Historical Society made $4,600. Last year’s fall flea market was the more profitable by $200. Saturday started out with Mary Zlotnick doing a marvelous job checking in 58 dealers and Kevin Harter keeping the vendors organized and lined up as they were about to be checked by Mary. In two hours all the dealers were in their spaces and the concession stand was ready to sell 15 dozen Mrs. Murphy’s donuts to our patrons in the morning. Our cooking crew of Whitey Johnson, Vinnie Secord, and John Horr grilled 220 hot dogs and the 3 crock pots of chili Lisa Vibert made were devoured as quickly as all those hot dogs. Ruth Robinson and Ellen Cuhna led the pricing crew as the Preservation Barn had over $2,500 in sales. Dave Laun did another terrific job sending out notices to dealers and vendors and receiving their checks as we gained over $1,500 in fees. Listed on next page are names of all those people who volunteered to make this flea market very successful and I thank all of you for your hard work and time. I also want to thank the Society members and friends who donated items to be sold in the Preservation Barn and I also want to thank our neighbor, the Lost Acres Fire Department, for allowing us to use their back field for parking.
6
Below is a quick study of how we did compared to last year in the fall. We look forward to the spring flea market in May of 2014.
Fall 2012
Fall 2013
HOT DOGS SOLD
224
230
COFFEE
2 ½ pots
2 ½ pots
SODA
124 cans
87 cans
WATER
53 bottles
26 bottles
MRS. MURPHY DONUTS
14 dozen devoured
15 dozen devoured
CHILI
18 bowls consumed
30 bowls consumed
DEALER REVENUE
$1,625.00
$1,500.00
$2,436.00 PRESERVATION BARN2nd Grade Tour
$2,500.00
FOOD REVENUE
$1,134.00
$1,090.00
NET PROFIT
$4,800.00
$4,600.00
LISTED BELOW ARE OUR FANTASTIC VOLUNTEERS: Vinnie Secord, Whitey Johnson, John Horr, Redi Leake,Sandy Christensen, Ann St. John, Lucy Holcombe, Ruth Rosebrooks, Marge Goslee, Edith Wilhelm, Freda Hayes, Nancy Olson, Ken Kuhl, Karen Antonucci, Paul Sawin, Regina Landesberg, Carol Laun, Marilyn Nystrom, Roxanne Rosano, Jean Potetz, Heather Tomasetti, Ellen Cuhna, Ruth Robinson, Shirley Davidson, Corinne Dickerson, Melba Griffin, Bert Dinella, Lisa Vibert, Debbie Papageorge, Taylorann Vibert, Kate Bernard, Peg Giles, Roger Hayes, Jim Rosano, George Bronsord, Roger Young, Tom Nystrom, Phil Main, Bob Giles, Paul Dewey, Spencer Vibert, Kevin Harter, Owen Harter, Richard Zlotnick, Mary Zlotnick, Mike Flynn, Roger Hernsdorf, Diane Hernsdorf, Mike Antonucci, Jim Glenney, Dick Potetz, Jim Finnance and Dave Laun. 7
Salmon Brook Historical Society 208 Salmon Brook Street Granby, Connecticut 06035 860-653-9713
Granby, Connecticut 06035 PO Box 840 The Salmon Brook Historical Society
Calendar of Events
Wassail Party
December 8
Or go to: www.salmonbrookhistorical.org Hours: Tuesday 9:00 to Noon Genealogical & Archival Research
Thursday 9:00 to Noon Thursday Morning Group Follow us on:
December 2013 Issue •SBHS Newsletter Publishing Committee Leila Hawken and Bob Schrepf •Layout: Ken Kuhl •Photography: Peter Dinella