March, 2014
SBHS Annual Meeting ~ A Night of Good Food, Good Friends & Wonderful Entertainment By Bob Schrepf
Salmon Brook Historical Society members are in for a rare treat at the annual meeting and dinner April 29: entertainment by the Insurance City Chorus, a barbershop singing group from West Hartford that’s been setting toes to tapping for 70 years! The chorus will present a 12-minute movie on the history of barbershop music in America and then will sing for 45 minutes to an hour. The annual meeting and dinner is Tuesday, April 29 at the Methodist Church in West Granby. Hors d’oeuvres will be served at 6 p.m. Dinner is at 7 p.m. The annual business meeting is at 8 and the lively entertainment will follow. Tickets are $20 per person. Checks and the coupon in this newsletter should be sent to Bill Ross, 239 Salmon Brook Street, Granby, CT, 06035. Please indicate on the coupon whether you want vegetable lasagna or stuffed shells with tomato sauce. And please get your reservations in early to help the church plan the dinner. The annual business meeting will include presentation of the Linnell Award, recognizing outstanding volunteers, and the election of officers and directors. President Bill Ross and Vice President Ken Kuhl each have one more year to serve in their two-year terms. See balance of ballot on page 7. Spring Flea Market May 17 (see page 5)
One Room Schoolhouse Tour April 26 (see page 3)
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President’s Letter By Bill Ross Granby residents and especially members of the Salmon Brook Historical Society have a lot to be proud of. I recently attended a grant writing workshop for small historical societies and spoke to several people who have toured our campus and all were so impressed. Our society is very well-known outside of Granby and all were very impressed with our collections, our campus, and our programs. We are all so fortunate to have had former members like Polly Hall, Seth Holcombe, and Mary Edwards (just to name a few) who envisioned a place where Granby history could be viewed and appreciated by residents now and in the future. I encourage all members to get involved with the Society and visit this summer to view our collections, talk with our docents, and get recharged with Granby history. Some events to anticipate: * Ginny Wutka has stepped up this year to lead the educational program and ensure that all second graders in Granby get a complete tour of the buildings and school house. She will also be training docents (young and old) to give tours this summer beginning in May. * We are working on organizing a SBHS Garden Tour in June and encourage anyone who has worked tirelessly in his or her garden to share it with other folks. This event was a huge success last year and we are hoping to repeat it this year. * We are also pursuing several grants that will hopefully bring historical programs to Granby and badly-needed physical repairs and maintenance to our buildings. The building and grounds committee is currently assessing what the needs are and then the grant writing will begin. * We have almost completed the interior storm windows on the first floor of the Enders House and still need donations to complete the second floor. * We are launching a major membership campaign this spring to encourage more Granby residents to join the SBHS and to appreciate the fact that they will belong to a great organization focused on GRANBY! 2014 promises to be an active year for our society. We encourage you to discover what we are doing and how you can help. Our success has come through the volunteer efforts of people who are just like you.
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Spring Bus Tour – One Room Schoolhouses
Granby’s Cooley Road Schoolhouse, located on the Society grounds, will be one of the stops on this year’s Historical Sites Spring Bus Tour on April 26. Join us as we travel back in time and visit five schoolhouses including stops in Simsbury, Granby and Barkhamsted. The tour starts at 9:30 a.m. in Simsbury, then ride the motor coach to Granby for two stops and lunch at the Good Life Grill. Next we travel to Barkhamsted’s Center School, and the trip will end with a stop in West Simsbury to visit the old schoolhouse on the Tulmeadow Farm property. We’ll top off the day with some great Tulmeadow-made ice cream.
The tour will be on Saturday April 26. We gather at the commuter parking lot on Iron Horse Boulevard in Simsbury at 9:15 a.m. and expect to return to around 5 p.m. The Salmon Brook Historical Society is participating in the bus tour as part of a collaboration with Farmington Valley Historic Sites. Advance registration is required and can be made by contacting Nancy Anstey at the Farmington Valley Visitors Association, 860-676-8878, by April 11. The $40 per person price includes bus transportation to all five schoolhouses, lunch and a pre-tour lecture to be held on Thursday April 24, 7 p.m. at the Simsbury Historical Society. The lecturer will be Michael Day, author of four books on 19th-century education and curator of the Barkhamsted Historical Society’s schoolhouse. The Thursday evening lecture is open to the public, admission is $5 per person for those not joining the bus tour on April 26.
Tax Refunds are running larger this year. Why not designate part of your refund for making a charitable donation to the Salmon Brook Historical Society? It could be deductible and help reduce next year’s tax liability. Put your money to work locally! Thank you in advance for considering this appeal. 3
Enders House Storm Window Project By Dave Laun
Last October, the Society started on a project to replace the 18 “Magnatite” inside plastic storm windows on the Enders House because they are deteriorating.
Donations were solicited for this project and to date we have replaced six windows with the “Innerglas interior storm window” and have ordered seven more. Please help us complete this important project. Donations can be sent to: Salmon Brook Historical Society; Box 840; Granby, CT 06035. Many thanks.
History Happened on the River! Lecture Sunday March 16, 2014 Hear Dr. Eileen Fielding, Executive Director of the Farmington River Watershed Association, discuss the history of the Farmington River and its influence on regional historic events from early settlement to the rise of the recreation industry. Learn about the river as a primary food source and travel corridor; hear how it has been affected by agriculture and industrial revolution; and learn the story of native fish and wildlife through the centuries. The Salmon Brook Historical Society, as part of the Historic Sites of the Farmington Valley, is presenting the lecture at the Ellsworth Center at the Simsbury Historical Society, March 16 at 2 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Call Nancy Anstey at 860-676-8878 for more information.
STUDENT $3.00 INDIVIDUAL $15.00 FAMILY/GROUP $20.00 SUSTAINING $30.00 LIFE MEMBERSHIP $300.00
Have you renewed your membership in the Salmon Brook Historical Society for the calendar year 2013? We have attempted to keep the dues at a reasonable level. If you haven’t renewed for this year or owe back dues, please send us a check. Your continued support is welcome and appreciated. To those of you who have already paid your dues, many thanks.
Send your name and address with a check made payable to: Salmon Brook Historical Society and send to the society at 208 Salmon Brook Street, P.O. Box 840, Granby, CT. 06035
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Spring Flea Market
Checks paid to Salmon Brook Historical Society Include name and phone number and send to: Dave Laun 16 Hummingbird Granby, CT 06035 Any questions call: Dave Laun 860 653 3965 (leave message) or Todd Vibert 860 653 9506
Holy Toledo! We are just two months away from the Salmon Brook Historical Society‘s spring flea market. This year the Annual event is scheduled for May 17. For members who would like to rent a 20’ by 20’ space to sell wares, please contact: Dave Laun (860-653-3965) or Todd Vibert (860-653-9506) The cost of a space is 30 dollars. After May 10 the Cost will be 40 dollars. In April I will be contacting volunteers who helped last year to ask them to volunteer again. Any members who have not volunteered before and would like to work two hours either helping with the Preservation Barn, concessions stand, helping with parking, leading the vendors to their spaces, setting up or taking down the flea market, should call Todd Vibert. The more volunteers, the better the show runs. Winter is finally coming to a close and many of you will be cleaning house and attic. You may come across an item or items you would like to donate to the Society. Those things can be dropped off at the Society on Tuesday or Thursday mornings in April between 9 am and noon. The flea market has become a Granby tradition and it is a lot of fun. By Todd Vibert
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Textile News by Jean Potetz Those of us who work in Textiles were greatly saddened by Polly Hall’s passing last November. She will be missed very much, but we will take some comfort in maintaining and exhibiting her quilt collection for future generations and talking about the incredible woman Granby was lucky enough to call our own. Since the Downton Abbey exhibit closed in September, we’ve been busy putting away the items we had out on display. Once that was accomplished, we went back to our regular work of vacuuming and boxing items in our clothing collection. Some of these items have been with us for many years and some are new acquisitions received in 2013. Granby residents and their relations have shared some wonderful treasures with us over this past year. It is with sincere appreciation I list them here. Items donated in 2013: A black beaded dress, black velvet clutch, and brown velvet beaded jacket from the 1920s were donated by Karen Antonucci. An assortment of papers, notes, patterns, booklets, stencils and reference books were donated by Polly Hall. She also donated a crocheted bedspread and black crewelwork coverlet which have been added to the Polly Hall Collection. Two pair of men’s underwear circa 1890s were donated by Karen Wilbur. A silk smoking jacket, circa 1912, worn by David Rice Devnew of Granby was donated by Dorie Wilson. A Grandmother’s Flower Garden or Mosaic quilt, circa 1930s, made by Bertha Florence Craig Chittenden of Granby was donated by Howard Carlson. Books, papers, stencils and notes belonging to Polly Hall were donated by Judy Hall Kane and Family after Polly’s death. These items will now become part of the Polly Hall Collection for future reference and research on the collection.
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Proposed Officers, Board Members At the April 29 Annual Meeting, Society members will vote on the following names proposed by the nominating committee to be officers and board members:
Officers: President: Bill Ross
1 Year Term
Vice President: Ken Kuhl
1 Year Term
Secretary: Robert Schrepf
Discretion of the board
Treasurer: Roger Hayes
Discretion of the board
Archivist: Carol Laun
Discretion of the board New Board Members:
Wayne Cahoon
3 Year Term
Lynn Lockhead
1 Year Term
2nd Grade Tour
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Salmon Brook Historical Society Annual Dinner Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at West Granby Methodist Social Hour: 6 p.m. Dinner: 7:00 p.m. Please reserve ____ places at the Annual Dinner at $20 per person. I am enclosing $___ Please Choose: _____ Vegetable Lasagna (or) _____ Stuffed Shells (please return with your payment) Name:___________________________Phone:________ Address:________________________________________ Please make checks payable to Salmon Brook Historical Society Send to: Bill Ross, 239 Salmon Brook Street, Granby, CT. 06035 Phone: 860 999-3743 Deadline: April 22
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Salmon Brook Historical Society 208 Salmon Brook Street Granby, Connecticut 06035 860-653-9713 Or go to:
Granby, Connecticut 06035 PO Box 840 The Salmon Brook Historical Society
Calendar of Events Annual Meeting and Dinner – First Congregational Church Spring Flea Market
April 29 May 17
www.salmonbrookhistorical.org Hours: Tuesday 9:00 to Noon Genealogical & Archival Research
Thursday 9:00 to Noon Thursday Morning Group Follow us on:
March 2014 Issue •SBHS Newsletter Publishing Committee Leila Hawken and Bob Schrepf •Layout: Ken Kuhl •Photography: Peter Dinella