SBHS March 2016 Newsletter

208 Salmon Brook Street Granby, Connecticut, 06035

March, 2016

Looking Forward To Our Yearly Get-Together: The annual dinner and business meeting is April 18 Make your reservations now for the annual meeting and dinner for the Society’s membership to be held on Monday, April 18 at First Congregational Church on North Granby Road. Admission is $20 per person. Payment with the coupon on page 7 of this newsletter should be mailed to Heather Tomasetti, 109 Silver Street, North Granby, CT 06060.

Deadline, April 11. Appetizers will be served starting at 6 p.m. Dinner will follow at about 6:45. We invite members to bring an appetizer. Those who do, please let Ginny Wutka know what you’re bringing. (Her e.mail is: ginny@lostacres.com) The annual business meeting for the membership will follow dinner and will be held in the sanctuary. It will include a financial report, the election of officers and board members and presentation of the annual Linnell Award honoring extraordinary volunteer service to the Society.

The slate of officer and board nominees approved by the board of directors can be found elsewhere in this newsletter.

Following the business meeting, we’ll hear from the night’s featured speaker, Lee David Hamberg, a restoration carpenter at Old Sturbridge Village and director of property for the Southwick History Museum.

Mr. Hamberg’s illustrated program will center on the period between 1750 and 1850 and the roles played by several families in the Granby area. It will touch on topics such as education, colonial taverns, the famous “Southwick Jog” boundary controversy and slavery law.

It promises to be an informative, enjoyable night in the company of friends. Make your reservation today!

Spring Flea Market May 14 2016 (see page 4)

Textiles Update (see page 5)

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From The Archives

by Carol Laun, Archivist and Acting Curator

The following letter was written July 14, 1829 by a young minister, Amasa Hayes, to his mother Ruth in West Granby. Amasa was the oldest of nine children and was married to Phebe Gould. The letter mentions his younger brother Samuel, who had moved west to Illinois.

Amasa was in Saratoga Springs, NY for his health. The postage on the letter was 12 cents.

My Dear Mother, We have been in this place a little more than a week. It is a very common resort of invalids, and if the waters are medicinal, as no doubt they are, few need the benefit of them more than I do. I have not preached since the last of December nor even seen the inside of a meeting house until last sabbath. I have been very low, and am still so weak and lame, as to be obliged to walk with two sticks. How long we shall remain here is uncertain. If the waters prove beneficial, we shall probably remain several weeks. (story continued on page 5)

In Memoriam Charles Barron Innes

by Carol Laun

Charlie Innes loved to give tours of our Tobacco Barn. He participated in many Society activities and always had a story to tell. We will miss those tales.

Lucy Eaton Holcombe Lucy was a willing and cheerful volunteer at our Flea Markets. She also guided house tours and the visits of the Granby second grade children. Both Lucy and her late husband, Seth, were loyal and generous friends of the Salmon Brook Historical Society.

Many items in our collections and in our exhibits came from the Holcombe family.

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For Charitable Giving, Think of SBHS

By Ken Kuhl

In today’s corporate world, many companies encourage their employees to give of their time and treasure to their communities. Many times to inspire giving to local non-profits, companies offer to match giving with the employee. If you would like to give to the SBHS in this way, check with your employer to see if they might have an employee match program.

The Salmon Brook Historical Society is an organization dedicated to preserving and teaching the history of the Town of Granby. In many Connecticut towns, the local historical society is part of the town’s operational budget. This is not the case in Granby, where the SBHS is totally funded by gifts, fundraising events, dues, and our financial investments.

Another wonderful way to help support our society is to remember us in your will.

Talk to your financial planner as you consider this very important decision.

The E-Newsletter is Here!

The Historical Society’s board would like the members to consider receiving the quarterly SBHS News by e-mail instead of by snail mail. It is both environmentally responsible and it is in FULL COLOR! 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.

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.

Have you renewed your membership in the Salmon Brook STUDENT $3.00 INDIVIDUAL $15.00 Historical Society for the calendar year 2016?

We have attempted to keep the dues at a reasonable level. If you FAMILY/GROUP $20.00 SUSTAINING $30.00 haven’t renewed for this year or owe back dues, please send us a LIFE MEMBERSHIP $300.00 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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Mark It Down: Flea Market, May 14 The annual Spring Flea Market is May 14th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Society’s grounds.

Anyone who has not volunteered to work the flea market – helping at the concession stand, – or helping with parking, or even helping lead the vendors to their spaces early in the morning. Come on down! We can always use more help in mounting the Society’s chief fundraising event Anyone wanting to donate items to be sold in the Preservation Barn on the day of the flea market can drop off those items at the Salmon Brook Historical Society, starting in April, on Tuesday or Thursday mornings between 9 a.m. and noon. We ask you not to donate plastic toys or children’s clothing.

We will serve hot dogs, soda, chips, coffee and Mrs. Murphy’s donuts at our concession stand. Also, Lisa Vibert will make her chili for that day. Come enjoy the fun and do not forget to tell your friends as the Flea Markets have become a Granby tradition.

Here are the Event Details:

Send Payment to: Dave Laun 16 Hummingbird Granby, CT 06035 Any questions call: Dave Laun: 860 653 3965 (leave message) or Todd Vibert 860 653 9506

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Textile Report

by Jean Potetz

Last winter we missed so many working Thursdays it was impossible to keep count. This year, we haven’t missed a day due to weather – what a difference a year makes! As a result, we’ve had some very productive days in the Textile rooms. In addition to our crew presently working with clothing items, Melba Griffin and Sally Markey have taken on the project of going through the woven coverlets and hand-woven linens before they are stored away in the Textile Storage Room. This large undertaking will speed up the process of vacuuming and boxing these items for storage.

Estelle H. Holcomb’s Stars & Stripes Quilt, circa 1861, has again been published in a book on quilt history. Quilt historian and author Sue Reich included our quilt (photograph by Peter Dinella) in her latest book, Quilts – Presidential and Patriotic. The book features historic presidential and patriotic quilts made by American quilters as well as 43 new quilts representing each of our presidents. Estelle H. Holcomb’s quilt is shown on the pages honoring President Lincoln and again as the book’s endpapers. Information about Sue Reich and her books can be found online at www.coveringquilthistory.com.

While this summer’s textile exhibit is still in its early planning stages, its main focus will be on children. The display will include needlework and clothing items and, as an aside, more quilts than are usually on exhibit. More information will follow as summer approaches.

Many thanks to Alberta Dinella, Melba Griffin, Betsy Henebry, Lucille Ladden, Sally Markey, Pam Palmer, Patty Sansone and Ginny Wutka for their work preserving these items for future generations.

…. story continued from page 2: In coming from Londonderry to this place, we experienced such hospitality from friends on the way, that our expenses were less than four dollars. Here we pay $2.50 per week, and for good board, this is cheap. Several of the public boarding houses charge $10 per week and can accommodate from 150 to 200 boarders each. However, they are not full. The gentleman we board with is an elder of the church here and his house is the common resort of clergymen and pious people. We therefore enjoy the best of society.

Saratoga Springs is a neat little village, somewhat larger than Farmington, and is rapidly increasing.

Every article of necessity or convenience is here charged at the highest price.

I think my health is gradually improving. Phebe is in good health, though she alone has taken care of me through the whole season of my illness. Her care has kept me alive being under favor of the Divine Providence. We hope by the goodness of God, to see you all before we return to New Hampshire. I have hired a man to preach for me in my absence.

Give our love to all the family. Tell Samuel I often dream of seeing him. I hoped Samuel would be able to sell your farm and to purchase the Perkins farm for I thought it would greatly improve the worldly interests of the family without impairing their spiritual. But perhaps I did not judge rightly and I suppose you are yet in Granby.

Gurdon Hayes is unsettled and gone to Conn. We went to Cambridge to see him, and he was just gone. He was most shamefully treated by the people there. His wife is spoken of as one of the best of women.

Phebe unites with me in love to you and to all the family. May the grace of God preserve us all unto His heavenly Kingdom.

Your affectionate son, Amasa A. Hayes Unfortunately, Saratoga Springs did not cure Amasa. A little over a year later he died on 23 Oct 1830 in Londonderry, NH, at the age of 32.

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Inns and Taverns During Granby's Early Years Inns dispensed hospitality and spirits

By Ken Kuhl

The words "inn" and "tavern" used to be synonymous terms, but their meanings, and the services they provide have changed over the years. Both taverns and inns have been around since ancient times, and both still exist today in one form or another.

In Granby during colonial times, there was a law to ensure every town had a tavern because it was one of the main places for the public to gather. Men, women and children were regular customers and because of poor water quality, consumers of alcohol.

Today, a tavern is an establishment that serves only wine and beer, not hard alcohol or spirits, and only allows adults on the premises. An inn today is actually a motel or hotel and may or may not offer travelers dining and beverages in addition to a room for the night.

Records show that from the late 18th to the mid-19th century, 117 tavern keeper licenses were issued in Granby. Familiar names like Holcomb, Hayes, Phelps and Viets were tavern owners during this time. These owners were often prominent citizens and enjoyed having their residence be a place were the “movers and shakers� from the community would gather to discuss the politics and business of the day.

Fortunately, most of our historic tavern structures still remain today. Homes at both 235 and 285 North Granby Road were well-known taverns which even today retain their bar cages, which the proprietor would lock after hours to prevent pilfering by "sleepwalking" guests.

Goodrich's Tavern was actually built as an inn and tavern with a first floor tavern room, and also featured a second floor ballroom with gallery and orchestra stage. The most famous establishment in East Granby is the Viets Tavern on Newgate Road, which almost always had accommodations for visitors to the Newgate Prison or copper mines.

The Huggins Tavern still stands today on Route 20W, and was on the stagecoach line that ran from Springfield to Granville, MA, through Hartland and West Granby to Simsbury and on to Hartford. This circa 1770 home, which added a tavern in 1800, today still retains the entire tavern room in the lower level of the home. A historic building specialist from Wethersfield told this author that the pub in this early home was one of the finest and best-kept secrets he had seen in many, many years.

Granby also had several 19th century hotels as well. The Hayes Hotel building is the handsome Second Empire colonial with a French mansard roof which still stands at 255 Salmon Brook St. In West Granby center, Elam Kendall owned a 17- or 18-room hotel which still stands proudly at the intersection of West Granby and Simsbury Road.

The closest thing today to the traditional inn of ancient times are the bed and breakfast inns found throughout the area, where the establishment's owners are usually the ones providing the hospitality. Check one out and discover "old-fashioned" traditional hospitality today!

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Proposed Officers, Board Members At the April 18 Annual Meeting, Society members will vote on the following names proposed by the nominating committee to be officers and board members:

Officers: President: Rich Zlotnick Vice President: Todd Vibert Secretary: Robert Schrepf

Discretion of the board

Treasurer: Roger Hayes

Discretion of the board

Archivist/Acting Curator: Carol Laun

Discretion of the board

Board Members: Todd Bailey

2 Year Term

Howard Berg

1 Year Term

2nd Grade WhiteyTour Johnson

3 Year Term

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Salmon Brook Historical Society Annual Dinner Tuesday, April 18, 2016 at First Congregational Church.

Social Hour: 6 p.m. Dinner: 6:45 p.m.

Please reserve ____ places at the Annual Dinner at $20 per person.

I am enclosing $___ Name:____________________________Phone:________ Address:________________________________________

Please make checks payable to Salmon Brook Historical Society Send to: Heather Tomasetti, 109 Silver Street, North Granby, CT 06060.

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Salmon Brook Historical Society 208 Salmon Brook Street Granby, Connecticut 06035 860-653-9713 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:

Granby, Connecticut 06035 PO Box 840 The Salmon Brook Historical Society

Calendar of Events Annual Meeting and Dinner Spring Flea Market Memorial Day Parade Summer SBHS Tours Begin

Who We Are

April 18 May 14 May 30 June 5

Board Members: Wayne Cahoon, Ken Kuhl, Dave Laun, Lynn Lochhead, Phil Main, Karen McNey, John Morgan, Bill Ross Heather Tomasetti Ellen Cunha

Officers: Rich Zlotnick, President Todd Vibert, Vice President Bob Schrepf, Secretary Roger Hayes, Treasurer Carol Laun, Archivist and acting curator

March 2016 Issue •SBHS Newsletter Publishing Committee Leila Hawken and Bob Schrepf •Layout: Ken Kuhl •Photography: Peter Dinella