Orange Historical Society - Keeping the Town’s History Alive written By: Ginny Reinhard
The Orange Historical Society’s mission in part is to maintain the history of the Town of Orange and strive to collect and preserve those items of history that pertain to the settlement of Orange as well as the surrounding area.
OHS started off with a bang when 2020 rolled around having opened the Bryan-Andrew House to hearthcooked dinners, classes, and luncheons. The keeping room has a 9-foot hearth where delicious meals were prepared and served to enthusiastic visitors. Using the hearth was only part of the event, as the OHS installed a state-of-theart kitchen approved by the Orange Health department. Society members took a course in food management to ensure the safety of food preparation and the serving of Colonial fare.
AN ACCOMPLISHED RESTORATION The Bryan-Andrew house has been identified as the “jewel” in the crown and OHS members are very proud of what was accomplished. The town purchased the home in 2000 from Mrs. Emerson and the OHS has not tarried in bringing it back to the year 1740, when it was first built. Many documents and historical facts were used for this date and walking into the house is like walking into history itself. All aspects have been addressed and except for the kitchen and up-to-date utilities, the house is just as old as its date reflects.
WINTER 2020
Photo: Paula Severino
The Orange Historical Society (OHS) maintains three properties in Orange: the Bryan-Andrew House, Stone-Otis House, and the Academy Building.
The hearth where meals were cooked in the keeping room of the Bryan-Andrew house.
Although 13 families lived there in its past, not enough was changed that couldn’t be reversed or restored.
FUNDS ARE NEEDED One obstacle that faces all historical societies is funding—and from many sources, which is sought after by multiple organizations. OHS has been fortunate to receive an annual grant from the Fred DeLuca Foundation to continue restoration of the Bryan-Andrew House, allowing for completion of the garret, which is the
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2nd story (the attic). Their generosity allowed for the restoration of the space, which was the sleeping area for the Bryan and Andrew children, housing a bed, complete with trundle, several blanket chests, and the necessary bed warmer. In addition, the Connecticut Humanities and Spectrum Associates, Inc. awarded OHS a grant, which funded the replacement of the clapboards on the south side of the home, as the original ones began | 35
