PROGRAMS
The Woodstock Historical Society of Connecticut offers a variety of entertaining and educational programs that are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Douglas Zimmerman, Program Chair, at (860) 974-3020.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS 
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Barns: Yesterday, Today and Tommorrow - Saturday, June 7, 2008
EXHIBITION - LOST BARNS - June 7 - August 31, 2008

Other 2008 talks under development:

  • Political Buttons Program and Exhibit

Please check back later for updates on more programs


All programs listed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

EXHIBITION: LOST BARNS
June 7 - August 31, 2008

A photo exhibition at Palmer Hall in Woodstock of lost barns. Free and open to the public.

Barns: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Saturday, June 7, 2008, Woodstock, CT

Woodstock is one of the largest towns in CT. It has a proud and active agricultural history and, not surprisingly, a rich collection of barns. This conference and exhibitions associated with it will showcase barns of Woodstock in the context of New England barn history. It will also explore ways of maintaining and preserving historic barns, which are vulnerable icons of our New England landscape. Presented by the Woodstock Historic Properties Commission in partnership with Historic New England and the Woodstock Historical Society. Made possible with support from the CT Commission on Culture and Tourism.

Speakers:

  • Thomas Durant Visser, Professor of Historic Preservation, University of Vermont, Burlington, author of the award-winning Field Guide to New England Barns and Farm Buildings
  • Glen Planka, restoration specialist, Lebanon, CT, who restored the Brunn Barn in South Woodstock; recipient of CT Trust for Historic Preservation 2007 CT Preservation Aware of Merit
  • Todd Levine, Preservation Services Officer for the CT Trust for Historic Preservation; co-directs its project "Historic Barns of CT"

Schedule:

  • 8:30 a.m., registration and opening reception at Woodstock Historical Society, 523 Route 169 (parking is also available at Roseland Cottage, 556 Route 169).
  • 9:15 a.m. Welcome and Morning Session, Roseland Cottage Carriage Barn
  • Noon - Lunch, tour Roseland Cottage Carriage barn, a National Historic Landmark property owned by Historic New England, and see Exhibition: Barns - yesterday, today and tomorrow
  • 1:00 p.m.: Bus Tour of Woodstock Barns: stops at several barns, including the recently restored award-winning Brunn Barn
  • 3:30 p.m. return to parking.

Registration: Registration is limited. Pre-registration is required. Last date to register is June 2, 2008. Confirmation will be by email or phone. General public: $30, member of Woodstock Historical Society or Historic New England: $25. Coffee and box lunch included, vegetarian lunches available. Information and registration contact: Gail White, Roseland Cottage, 860.928-4074 or gwhite@historicnewengland.org. See BROCHURE WITH REGISTRATION FORM (Adobe PDF file)

IN THE WORKS:

  • Political Buttons Program and Exhibit
  • WOODSTOCK ANTIQUES “ROAD SHOW"  - TOYS OF THE ‘60s
    Date to be announced.  An antique dealer will appraise toys from the 1960s brought in by the audience. 

For more information about PROGRAMS only, contact
Doug Zimmerman at (860) 974-3020.
To contact the Woodstock Historical Society, email whs@woodstockhistoricalsociety.org or call (860) 928-1035 (see HOME page for hours.)

ABOUT THE WOODSTOCK HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTION

The collection includes letters, diaries, manuscripts, maps, books, journals, paintings, textiles (such as clothing, quilts, costumes, and beaded purses), artifacts (such as clocks, spittoons, buttermolds, and trade signs), photographs, photographic slides, glass plate and film negatives, agricultural items (such as ox muzzles), decorative and fine arts, sound tapes, archeological and ethnographic artifacts, furnishings, and other items that date from the mid-1700’s to the present time. Many items in the collection are rare, unique, irreplaceable, and of considerable historical significance. Examples of items in the collection are:

  • An original 1776 letter from George Washington and Israel Putnam requesting the release of the Congregational Church minister from his duties so he could serve in the Revolutionary War

  • Native American photographs from the late 1800’s-early 1900’s, and artifacts (e.g., a pestle found in Samuel McClellan house and a basket).

  • Original pre-colonial maps

  • Town records from the 1700 and 1800’s

  • Photographs (including glass plates and film negatives) from the late 19th and early 20th centuries by locally famous photographers such as Charles Coombs, Edward Rollins and Fred Williamson

  • A library of historic and genealogical books, and documents on the Connecticut Path

  • A tall clock made by Peregrine White, a renowned local clockmaker

  • Items from Revolutionary War General Samuel McClellan, such as war documents and bookcases

  • Paintings by James Sawyer, Francis Alexander and Jared Flagg

  • Handwritten letters and notes, and photographs from Henry Bowen, a prosperous politician and active abolitionist.

DIRECTIONS:  The Woodstock Historical Society is headquartered in Palmer Memorial Hall, at 523 Route 169, in the historic hill district in Woodstock, CT.

MAILING ADDRESS: Woodstock Historical Society, 523 Scenic Route 169, PO Box 65, Woodstock CT 06281
Phone: (860)928-1035

HOME

PAST PROGRAMS
  •  
 FEBRUARY 2005 - PEDAL POWER

David Herlihy presented a slide show on his new book, Bicycle: The History.   Herlihy recounted the 200 year saga of the “mechanical horse,” and how it reshaped the world.

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 APRIL 2005 - IRISH, SCOTTISH AND MARITIME FOLK SONGS

Bruce and Sandy Hedman of Tara's Thistle performed traditional Irish and Scottish folk songs on the Scottish bagpipes, Irish flute, and bodhran.
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 MAY 2005 - ELIZABETH CADY STANTON

Dawn C. Adiletta, author of Elizabeth Cady Stanton: Women’s Suffrage and the First Vote, gave a talk on Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a brilliant writer, a compelling orator, the mother of seven boisterous children and a controversial figure throughout her long life. 
  •  
 JUNE 2005- 18TH CENTURY CONNECTICUT SILVER

Silver designer, collector and historian, Siro Toffolon, presented a slide presentation and discussion on 18th-century Connecticut silver and Woodstock silversmith Peregrine White. Mr. Toffolon has designed over 460 patterns for major companies. In 1995, he was honored by the American Silver Museum.

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 SEPTEMBER 2005 - LIBRARIES OF WOODSTOCK

Local historian Elaine LaChapelle discussed what kinds of books Woodstock residents read during the Victorian period. The complete North Woodstock library collection from 1858 was on display.
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 FEBRUARY 2006 - THE HISTORY OF DAIRY FARMING IN WOODSTOCK ROUNDTABLE

Barbara Barrett (Fairholm Farm), Dexter Young  (Valleyside Farm) and Kenneth Sherman (Sherman Farm) talked about the history of their farm, their family’s dairy farming experiences, or their transition to other types of farming, followed by questions and answers.
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 MARCH 2006 - WORK OF THE ARTIST BLACKSMITH

Woodstock's own blacksmith Michael Saari gave a slide show presentation on traditional and contemporary metal work. He also discussed the renaissance of the artist blacksmith movement which began in the 1970's.  Saari is the recipient of the International Metal's Design Award, with a Master's of Fine Art.  

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APRIL 2006 - Rocks and Glaciation in Eastern Connecticut  

Dr. Sherman Clebnik gave a slide show presentation on the local geology of Woodstock and Eastern CT, and described how glaciers and other geologic forces formed our town's landscape.  Dr. Clebnik is a renowned glacial geologist and geomorphologist with over 30 years as a faculty member at Eastern CT State University.
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MAY 2006 - The History of Kenyonville

Jean Kenyon Dabell gave a presentation on the history of Kenyonville, which is a village in Woodstock.  Dabell lived in Kenyonville from 1927-1955.  The presentation was at Doug Zimmerman's historic home, where Allen Kenyon once lived.  Dabell was a teacher in Ashford.
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JUNE 2006 - Treasure Hunting

A presentation by members of the Nutmeg Treasure Club, a metal detecting organization.  They showed various methods, tools and techniques for discovering lost buried treasures, with hands on demonstration.  

  •  
 SEPTEMBER 2006 - SCULPTING IN A HISTORIC FORGE

Woodstock artist and former professor Bruce Fink will give a slide show on his world-renowned bronze sculptures. Fink owns what may be the world’s largest one-man foundry, purchased from an historic mill in Putnam. Free and open to the public.

SEPTEMBER 2006 - TEXTILE SEMINAR WITH HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND

Textile Exhibit and lecture with Historic New England at Roseland Cottage.
  •  
 NOVEMBER 2006 - THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR AND ITS AFFECT ON WOODSTOCK

Woodstock historian Jeff Usher presented a program in costume on the French & Indian War and military equipment of the period.

JANUARY 2007 - 1960’s FASHION: MINISKIRTS AND THE MOD LOOK

Cynthia Dias-Reid gave a presentation on the influences of famous designers and celebrities and the effect of the British cultural invasion on clothing of the sixties. Local historian Elaine LaChapelle gave a brief overview of the founding of the Society.

March 2007 - 40TH ANNIVERSARY POSTER CONTEST AND ARTIST CAREER DAY

Posters designed by 7-12th grade Woodstock students were on display.  Awards were presented to the 1st and 2nd prize winners.  Woodstock artist Pamela Simpson Lussier gave a talk on what it’s like to work in the field of art. She has been painting and teaching classes and workshops for more than twenty years. Her work has been featured in Connecticut Magazine and American Artist Magazine. Some of her paintings were on display during the presentation. See her website. (see more info about contest)

APRIL 2007 - TRASH AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT 

Presented by Doug Zimmerman, a DEP Geologist.  History of garbage management from atop Woodstock’s own closed landfill on Paine District Road

May 2007 - IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT

A showing of the winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1967.  Moderated by Larry Zimmerman, who also teaches adult education film classes.

AUGUST 2007 - Celebrating the 60's - Gala Block Party at the Woodstock Fairgrounds

A vintage car cruise, live music and dancing, DJs and food booths. Co-sponsored by the Town of Woodstock Recreation.

JULY 2007 - OPEN HOUSE AT THE RED & WHITE

Open house at the Red & White, with a slide show of one room schoolhouses. Old Quasset School will also be open on that date.  Local historical Elaine LaChapelle was on hand to answer questions.  This program will be repeated in 2008.

OCTOBER 2007 - CHARLOTTE'S WEB

Showing of the live action film Charlotte's Web, moderated by Larry Zimmerman

OCTOBER 2007 and APRIL 2008 - PROMENADE IN THE PARK

Cheryl Wakely and Lyn Cole-Smith hosted a walking weekend event at Roseland Park. Roseland Park has been the site of many historic celebrations hosted by Henry C. Bowen, whose Independence Day festivities were famous; it's 9-hole golf course is one of the nation's earliest. The walk, augmented with lots of old photographs and stories, offered a glimpse into a forgotten era.

FEBRUARY 2007 - THE HISTORY OF THE WOODSTOCK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Local historian Elaine LaChapelle gave a slide presentation on the history of the Woodstock Historical Society. Charter members and past Presidents were honored.
 

MARCH 2008 - The Rise of the Connecticut Textile Industry: Technology, Community, and Environment

Dr. Jamie Eves of UCONN on the history of the mills, communities, and environment of industrial eastern Connecticut, using materials and artifacts from the Mill Museum of Connecticut, also known as the Windham Textile and History Museum, in Willimantic.
 

MAY 2008 - New England Icons: the Rise and Fall of the Elm and Other Trees

A slide show on the place of trees in New England culture before the automobile, especially the elm, compared to some other eastern states and foreign countries. By Herb Richardson, a former U.S. History and Culture professor at Rowan University in NJ.

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