Event Calendar

The Chatham Historical Society and East Hampton Library are co-sponsoring a talk by naturalist writer, David Leff, on Sat. Jan. 6, 2018 at 1 pm at the East Hampton Library Community Room at 105 Main St. in East Hampton. Leff will present a slide presentation on his book, Maple Sugaring: Keeping It Real in New England. The talk is part of the “Cabin Fever Winter Talk History Program.”
Join David for a slide illustrated talk about maple sugaring. Explore the mysteries and mystique of maple sugaring and meet the dedicated, sometimes quirky folks who make it. Find out how this unique and ancient northeastern North American product was discovered and the high tech techniques it takes to produce it today. Are sugarmakers the canary in the coal mine for climate change? Why do some people think maple syrup is the next miracle food? Learn how you can make and enjoy your own syrup. As a former sugarmaker and board member of the Connecticut Maple Syrup Producers Association, he’ll give you an insider’s view. Books will be available for sale and signing. A great gift for anyone who loves New England.

Directions: From the Stop & Shop on Route 66 in East Hampton go south on Main St. for approx. .5 mile. The library is on the left side of the road.

The Chatham Historical Society and East Hampton Library are co-sponsoring a talk by history writer, Zachary Lamothe, on Sat. Feb. 10, 2018 at 1 pm at the East Hampton Library Community Room at 105 Main St. in East Hampton. Lamothe will tell stories from his book, Connecticut Lore: Strange, Off-Kilter, & Full of Surprises. The talk is part of the “Cabin Fever Winter History Program.”
Connecticut Lore is an offbeat travel guide to more than 58 unusual and out-of-the-way places. Learn the history of Connecticut through tales of legends, folklore, and personal anecdotes and discover the truth about the abandoned Holy Land, Moodus resorts, and other places. Lamothe has discovered that Connecticut is “full of surprises” and worth investigating whether you’re a local or an out-of-towner. Nooks and crannies are inhabited by ghost towns, large man-beasts, and inbred creatures with oblong heads. Folk artists who created religious sanctuaries out of trash are just some of the oddities you will see. Visit abandoned Norwich State Hospital and Daniel’s Village, hear stories of demonic possessions, and discover the mysteries of Plum Island and the lore of Pirate treasure and witchcraft. Lamothe has also written More Connecticut Lore: Guidebook to 82 Strange Locations. His books will be available for sale and signing.

Zachary Lamothe, a native of Norwich, Conn., was always intrigued by local lore and history. Today, he lives in the Boston area and enjoys the Red Sox, music, and exploring the world around him.

The Chatham Historical Society will host its 23rd annual Antique Appraisal Day, Saturday, March 24 from 9 -1 at the East Hampton Library Community Room, 105 Main Street. There will be four appraisers on site: Bill Barrows of Thomas Barrows and Sons, Ltd. of Portland, Larry Shapiro of Glastonbury Appraisals, and Michael Westman and Justine DeMetrick of Newport, R.I.

Verbal appraisals will be given on furniture, glassware, china, artwork, musical instruments, military pieces, dolls, jewelry, quilts as well as European, Asian, and Island items and more. There is a suggested donation of $6 per item for this event. This is a major fundraiser for the continual upkeep of the society’s two museum buildings and 1840 one-room schoolhouse on Bevin Boulevard.

Light refreshments of coffee, tea, cookies, fruit, and assorted desserts can also be purchased. For more information, call 860 267-8953.

How much is your stuff worth?

Before your next tag sale, get an appraisal so you don’t end up giving away treasures.
Imagine selling a painting at a yard sale for $1.00, then learning the buyer later sold it at auction for $10,000. You’d want to kick yourself.

 

On the PBS program “Antiques Roadshow,” You frequently get people bringing in something that they bought for $5 that’s worth $3,000 to $4,000.

Whether you want to know an item’s value for a sale, insurance coverage, estate valuation, a charitable donation, or just to satisfy your curiosity, it’s often worth spending our suggested $6.00 per item to find out.

The Chatham Historical Society is organizing a walking tour of Downtown East Hampton, CT on Sunday, April 29 at 1 pm as part of its “Explore East Hampton” monthly series of walks. Come for a walk back in time and learn about the proud and glorious history of the center of ‘our little village.’ The walk is sponsored by the East Hampton Parks and Recreation Dept.
Hunt Voelker, a native of East Hampton, will lead the walk. He has lived in East Hampton for 90 years and has strong interest in East Hampton’s history and is interested in sharing it with others.

Applications for the annual Chatham Historical Society Town Wide Tag Sale on June 17 are now available at the East Hampton Town Hall, the East Hampton Public Library and the Chatham Historical Society Museum, 6 Bevin Blvd. (during open hours) Application deadline is June 3. Cost to participate is a $15 donation to the CHS, which supports future programming, exhibits and building maintenance. Rain date for the tag sale is June 24 if noted on your application. 860-267-4732, Debbie Day for information.

The Chatham Historical Society is hosting a walking tour of the Bevin Bell Factory in East Hampton on Sunday at 1 p.m. Walkers will learn the history of the company tour the factory, and learn how the bells are made. They will also visit the original factory site that was destroyed by fire in 2012. The walk is sponsored East Hampton Parks and Recreation Dept.

During the early 1800s, Abner and William Bevin became indentured servants to William Barton, the first bell maker in what became the modern town of East Hampton. After finishing out their obligations to Barton, the two brothers set up small foundries in their backyards and began casting bells. They decided to go into business together in 1832. With the addition of brothers Chauncey and Philo, the Bevin Brothers Manufacturing Company truly became a family business. The company thrived well into the 1900s by producing a wide variety of bells for shipment all over the world. Bevin Brothers made tea bells, ice cream bells, door bells, naval bells, and even replicas of the Liberty Bell.

Paul and Sandy’s Too
93 East High St (RT66)
East Hampton, CT

The Chatham Historical Society is organizing a walking tour of Paul’s and Sandy’s, Too Garden Center at 93 East High St. in East Hampton on Saturday, Sept. 15^th  at 3pm.

Visitors will learn the history of the garden center and tour its stores, greenhouses, Pumpkintown USA, and get a wagon ride tour of the center’s property. The walk is sponsored East Hampton Parks and Recreation Dept.

In 1954 Paul Peszynski first started selling vegetables at a stand that he and his father converted from an old chicken coop on Rt. 66.

At that time his main customers were people from New York City who came and rented cottages or stayed at one of the seven hotels that were on Lake Pocotopaug.         Years later Paul got married to Sandy Flemke and they had four children: Mark, Jill, Daniel, and Karen. Paul & Sandy opened a toy and sporting goods store with a sprinkling of home and garden supplies and named it Paul’s Home Supply, the same property where  Paul sold fresh fruits and vegetables during his summers to pay for his college tuition as a young man.

As the years passed, Paul and Sandy found that the demand for toys and sporting goods declined, but the need for home and gardening supplies soared, and the transition to green goods and hardware was natural.

In 1992 the creation of what is now known as Pumpkin Town USA was started. First came a few pumpkin-headed people, then the town we all know and love. Most recently added, the Ride at Pumpkin Town that features a mile-long hayride through the woods with over 30 additional pumpkin- heads and their dwellings. This local attraction hosts over 20,000 people during the short seven weeks it is open from the middle of September through Halloween.

When Sandy’s breast cancer returned in 1993, they decided it was time to fully pass the torch to the children, so they could enjoy retirement together. Jill, Dan, and Karen took the reins and ran with them finding strengths in all aspects of the business and working together to increase sales and their customer following. They took the values instilled in them by their parents, Paul and Sandy, about superior customer service, and how important it is to give back to the community that supports them.

After Sandy lost her battle to breast cancer in 2007, the Sandy Peszynski Breast Cancer Foundation was created and today has raised over $385,000. This foundation differs from others as 100% of what is donated goes directly to the hospitals cancer programs to help women.

               This monthly series of hikes is designed to introduce people to the history of East Hampton. The hikes also foster friendships, promote a healthy lifestyle, and help develop an appreciation of the history of East Hampton.

               The walk will begin at the green houses in back of the main store. The walk is recommended for children six years to adults. It will take approx. 1 hour. No dogs please. Heavy rain will cancel the hike and a rain date is on Sunday, Sept. 16^th at 3 pm. Visitors should park by the green houses behind the main store or along Old Marlborough Rd. Please do not park on Rt. 66.

The Chatham Historical Society’s Biennial Hour Tour will be held on September 29, 2018 from 10am – 4pm.

Tickets are on sale for $20.00 and can be purchased at the Town Clerks Office in the Town Hall and at the East Hampton Library. 

The day of the tour, tickets will be available at the Historical Society Museum, 6 Bevin Blvd, from 10am -1pm.

For more information on this years Historic House Tour call (860) 267-4732 or (860) 267-8953

Tartia Cemetery Walk

The Chatham Hitorical Society will be hosting a Walking Tour of the 1746 Tartia Cemetery and Town Farm.

East Hampton Directions: From Stop & Shop on East High St. Then drive down Main St. through The Town of East Hampton, CT’s Village Center to Rt. 16.

At traffic light turn left on Rt. 16 (Colchester Ave.) and drive approx. 1.5 miles. Turn right on Tartia Rd. and go approx. ½ mile to #45.

Cemetery is on right.

Sunday December 9th, 2018

The Chatham Historical Society will be hosting a walking tour of The Hazen Tree Farm located at 166 Lake Drive, East Hampton, CT

Directions:                                                    From East Hampton Stop & Shop.

Go east on Rt. 66 for 1.6 mi. to Lake Dr. on left. Follow Lake Dr. for .5 mi to stop sign, Then turn left and go .1 mi. Hazen Tree Farm will be on your left.