Brass Valley: Made in America

The Sharon Historical Society located on 18 Main Street in Sharon CT in the historic Gay-Hoyt House is hosting the work of artist Emery Roth. The show will run through April 25. Roth’s work will be displayed in the Society’s Gallery that is open Wednesday-Friday, from 10 to 4 pm and by appointment.

Emery Roth is an accomplished photographer. This exhibit melds contemporary photography of the industry of Connecticut’s Naugatuck Valley, with text and objects from the museum’s collection that tell the stories of Sharon’s industrial past. The exhibit evolved as Mr. Roth began following the old railroad tracks through the Naugatuck Valley and photographing what was left of its industrial past.

In his photographs, he was searching for rust and a glimpse of another age. He admits that he never expected to find himself in a time warp, photographing where giant hydraulics are still hissing, steel clanking, hot, glowing metal flying through the air, where the steam still rises from old pickling vats, and men charge furnaces in buildings where the soot has had more than a hundred years to cake. He never dreamed such a place still existed and took the photographs to prove that it does still exist in Connecticut. This is a show about those places.

A highlight of this show is a guided walk through the exhibit by the photographer on Sunday April 1 at 3 pm. All are invited. For additional information, contact the Sharon Historical Society at 860-364-5688 or via email sharonhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com, or our website, www.sharonhist.org.

About the Sharon Historical Society

The Great Egg Hunt & Spring Celebration New Canaan Nature Center

The New Canaan Nature Center’s annual Egg Hunt is back again this year!  On Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31 the Nature Center will host a series of egg hunts for small groups of children ages 2-10.  The one-hour programs will take place at 2:30pm and 3:30pm on Friday and 11am, Noon, 1:30pm and 2:30pm on Saturday.  The Nature Center is located on144 Oenoke Ridge in New Canaan (203-966-9577).

Each program will include a spring scavenger hunt to identify signs of spring as well as a chance to meet the baby chicks that just hatched at the Nature Center.  Kids will learn all about the magic of eggs from NCNC naturalists and then hunt the grounds for hundreds of eggs filled with goodies.  Representatives from Hop-Along-Hallow will also be at the Saturday events with their real bunny rabbits.  Hop-Along-Hollow is dedicated to helping educate people on proper care of small pets and to create better living environments for rabbits and other small animals. 

Volunteers from the class of 2014 National Charity League Canaan Parish collected candy donations from league members and stuffed 2,359 eggs that are used for these special egg hunts!

The programs will take place in rain or shine, with the egg hunt-taking place in the tropical greenhouse in the event of rain. These events do sell out and advance registration required: please call (203) 966-9577x20 or register online. The program is $10/child for members and $15/child for non-members. 

The New Canaan Nature Center is an environmental education center and sanctuary dedicated to helping people of all ages better understand, appreciate and care for the world of nature. Visitors Center
open: Monday – Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. Grounds open dawn to dusk daily. www.newcanaannature.orgwww.newcanaannature.org. 
For more information about Fairfield County visit: www.visitfairfieldct.comwww.visitfairfieldct.com.

Ride a Vintage Train to Visit the Easter Bunny !

The Danbury Railway Museum is planning to greet the Easter Bunny once again this spring. The Easter Bunny will make his home in an authentically restored train car where he will greet young and old alike on special weekends this March and April !

 To reach the Easter Bunny you will first enter the historic Danbury Railroad Station where you will board a vintage train that will take you on a fun filled ride through the historic railyard to the Easter Bunny. The short train ride in a fully-restored 1953 New Haven RR Rail Diesel Car (Budd RDC), will take visitors past the fully operational turntable, over 70 vintage railroad cars and locomotives, and many unique pieces of railroad history, including a Boston & Maine steam locomotive built in 1907.

Of special note is the museum's beautifully restored circa-1910 Railway Post Office (RPO) car that will also be open. The train ride will stop at the Easter Bunny's special railroad car. Each child will receive a small gift from the Bunny making this a great time for memorable photos that will be cherished though out the years.

 An extra treat for those visiting the Easter Bunny are the exhibits inside the restored 1903 Danbury Station that include a coloring station, temporary tattoos, Thomas® play table, and operating model train layouts. A fully-stocked gift shop will also be open.

 This popular annual family event will take place on Sunday, March 25; Saturday and Sunday, March 31 and April 1; and Friday & Saturday, April 6 & 7. Museum hours are 10:00-4:30 on Friday and Saturday; noon-4:30 on Sunday; trains leave every 30 minutes from 12:30 to 3:30. Admission is $9.00 (age 2 and up).

Litchfield Historical Society’s Civil War Exhibition, Opens in April 14 – Nov. 25

Litchfield History Museum

Opening April 14, 2012, the Litchfield Historical Society’s new exhibition The Hour of Conflict will examine the ways in which the American Civil War im­pacted the residents of Litchfield, Con­necticut in the 1860s. This fascinating exhibit will run through November 25th.

Although no battles occurred in Con­necticut, local Litchfield families were directly affected by the events of the Civil War. Men departed town to enlist in the Union army, leaving their families behind to worry and wonder, waiting for a letter to make its way from a campground or battlefield. Women spent their time sewing clothing, wrapping bandages, and sending packages to their loved ones on the front lines. How did Litch­field families deal with the anxiety of war? How did they mourn, celebrate and cope?

The Litchfield Historical Society in­vites visitors and families of all ages to examine these questions through let­ters, diaries, photographs, and artifacts from the Historical Society’s collec­tions. Articles carried by local soldiers, everyday objects used by Litchfield’s children, and items related to Dr. Josiah Gale Beckwith and the Litchfield Peace Movement are just some of the col­lection pieces that will be highlighted. Visitors will also have the chance to view Civil War uniforms thanks to the Museum of Connecticut History and the Cornwall Historical Society.

The exhibit will also incorporate hands-on activities and the opportunity to ex­perience camp life as Litchfield’s men did more than a century and a half ago. Students of the Litchfield Montessori School will act as Junior Curators to re­search, design, and create a special por­tion of the exhibition.

The Hour of Conflict will run through the 2012 and 2013 seasons at the Litchfield History Museum, located at 7 South Street in Litchfield. There will be a special exhibition opening for members on Friday, April 13 at 6:30 pm following this year’s Annual Meeting. The exhibition will open to the public on April 14. For more information visit www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org or call (860) 567-4501. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 to 5 and Sunday 1-5. The admission costs are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, students, and children over 14. Members, law students, and children under 14 are free. These prices include the cost of admission to the Tapping Reeve House and Law School.

New Canaan Nature Center Annual Syrup Saturday & Pancake Brunch

The New Canaan Nature Center's Syrup Saturday festival returns on Saturday, March 17 from 10:30am – 2:00pm.  This annual event celebrates the New England tradition of maple syrup making and includes a pancake brunch with different varieties of syrup, including the Nature Center's own.

Nature Center educators and local families who have "adopted" a tree for the season have been collecting sap from over 50 of the center's maples over the last month.

How does it work?  Freezing temperatures create suction that draws water in through a tree's roots, and warm periods create pressure which causes the sap to flow out through a tap hole where it's collected in buckets.  This sap, a combination of water, salt and sugar, serves as the tree's food and is the sole ingredient of pure maple syrup.

During Syrup Saturday, visitors will get a chance to observe the entire process from tree tapping to boiling into syrup at the "sugar shack".  Educators will also demonstrate historic methods of maple syruping.

Local maple syrup and maple baked goods will be for sale.  Guests can test their taste buds on real vs. fake syrup and learn what the different grades mean.

Join Nature Center naturalists for a hike along "Maple Lane" to learn how to identify sugar maples and other trees while hunting for signs of spring.  Kids will make a maple-themed craft to take home.  This event is primarily held outdoors and activities will be ongoing throughout the day.

Maple Sugaring March 10 & 11 and March 17, 19

The Maple Calendar

How Sweet It Is – March 3 & 4 at Stamford Museum and Nature Center

This family favorite returns to the Stamford Museum & Nature Center with plenty to do for the whole family on Saturday, March 3 and Sunday March 4th from 11 am - 3 pm.  This year marks the 12th anniversary First County Bank has sponsored this family festival highlighting the New England tradition of maple sugaring.

This event offers a  multitude of activities sure to please everyone in the family! Visit the little red sugar house on Heckscher Farm and see firsthand how sap is turned into sweet maple syrup.  See how trees are tapped and sap is collected, make a maple-themed craft, enjoy the popular pancake brunch, go on a scavenger hunt, get your face painted and more.  A special treat is to watch  local chefs create delicious dishes using maple syrup in a winner-takes-all maple cook-off!

On Saturday, watch four local chefs create delicious dishes using SM&NC maple syrup and vote for your favorite in a winner-takes-all maple cook-off. Competing Chefs include David Cingari from David's Soundview Catering, Susan Kane from Susan Kane Catering, Jonathan Mathias, owner of A Dash of Salt and the Glekas owners of Eos Greek Cuisine.

On Sunday, enjoy the popular pancake brunch. Don’t forget to purchase a pint of your very own fresh maple syrup, made from our very own trees at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center.
Daily Admission Fees: Members: $5; Non-Members: $10; Family Plus Members and above levels and all children 3 & under: FREE; Pancake Brunch (SUNDAY only, 11am – 2pm) Additional $5 fee. For more information, call 203.977.6521, or visit www.stamfordmuseum.org.

Additionally, people can help support the Maple Sugar Education Program at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center with their Sponsor-A-Bucket program! Your support will be acknowledged with a personalized name tag that will hang on your personal sap bucket throughout the season...with a "sweet" end result! At the end of the season each Sponsor will receive a pint of SM&NC's very own pure Connecticut Maple Syrup. Each sponsorship opportunity is $100. To sponsor a bucket, call Kristen at 203.977.6548 or order online at www.stamfordmuseum.org.

If you miss this event, take a trip to Lamothe's Sugar House, the state's largest sugar house in Burlington Connecticut. On weekends, through March, Lamothe’s offers free tours on their farm from 1 pm to 4:30 pm. Visitors will learn how maple syrup was discovered and how it developed over time and is made today. Delicious samples of maple syrup, complimentary coffee and hot cider is served.

Lamothe's Sugar House is located on 89 Stone Road, Burlington, CT (860-675-5043).  For more information visit their website at www.lamothesugarhouse.com.