Discover 19th Century Inventions at New Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum Exhibit

Technology is a major part of our lives and our culture and the Lockwood Mathews Mansion has put together an exhibit that explores the roots of today’s technology by displaying the “futuristic” inventions of the Victorian Era. 

The Mansion was ahead of its time and one of America's most technologically advanced buildings during the Civil War and the Victorian era so it makes the perfect backdrop for this new exhibit called What is It? Technologies and Discoveries of the Victoria Era.

Victorian era gadgets, technologies and breakthroughs will be on display at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum through October 6^th. What Is It? Technologies and Discoveries of the Victorian Era will tantalize student and adult audiences in the exploration of mid-to-late 19^th century inventions and discoveries in many diverse areas including communication, transportation, manufacturing, medicine, food and recreation. Visitors are sure to be surprised at how some of those historic breakthroughs are still very relevant today.

A highlight of the exhibit allows visitors to view cutting-edge Victorian Era technology that were precursors of some of today’s technologies, including telegraphs, Dictaphones, gas lighting and early examples of telephones, as well as burglar alarms, stock tickers and much more. Visitors will discover items still enjoyed today, from board games to food such as condensed milk and breakfast cocoa. 

Artifacts on display include loans from Connecticut's Mattatuck Museum and the Museum of American Finance, New York City, among others.

About the Lockwood Mathews Mansion

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a National Historic Landmark located at 295 West Avenue in Norwalk. Tours for the museum and exhibit are offered Wednesdays through Sundays, at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Admittance is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for children. Children under 8 are admitted free. For more information, visit www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799.

Schwenke’s Woodbury Connecticut Auction Features Aronson Folk Art Collection, Heisman Trophy Castings, and Warhol Illustrated Folio

On Sunday June 9^th at 11am, Schwenke’s Woodbury Auction presents its Fourth Anniversary Spring Fine Estates Auction. According to owner Thomas Schwenke, “this will be one of our strongest sales to date, and we are happy to be offering the wonderful American folk art collection of Arnold and Sheila Aronson - 150 lots of carefully selected American Folk Art examples comprising painted furniture, artwork, whirligigs, quilts, weathervanes and accessories.” The Aronson Collection will be auctioned as a special section during the sale, beginning at 12:30 pm.

American Chippendale Chair

One of the prime single lots is very rare cast bronze unawarded production model of the Heisman trophy from the Roman Bronze Works, grouped with an unassembled second model, being offered for the first time having been acquired by the consignor from the late Philip Schiavo, owner of the Roman Bronze Works. Several other bronzes, some from Roman Bronze Works, are also on offer, as well as a Portrait Bust by Elie Nadelman.

Elie Nadelman

Also featured is Andy Warhol’s “Wild Raspberries” a hand colored folio of 18 hand-colored lithographs created in 1959 and signed by Warhol to/for the original purchaser; along with the book “Pre-Pop Warhol”, published by Panache Press of Random House, which was written in part using this folio, and including two letters of thanks from the publisher to the original owner.

The sale also includes property from various estates and consignors from Litchfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York, and the Native American collection of a New York gentleman, including Navajo folk art carvings, New Mexican painted retablos, Hopi, Zuni and Laguna pottery, kachinas, artwork, and baskets.

Other decorative arts lots of interest include a thirteen piece Tiffany “Venetian” pattern desk set including the inkwell, blotter, pen holder, calendar, notepad, letter hold, pen tray, postage scale, stamp box, paper clip are being sold individually and are fresh to market from original owner’s family; a 17^th C. framed, silk trapunto English needlework of Romulus and Remus alongside a lion; and a Kathe Kollwitz, Etching, “Frau Mit Totem Kind”.

Seven distinctive pieces of Indian jewelry, including five Muhgal style 20K gold examples, are offered on behalf of a New York State private collector.

Many fine lots of American and English furniture are being sold as lots 502 to 614. Prime American examples include a Portsmouth inlaid mahogany swell front chest with fan inlays, a circa 1810 Federal tiger and birdseye maple server, most likely New Hampshire, an American Chippendale mirror with phoenix, an inlaid mahogany corner cupboard, a Sheraton figured maple drop leaf work table, and a Philadelphia Chippendale carved mahogany side chair. English featured pieces are a George II concertina card table, a George III mahogany pie crust table, possibly Irish, a signed London bracket clock, a Regency mahogany cellarette, and a pair of Sheraton brass mounted hall chairs.

George III Maghogany Pie Crust Table

This sale also will feature many estate oriental carpets including Persian and Caucasian room and scatter sized rugs, and other regional Asian rugs of varying sizes.

This sale is being held at the firm’s auction hall at 710 Main Street South, Middle Quarter Plaza, in Woodbury. Preview times are Sunday, June 2th from 11am to 4:00 pm; Friday June 7^th from noon to 5 pm; Saturday, June 8th from 10am to 5pm; and Sunday, June 9th from 8am to sale time at 11:00 am, with the Aronson Collection being sold at 12:30 pm.

The catalog for the sale is viewable at www.woodburyauction.comwww.woodburyauction.com. Absentee and phone bidding are available for this live gallery auction, and the sale will be broadcast live through Live Auctioneers.  To register or arrange for absentee or phone bidding, please call Woodbury Auction at 203-266-0323. 

For area information www.litchifeldhills.com

New Canaan CT Nature Center Announces Annual Secret Gardens Tour

The Annual Secret Gardens Tour benefiting the New Canaan Nature Center will take place on Friday, June 8.  The popular tour is a fund-raiser for the New Canaan Nature Center and an opportunity for homeowners, gardeners and anyone who appreciates the beauty of the outdoors to be inspired by several outstanding garden settings.  The self-guided tour takes place between 10:00a.m. – 4:00p.m., allowing attendees to visit the gardens at their own pace and on their own schedule.

Civil War Artifact Appraisal Day at Gunn Museum in Washington, October 15

This year marks the 150 Anniversary of the Civil War and Connecticut is one of many states that have commemorated this important anniversary in our nations history with a vast range of evocative events. The Civil War was perhaps the most trying time in our nation's history, as this war rocked our nation to its very core. It is estimated that 620,000 soldiers perished and every aspect of society was impacted in the north as well as in the south.

Connecticut sent 55,000 men to war; a figure that reflected 12% of Connecticut's total population and for men that were between the ages of 15 and 50, this number reflects 47% of the population, a figure that is unparalleled in Connecticut's history. Connecticut organized 29 regiments and supplied a full third of Union weaponry.

Support for the Union and its War against the South is only one aspect of Connecticut's history, as 40% of the state's population opposed the war and gave tremendous political strength to the Peace Democrats, a group that tried to stop Governor Buckingham from supporting President Lincoln and the war. Understanding the history of the Civil War helps to define Connecticut's past as well as our future. The many events that commemorate the Civil War helps us to understand where we have been, where we are and where we are going.

A special Civil War artifact appraisal day will take place on Saturday October 15 from 12-3pm in the Gunn Museum in the charming town of Washington. The public is invited to bring their Civil War artifacts to be evaluated by Thomas Zanavich, a long-time dealer and the guest curator of the current exhibit. He will answer your questions and verbally appraise items for estimated age and value. Do you have artifact that you suspect might be from the Civil War? It is always interesting and fun to bring in a suspected "treasure" for evaluation by an expert that knows the period and can identify authentic artifacts.

There is no charge for admission or appraisal, but donations are greatly appreciated. Registration is required, call 860-868-7756 to reserve your spot.

The Gunn Museum's exhibit, Letters from the Battlefield: Stories of Washington's Civil War Soldiers, will be open for viewing from 10am-4pm this day. The exhibit ends on October 30th. The Gunn Museum is located at 5 Wykeham Road, at the intersection of Wykeham Road and Route 47, on Washington Green. Call 860-868-7756 or view www.gunnlibrary.org for information.

Sunset/Moonrise Kayak Paddle Around Norwalk Islands Sept. 12

Experienced and novice kayakers are invited to join Friends of the Norwalk Islands for a sunset/moonrise paddle that coincides with the mid-autumn festival on the Chinese calendar. A guided Kayak Paddle to the Norwalk Islands will launch at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, September 12, from The Small Boat Shop dock at 144 Water Street. Children (age 10 and above and weighing at least 100 pounds) are welcome to participate. Water safety and basic paddling techniques will be discussed before the tour to the Norwalk Islands begins.

"If you have never seen the sunset from a kayak or paddled beneath the moon, this trip is for you," says Susan Snider, president, Friends of the Norwalk Islands. "After launching, we'll head down the Norwalk River into Long Island Sound to enjoy the beauty of the Norwalk Islands and the night sky. We'll return to the dock by 8:00 p.m."

The Small Boat Shop is sponsoring several kayak paddles to support the Friends of the Norwalk Islands. The event fee of $85 includes a kayak, paddles, life jacket and $25 donation to Friends of the Norwalk Islands. Reservations are required by calling Friends of the Norwalk Islands (203-849-8341) or The Small Boat Shop (203-854-5223) or visit http://www.TheSmallBoatShop.com/kayaktours2011.html.

Led by Snider, the Friends of the Norwalk Islands has partnered with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to conserve, protect and enhance the environmental, recreational and cultural significance of the Norwalk Islands and to promote the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Norwalk Islands of Chimon, Peach, Goose and Sheffield are part of the Norwalk Islands unit of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. To learn more, visit the web site at www.FriendsoftheNorwalkIslands.org.

Photo Credit: Dick Ramsey

All Ferraris All Day Saturday, July 30 at Lime Rock Park, Litchfield Hills CT

For the first time in five years, the Ferrari Challenge race series is returning to Lime Rock Park in Litchfield Hills Connecticut. The date is Saturday, July 30. The Ferrari Challenge is a six-event/12-race North American racing championship contested by amateur drivers who own either a Ferrari Challenge F458 Italia or Ferrari Challenge F430.

The races at Lime Rock Park are rounds nine and 10 of the 2011 championship. The last time Ferrari Challenge races were held at Lime Rock was 2006.

According to Ferrari North America, the Ferrari Challenge is the longest-running championship of its type: a single-marque sports car racing series. It is designed to allow Ferrari owners to compete with fellow owners on the world's most noted race tracks. The first year of the series was 1993, in Europe; the North American sister series began in 1994.

This year, the series opened at Sears Point in California, followed by Laguna Seca (Calif.), the Canadian F1 Grand Prix (Montreal) and IndyCar Toronto. Lime Rock is next, with the finale at Homestead Miami Speedway in September.

At 184 points, Enzo Potolicchio of Venezuela leads the standings in the "458" division. Two Americans – Cooper MacNeil of Hinsdale, Ill., and San Francisco's Harry Cheung – are just 6 points behind. In the "430" category, Chris Ruud of Wisconsin and Ryan Ockey of Calgary, Canada are tied for the lead with 134 points.

The Ferrari Challenge series is sanctioned by Grand-Am, the NASCAR-owned road racing organizer noted for its Daytona Prototype & GT championship (the series at Lime Rock this past Memorial Day weekend).

Joining the Ferrari Challenge at Lime Rock Park is the popular Shell Ferrari Historics Series; two non-championship races featuring vintage racing Ferraris.

Ferrari Challenge at Lime Rock Park is a one-day spectator event and includes the track's usual amenities, including food concessions, Big Y Kids Club, free parking, kids karting and bounce house, 12 and under free admission and free paddock access. For adults, a full bar is available at "The Pines" café in the Infield. Tickets are $30 in advance and $45 at the gate. Tickets may be purchased online at www.limerock.com or calling 860.435.5000.

64th Annual House Tour To Feature Historic Litchfield Homes

The 64th Annual Open House Day Tour of Litchfield to benefit the Connecticut Junior Republic (CJR) will be held Saturday, July 9, 2011 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, rain or shine.  Conducted by the Litchfield Aid of CJR, an auxiliary, volunteer organization, the 2011 event features six well-appointed homes and historic buildings, many of which are within walking distance to the center of town and Litchfield's famous historic district.  Additional historic points of interest are also included in the Tour.  The 2011 event celebrates the Centennial of the Litchfield Aid which was established in 1911,for the sole purpose of supporting the Connecticut Junior Republic.

One of the oldest events of its kind in the country, the self-guided, walking tour begins at the Information Booth on the Litchfield Green.  Ticket sales, information and the "lost and found" will be located here.

A Preview Tour will be offered the evening of Friday, July 8, from 5:30 - 7:30 PM, followed by a cocktail reception from 7:00 - 9:30 PM in a magnificent private garden located in the heart of Litchfield's historic district.  This year's party will be catered by the The Pantry of Washington Depot.  Tickets are $90 per person and attendance is limited.  Highlights of the 2011 tour are as follows:

The Farmer's House



Built in 1840, this house was purchased by Joseph W. Goddard in 1883, when developing his estate.  The house was used initially by the Goddards' farmer, and as a caretaker's cottage by subsequent owners of the estate.  The house fell into a state of disrepair before it was rebuilt and renovated by subsequent owners.  Set on 3.7 acres, this home features beautiful landscaping, a family room with radiant floor tiles and many other modern conveniences, while retaining the charm and traditional aesthetics of the 1800's.

The Thompson - Di Giorgio House

Designed in 1935 by architect Albert Hopkins Pierce (1899-1974), this home was built for Walter C. Thompson, a former chief executive of the Torrington Company, and his wife, Margaret.  The home is representative of the high-quality estates built in Litchfield during the first three decades of the Twentieth Century, and the structure ranks as one of the significant Colonial Revival residences on the south side of the Borough.  Set on four acres, the home's original features and lovely grounds have been painstakingly maintained and restored by the current owners.  This gracious residence features five working fireplaces and epitomizes the elegance and superb detailing for which the academic Colonial Revival style is noted.  Notable highlights include 83 original doors and windows and more than 1,600 triple-glazed window panes; a concealed rear elevator that runs from the basement to the second floor; mature landscaping that includes orchards, gardens, meadows and extensive stonework; and a spacious entry hall featuring a gracious turned staircase.

MacLaren Walcott House

Built in 1894 by William and Louisa MacLaren on land formerly owned by dairy farmer Ratchford Starr, this property features a carriage house that has been remodeled as a guest house.  The original barn belonging to the property is now a residence on Meadow Street.  The Wolcott Street residence transitions from Victorian to Colonial Revival and was a seasonal country house with many guest rooms for the MacLarens.  The complex rooflines and the use of the clapboards on the first floor and shingles on the second floor are late Victorian, but the symmetry of the north façade and the Palladian window in the gable end typify Colonial Revival.  Features include a pineapple doorknocker on the central entrance door, a symbol of hospitality; French doors from the living and dining room to the porch; and fireplaces in the living room, dining room and library.

The Peacocke House

 

Built in 1868 by John and Mary Peacocke, this gracious Victorian home remained in the Peacocke family until 1920.  The current owners reconstructed the two-story front porch that was removed during the Colonial Revival period.  Extensive renovations include the addition of a family room to the rear of the house, featuring a brick floor, fireplace, beamed ceilings, skylights and French doors to the bluestone patio.  A side breakfast room was also added and the kitchen was completely renovated to include stainless steel appliances, glass-paned cabinetry, stone countertops and raised relief tiled backsplash.  The original servants' staircase remains.  Highlights include the coffered ceiling, corner china cabinets, plate rail and leaded glass windows, which accentuate the elegance of the dining room.

The Joshua Mason House

Built in 1800 by Joshua Mason, this Colonial farmhouse is set on spacious grounds, simply and beautifully landscaped.  The deed to the land dates to the "Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the Second of Great Britain."  Said to have been a sheep farm, the original house became a summer cottage known as the Palmer House until 1960, when it became home to a young family.  At some point in its history, small rooms were combined to create larger rooms but the fireplaces with new surrounds and some original floors remain.

The present owners made structural upgrades, expanded the kitchen, moved a garage building and opened the grounds to more expansive views of the gardens, apple trees and the new saltwater swimming pool.  Highlights include the stunning, enlarged kitchen and the "birthing room" with unusually wide floor boards.

French doors lead to an old patio with a pergola facing the original perennial bed and to two new patios in the back with views of the pool.  The old barn has been rehabilitated and contains a guest room/in-law apartment.  A breezeway connects the newly located garage to the house in the manner of old farmhouses with attached "out buildings."

Phineas Miner's Law Office
 

Built in 1820 in the Greek Revival Style, this tidy building at 35 South Street was the law office of Attorney Phineas Minor.  It is one of five such buildings in Litchfield intended for commercial use and was later occupied by Silas N. Bronson, who enlarged it for use as the Bronson Family Store.  The sale of the property in 1905 resulted in its purchase by a civic-minded group that has owned and lovingly maintained it for more than a hundred years.

The façade owes its elegance and symmetry to the influence of the ancient Green temples and their imposing columned exteriors.  Its fluted square posts, tall front door, and very large windows topped by an expressed frieze board, are all typical Greek Revival features.  In the 1930's, an exterior building was moved and attached to the house for use as a kitchen and a fireplace was added to the first floor.  A 1930's interior redecoration, which covered the original stained oak trim with harsh green paint, was modified in 2006 to create a softer, lighter appearance.

Preview Party – Oliver Wolcott, Sr. House
The Preview Party will be held in the beautiful gardens of the Oliver Wolcott, Sr. House, located in the heart of Litchfield's Historic District.  This classic post and beam, center chimney Colonial house was built in 1754, by Oliver Wolcott, Sr., on land bequeathed to him by his father, Roger, who was Colonial High Sheriff of Litchfield, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Governor of the state of Connecticut from 1796 until his death in 1797.  The earliest extant Georgian house in the area, the home has many historic features as well as an orchard where the women and children of Litchfield gathered to melt down a statue of George III, to make bullets for use against the British in the Revolutionary War.  Please note: The Oliver Wolcott, Sr. House property is the site of the Preview Party only and not part of the Saturday House Tour.

2011 marks the 100th anniversary of the Litchfield Aid of CJR, which was founded in 1911 by twelve Litchfield women for the sole purpose of supporting the Connecticut Junior Republic.  In celebration of its 100th year, the Aid is featuring an exhibit of clothing from the early Twentieth Century at the Oliver Wolcott Library.  The clothing exhibit will feature attire from the era of the Aid's founding in 1911.

In addition to the clothing exhibit at the Oliver Wolcott Library, points of interest on the 2011 Tour include the churches of Litchfield and Lourdes of Litchfield, a shrine built in 1954 by the Montfort Missionaries as a replica of the famous Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.  The Litchfield History Museum and the Tapping Reeve House and Law School, recognized as the first law school in America, will also be included in the admission price of the Tour.  The History Museum will feature an exhibition, Goods for Sale!  Cash, Credit and Trade in Litchfield 1790 – 1850, which will focus on Litchfield's economic history during the first half of the nineteenth century.

 General Information About The Litchfield House Tour
Advance tickets are non-refundable and may be obtained for $30.00 by contacting the Litchfield Aid of CJR, P.O. Box 214, Litchfield, Connecticut 06759.  Please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your check or money order.  All checks should be made payable to: Litchfield Aid of CJR.  VISA and MasterCard (MC) are also accepted.  Credit card orders should include type of card (VISA or MC), card number, expiration date, name on credit card, billing address and signature.  Please note that debit cards are not accepted.  Orders must be received no later than Friday, June 24.  Requests for tickets after this date will be held for pick-up on the day of the Tour at the ticket booth on the Green.  Advance tickets are also available at KitchenWorks, Murphy's Pharmacy, and Talbots, all located in the center of Litchfield.  Tickets for both the Saturday Tour and Preview Tour and Party may also be purchased on-line: www.litchfieldct.com/cjr/tour.html. Tickets will be sold on the Green on the day of the tour for $35.00 each for adults and children.  (No charge for infants.) General information about the Open House Tour may be obtained by contacting the Connecticut Junior Republic at (860) 567-9423 between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM.  A special group rate of $25.00 per person is offered for tour groups that reserve a minimum of 20 tickets by Friday, June 24.

LUNCHEON
Visitors may enjoy lunch at the Connecticut Junior Republic for $7.00 from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  A choice of a seafood salad or smoked turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich plate, including pasta salad, brownie, and iced tea, will be offered.  The luncheon may be viewed on the House Tour website:  www.litchfieldct.com/cjr.tour.html. Students will provide tours of CJR's beautiful rural campus and student crafts will be exhibited and sold.

The Litchfield Aid's popular and unique cookbook will be sold at the luncheon ticket tent on the Litchfield Green for $19.00, including tax.  Each copy of The Cook Book comes with its own handmade gift-wrapping and makes a wonderful "ready-to-give" present for family, friends and professional associates.

Founded in 1904, the Connecticut Junior Republic (CJR) provides care, treatment, education and family support for at-risk, special needs and troubled young people so they can become productive and fulfilled members of their homes, schools and communities.
The Junior Republic conducts a residential program for court-referred young men on its Litchfield campus.  Special, vocational and alternative education programs are provided for boys from communities throughout Connecticut at CJR's Cable Academic and Vocational Education Center, which is also located on its Litchfield campus.  Transition and related services are also provided.
CJR provides a further dimension of residential care for boys at its group homes in East Hartford and Winchester, as well as short-term, residential crisis intervention for girls at its Center for Assessment, Respite and Enrichment (CARE) in Waterbury.  A broad spectrum of prevention, early intervention, family support, and intensive home-based services, and aftercare, are provided for boys and girls through CJR's offices in Danbury, Meriden, New Britain, Torrington and Waterbury (two sites).

A private charitable organization, the Connecticut Junior Republic is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).  CJR is supported by gifts from individuals, businesses and organizations, and through service contracts funded by the Court Support Services Division (CSSD) of the Connecticut Judicial Branch, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), and by Connecticut's public schools.
For further information, or to obtain photos of the 2011 Tour Houses, please contact Hedy Barton, Director of Development and Public Relations (860) 567-9423, extension 252; or by email: hbarton@cjryouth.org.

Woodbury Auction's 2nd Anniversary Antique and Fine Art Auction

Woodbury Auction's 2nd Anniversary Antique and Fine Art Auction has been scheduled for May 21, 2011 at 11 am. This auction will be  in the heart of historic Woodbury, at 670 Main Street South – Sherman Village.

Thomas Schwenke commented that "this space in a centrally located and highly visible location allows us to get the auction set up much more efficiently and also provides maximum exposure for the auction, all to the benefit of our consignors and buyers. Attendees will find ample parking in the commercial mall also occupied by Ovens of France, a charming French bakery, and Zee Burger, the newest culinary offering by noted Woodbury chef Carole Peck.

A beautiful mid-spring ride to Woodbury, called by many the "Antiques Capital" of Connecticut, and situated on the "Connecticut Antiques Trail", will bring attendees to Woodbury Auction LLC's anniversary event, featuring American and European furniture, country Americana, folk art, and decorative and fine art. Premier items in the sale include a pair of Joseph H. Sharp watercolors, a rare New Jersey silvered dial tall clock by Aaron Lane, a stunning Continental crystal chandelier, and a Pennsylvania walnut Queen Anne dressing table descended in the family of William Pinckney, Maryland statesman.

Also offered in this anniversary sale, Woodbury Auction's sixth sale since inception in May of 2009, will be furniture, paintings, country Americana, folk art, porcelain, vintage toys and general collectibles from estates and consignors in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island. Absentee, phone and online bidding (through Live Auctioneers) will be available. Preview will be held from May 18th through the morning of the sale.

"Woodbury Auction is an auction house with well-qualified dealer experts in service to appreciators of not only fine arts and antiques, but of the art of the auction itself," noted Mr. Schwenke, founder of the enterprise. "Connecticut is really at the heart of America's historic property preservation and antiquities interest. Being located on the "Connecticut Antiques Trail", we have real time visitors and clients from all over the country. And since our auctions are also conducted live on the internet we offer the opportunity for fine pieces to change hands on a world wide selling platform."

As owner and proprietor of Thomas Schwenke, Inc. Antiques, one of Woodbury's largest shops, Schwenke is widely regarded as one of the country's top antiques experts having over four decades of experience in the antiques business and boasting a broad established network of dealers, appraisers and collectors.

Feast Of Colorful Quilts Awaits In Norwalk, Connecticut

Those who love the homespun beauty of quilts have a feast in store, as seven local arts and cultural institutions join in a unique collaboration to form the Norwalk Quilt Trail, a series of exhibits from May through mid-November in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

The Quilt Trail spotlights 100 quilts made and collected in Norwalk. Together, the colorful quilts tell the story of the life and the changing fortunes of this area, from the early 1800s to the maritime era in the mid-1850s to 1900s machine age to the present.

The settings for the exhibits also represent many eras, from the Rowayton Historical Society's Pinkney House (c. 1820) to the Stepping Stones Museum for Children, which opened in 2000. The full list includes the Norwalk Historical Society, the Norwalk Museum, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, the Sheffield Island Lighthouse, and the SoNo Switch Tower Museum. Related exhibits will be presented at City Hall and local libraries. Each exhibit has a story to tell.

A VARIETY OF THEMES

A Common Thread: Family History Told through Quilting at the Rowayton Historical Society illustrates how quilts chronicled family life, telling stories of family love, loss and community in embroidered, patchwork and appliqué quilts, including a signature quilt from one of Norwalk's oldest families, the Raymonds.  The influences introduced during the boom years of Norwalk's oystering and shipping trade can be seen in a nineteenth century red and white Hawaiian quilt. Two nineteenth century ribbon quilts made from hatbands, ribbons and clothing tags manufactured in the factories of Norwalk represent the changes wrought by the machine age, while yo-yo quilts from the 1930's show the mood during the period after World War I. (May 15-November 11 www.rowaytonhistoricalsociety.org or 203-831-0136).

The Norwalk Historical Society will show Collected & Cherished: Quilts made and collected in Norwalk featuring quilts made from 1850 to 1950, including log cabin designs in silk, baskets-and-wreath designs in cotton. Of special interest from Norwalk's early seafaring days is the Mariner's Compass quilt designed by a sea captain, Charles Selleck, and pieced by his wife Samantha in 1860. Six of the Society's own rare quilts have been restored, thanks to a grant from the Coby Foundation and Gail Wall. (May 14-October 10. www.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org or 203.846.0525)

The Craze of Crazy Quilts, a display of a style popular in the latter 19th century, is on view in the Music Room of the 1864 Lockwood-Mathews House (May 14-October 16; www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com or 203-838-9799), while Against the Elements: Keeping Warm at the Lighthouse at the Sheffield Lighthouse displays vintage quilts from private collections along with three quilts that are permanently on display in bedrooms in the 10-room 1868 lighthouse to show what life was like for the families of 19th century light keepers. (weekends May 28-June 26,  daily June 27-September 5; www.seaport.org or 203-838-9444).

The charming Quilts Made by Norwalk Children from the 1970s to Today will be on display at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children (June 30-October 10; 203-899-0606 or steppingstonesmuseum.org) while Trains, Planes and Automobiles, featuring quilts with transportation themes showing the impact of transportation technology on American life will be at the SoNo Switch Tower Museum. The museum is housed in the original Signal Station 44, built in 1896 (May 14-October 30; http://www.westctnrhs.org or 203- 246.6958.

More information on the exhibits can be found at www.norwalkquilttrail.org. For information about other nearby events a free color guide to attractions, lodging and dining in Fairfield County, contact the Western Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, www.visitwesternct.com.

 

Fairfield CT - Fairfield Museum and History Center Plans Interactive Graveyard Tour

Will Wake the Dead With an Emphasis on Civil War Anniversary

Fairfield Museum and History Center  will hold an interactive graveyard tour at Fairfield's East Cemetery, located at the end of the Old Post Road in Fairfield, Conn. from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 14th.  According to Museum genealogist Roderick MacKenzie, this tour is particularly important, because 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War and there are 14  Fairfield Civil War veterans buried in the East Cemetery.

"We have been particularly careful to create detailed histories of our various subjects and are involving volunteer actors who really will bring their spirits to life," MacKenzie said. The tour will include authentic portrayals of Fairfield individuals like  Major John Morehouse, lst Cavalry in the Civil War, Christopher Wells, Sr.,  lst rural mail carrier and Civil War veteran, Charles W. Thorpe, in John Morehouse's regiment in Civil War, Captain Hanford Nichols – Civil War veteran, Amelia Sturges, who married J. Pierpont Morgan; John Bunker who lived in the Sun Tavern during the middle 1800s and a War of 1812 veteran; and Revolutionary War veterans, Abel and Aron Turney, whose family lived in the area of the East cemetery.  One served on The Fence, a  Revolutionary War ship; And the other on the Alliance, another war ship.

The cemetery is also the resting place for Edwin Randolph, a slave who lived to be about 100 and worked for the Jennings family in Fairfield and enjoyed going to Long Island Sound for clamming. 

Tour participants will also learn about the history of the cemetery and about the symbols on the gravestones.

The Rain Date for the Cemetery Tour is Saturday, May 21 at 2 p.m.  The cost of the tour is $7, non-members, $5 members and registration is preferred.  For more information, please contact the Museum visitors center at 203-259-1598 or visit the website at www.fairfieldhs.org.

ABOUT THE FAIRFIELD MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER

The Fairfield Museum is located at 370 Beach Road in Fairfield, CT. Hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from Noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free for members, $5 for adults, $3 for students and free for children age 5 and under.  For more information on exhibits and upcoming programs, visit www.fairfieldhs.org or call the Fairfield Museum at 203-259-1598.  The Museum annually hosts more than 18,000 visitors.

New Show at GREGORY JAMES GALLERY in Litchfield Hills CT

The Gregory James Gallery, located at 13 Main Street on New Milford’s historic green, announces its first show of the new season. The show opens Saturday, April 30, and runs through May 29, 2011.

The public is invited to an opening reception, Saturday, April 30, 5-7 pm. The group show will feature prominent regional artists including; Joel Spector, Bill Rice, Thomas Adkins, Christopher Magadini, Alain Picard, Scott Zuckerman, Julie Hopkins, James Coe, and Frank Federico.

Joel Spector was chosen as one of 20 finalists out of 1750 entries in the 2011 International Portrait Competition hosted by the Portrait Society of America. The Woodson Art Museum has named James Coe as its 2011 Master Artist who will be honored during the Museum’s 36th annual Birds in Art exhibition this fall. Frank Federico and Christopher Magadini will be featured in one-man shows later in the year.

The gallery hours are Monday through Saturday 10-5, Sunday 11-4. For more information, please call Gregory James Mullen at 860-354-3436, or visit the website: www.gregoryjamesgallery.com.

Famed Connecticut Chef And Restaurateur Carole Peck Opens Zeeburger In Woodbury CT

Trend-setting chef and noted restaurateur, Carole Peck is opening a casual eatery called Zeeburger, whose hamburger menu will reflect her love of local and farm fresh. Located in the Sherman Village Plaza at 670 Main Street in Woodbury, not far from her acclaimed and award-winning restaurant, Good News Café, Peck, following 18 years of serving high-end cuisine to diners far and wide, and many noted celebrities who have homes in Connecticut, will now turn her eclectic and tasteful art of cooking to a more grounded hamburger, hotdog and shake fare that the whole community can enjoy.

With the influence of her French husband Bernard Jarrier who refers to a hamburger as "Zeeburger," Peck says the proximity of her new eatery close to Good News Café is an ideal situation that she couldn't pass up. "I see a real need in town for a family place where people who are pressed for time can enjoy a burger that's tasty, healthy, and fun, and that's what Zeeburger is all about," Peck says. "Burgers are totally hot again and everyone loves them, so why not engage the community by giving them what they love and support our local and regional farms."

Peck is indeed supporting area and regional farms. She is sourcing meat for the burgers from several organic and grass-fed farms. The milk for Zeeburger's milkshakes and floats will come from Arethusa Farm Dairy in Litchfield, and she's created a maple syrup shake using fresh maple syrup processed in Woodbury.

Zeeburger will offer a moderately priced menu appealing to both meat eaters and vegetarians. The hand-formed organic beef burgers, all served on brioche buns will include: Zee 5 ounce Burger with cheese, Zee Compact Burger, Zee Monster Burger, Zee Juicy Lucy Blue Burger, and Zee Bacon Cheeseburger. For those looking for an alternative to beef, there is: Zee Meat without Feet Salmon Burger, Zee Shroom Burger, Zee Falafel Burger, Zee ground Hot Dog on a pretzel roll and Zee on-going Grilled Cheese with bacon. Burgers and hot dogs all come with different toppings and can be accompanied by Zee hand-cut French Fries and Sweet Potato Fries.

For those who want a lighter, vegetarian fare, Zeeburger offers three types of Zee Green Goods: Caesar Salad, Chopped Salad and Crunchy Kale Salad.
Fresh dairy beverages sure to be a hit among children and adults alike are real and hand-dipped milk shakes and floats that come in either two ounce or 12 ounce sizes with a variety of flavors, including, chocolate, vanilla, malted, coffee, banana, raspberry, mint, hazelnut and maple syrup. Beer and wine will be served for adults.

For more information about Carole Peck, Zeeburger and The Good News Café, visit: www.zeeburger.com, www.good-news-cafe.com. For information on Connecticut's beautiful Litchfield Hills visit www.litchfieldhills.com.