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Box 212 Monroe, CT 06468
Monroe Women's Club Community Impact Grant The Board of Directors of the Monroe Historical Society would like to extend a huge thank you to the Monroe Women's Club for the $10,000 community impact grant awarded to the Society last fall. Without that very generous grant, the mural would remain a Sleeping Beauty in the high school, seen by very few citizens of Monroe. The grant of $10,000 will be given to David Merrill for his restoration of the 52 scene mural painted by the artist at Masuk High School during 1981 and 1982. David will spend eight months restoring the mural and adding an additional 12 to 14 scenes. The move of the mural to the new Edith Wheeler Memorial Library will enable the entire community year round access to it. The mural, depicting historic buildings, farmlands and structures, was recently appraised and insured for $156,000. This art treasure will move from the Masuk library to the new Edith Wheeler Memorial Library during April vacation. David Merrill and Industrial Technology Teacher, Doug Fedorko, will move the mural's masonite panels and repair cracks. The artist, a native of Monroe, gave the mural to the town 25 years ago and feels that it now belongs in the heart of Monroe where more townspeople can view it. The Society will publish in the near future a book about the mural, the historic buildings depicted in it, and a biography of David Merrill. After months of discussion by the Board of Education, they voted in favor of allowing the mural to be moved with the proviso that replacements be made to the mural wall in the Masuk media center. Diane and Neil Mellen of Monroe have donated $6,500 to the Mural Fund and the Edith Wheeler Foundation is donating $3,500 for replacement wallboard on the Masuk wall and the plyboard foundation for the mural on the wall in the new public library. Anyone else who would like to donate to the Mural Fund can send a check to the Monroe Historical Society and designate that the money be placed in the David Merrill Mural Fund. That money will be used for items requested by Superintendent of Schools, Alan Beitman, and the staff at Masuk High School to be installed in place of the mural. They include a Smartboard, an interactive computer sensitive board that a teacher can use with the student computers stationed in front of the mural, and exhibit showcases which will be placed on either side of the smartboard. At one point, before the high school media center was renovated four years ago, a quiet reflective area of tables and chairs were stationed near the mural. Now a large bank of computers anchored to the floor are directly in front of the mural. There are several cracks that have appeared on the mural during the last 25 years. The artist has stated that even if the mural was not moved to the new public library, it would have to come off the Masuk wall, be reattached to a stronger foundation and then completely restored. Save our Stepney Save our Stepney held election of officers at their January meeting. Officers for 2007 are: Joel Leneker, President; Nancy Steinborn, Vice President; Dennis Shanchuk, Treasurer; Kathi Loehr, Recording Secretary; Louise Wishneski, Corresponding Secretary; and Lee Hossler, Membership Chairman. The meeting date was changed to the 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:00 pm at 707 on Main restaurant, on Main Street in Stepney. Invitation to Members Attention: Members - Did you know that Historical Society board meetings are open to the membership? Well, it's true! Members are welcome to attend any of our monthly board meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 1, 7:00 p.m. at the Beardsley House (snow date the following Thursday, March 8). In the spirit of hospitality, we welcome you! Those members wishing to attend, please call Lori at 445-8832 or Nancy at 261-8554. LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS! We are looking for a few high school students who would like to train as interns in the new history room at the library and/or help with hands-on-history programs for children. Those interested, please write in 100 words or less why you would be a good candidate for the position and mail to: Monroe Historical Society, Box 212, Monroe, CT 06468 Trolley Tour DVD is now available! In May, 2006, the Monroe Historical Society, with support from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, sponsored a "Trolley Through Time" ride around Monroe with Monroe town historian and Historical Society board member, Ed Coffey as guide. The event was filmed and a DVD of the event is now available. Did you know that Monroe once had an airport? You did? Did you know that before it was an airport, it was an automobile race track? Did you know that you could buy alcohol on Sunday mornings, on your way into a church service in Monroe? What are the origins of that long-abandoned building foundation at the intersection of routes 111 and 110? What was PT Barnum doing on Stepney Green? And whatever happened to Birdsey Plain School? These and many, many other questions were answered by Monroe's historian, Edward Coffey, as he narrated his way around Monroe on a trolley. The "Trolley Through Time" was sold out weeks in advance. The DVD gives everyone a chance to experience the ride and to learn many new things about Monroe's history. Produced by Video Design Group, the DVD captures that ride around town on video and supports Coffey's narration with additional video footage and still photographs. Some of the photographs came from Coffey's book, "A Glimpse of Old Monroe" which was published in 1972. Video producer Greg Loehr said, "I've watched this video over a dozen times while putting it together, and I am still in awe of Ed Coffey. He can rattle off fact after fact, story after story, about life in Monroe in the 1800s. Simply amazing." For those of you who missed this truly once in a lifetime journey through Old Monroe this past May, do not miss out on the opportunity to view now, in the comfort of your own home, some of the most extraordinary footage of historical sites, a compilation of Monroe then and now. Some of the highlights include: an historical account of both the Monroe and Stepney greens; Duc de Lauzon and the Rochambeau Route; and some of Monroe's oldest cemeteries. Trolley Through Time is a compilation of many of the most important historical sites in Monroe. In this DVD you will learn about the history of some of the oldest homes in town, from saltboxes to Italianate architecture, the old general store and some of Monroe's oldest barns. You will learn about the churches and structures surrounding the Monroe and Stepney greens. Stops include the East Village Schoolhouse and Meetinghouse, both owned and operated by the Historical Society, as well as the privately owned Burr sisters homestead on Elm Street, cherished artists from Monroe's past. This DVD is a great gift for anyone who loves local history and wants to know more about Monroe. DVDs are $20.00 each and are available for sale at the Town Clerk's office and in the History Room at the new Public Library. You may also call 261-8554 or 268-5511. Purchase your copy today and help support the Monroe Historical Society who rely so much on member support. History Room in the new Library On March 5, the new Edith Wheeler Memorial Library will officially open and the Monroe Historical Society will have their own room. We will finally have a place to do some serious work on our collection of photographs and papers (letters, diaries, etc). Located at the rear of the building, we have two beautiful windows and plenty of wall space to use for display of our collection of Burr paintings. We also have an interior window that overlooks the main part of the library. This window has a counter behind it so that we can mount exhibitions that will be visible to the library patrons even when the history room is closed. The room will be open when a member of the Society is there to assist library patrons. Please call Nancy (261-8554) or Judy (268-5511) if you are willing to volunteer to work in the library. There will be lots to do while you're there! Email Alerts! Please send us your email address if you would like to be on our email notice list. We'll let you know about upcoming programs, send you reminders about sale dates (barn sale, textile sale, Christmas sale), let you know the dates of our Hands-on-History program, and let you know when we are going to have work parties at our properties. Email standerford@aol.com and let us know what activities you would like to be alerted about. Get to know your Board Members! We thought you might like to know more about the Monroe Historical Society board members. We are including some of their bios (in no particular order) with this newsletter and will have more for you at a later time. Elma Jean Beardsley Wiacek has served as curator and has been on the Monroe Historical Society's Board of Directors since her retirement in 1985 from Southern Connecticut State University's Buley Library, where she served as head of technical services and acquisitions. Elma Jean was born at home (now the home of Tom and Linda Taylor) and was baptized at the East Village Meetinghouse by Rev. Arthur J. Smith. She was also married at the Meetinghouse. Photos of her, as well as other brides married there, are currently on display. Ms. Wiacek attended school in the one-room East Village, Center and Cutler's Farm schoolhouses between the late 1920s and early 1930s. She attended 8th grade at Monroe Elementary School and was in the first graduating class of 1936. Elma Jean was on the planning committee for the 70th anniversary celebration of Monroe Elementary School for the Old Timers, or early graduates. She also helped the children of Monroe Elementary learn what it was like to make the transition from a one-room schoolhouse to a school with central heating and flush toilets. Elma Jean is a relative of the Beardsleys, from the Beardsley House, but her favorite Society building is the Meetinghouse. She said it still feels like her house and her church. She was pleased that a new propane furnace was recently installed there and that the Society was able to make the building available for two memorial services this past January for Evelyn Janet Stevens Bulkeley and Dwain Randall. from the Beardsley House, but her favorite Society building is the Meetinghouse. She said it still feels like her house and her church. She was pleased that a new propane furnace was recently installed there and that the Society was able to make the building available for two memorial services this past January for Evelyn Janet Stevens Bulkeley and Dwain Randall. Board member Doreen Hoyt grew up in Trumbull and moved to Monroe 32 years ago. Her two sons attended school in Monroe; one son now lives in Newtown and the other resides in Maine. Three years ago Doreen retired from the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services, where she had been a nursing supervisor. "I love retirement," she told a fellow board member. "I always said that work interfered with my life. Now I have time to spend with my family and to indulge my love for quilting." Mrs. Hoyt has been an avid quilter for many years. She enjoys making quilts for a variety of charities and is a member of the Connecticut Piecemakers Quilt Guild. from the Beardsley House, but her favorite Society building is the Meetinghouse. She said it still feels like her house and her church. She was pleased that a new propane furnace was recently installed there and that the Society was able to make the building available for two memorial services this past January for Evelyn Janet Stevens Bulkeley and Dwain Randall. Lori Anne Guerrera is the newest member to the board. She was born in Pelham, NY, and moved with her parents at a young age to their summer home, which her grandfather built, in Milford. It took her parents a year to winterize and restore the seven bedroom house facing Long Island Sound. Lori is now married and living with her husband in Monroe in a colonial with a farmer's front porch. The Guerreras are remodeling their "young" 1975 colonial in more period style. Lori's hobbies include collecting antiques, singing and reading. She is a freelance writer and a stay-at-home mom to her one-year-old son, Andrew. Lori assists the Historical Society with their newsletter and has written several articles for the Society and local newspapers, including an article about the Burr sisters and the East Village Schoolhouse. Lori is privileged to have come from such fine ancestry. Her paternal grandmother lost her parents when she was a young girl and was raised by nuns in a monastery in Italy. Her paternal grandfather was a well-respected tailor in New York who fashioned clothes for Hollywood stars such as Edward G. Robinson, George Arliss and Ken Maynard. On her mother's side, Lori's grandfather traveled on a boat from Italy in 1920 at the young age of 15, leaving his family behind to seek a better life in America. There is also an Italian count on her grandfather's side who, legend has it, gambled away his castle in a card game. Most notably, however, is her grandmother's father who was a famous sculptor in Rome. Giacomo Policastro was known for his work throughout cathedrals in Italy. He died most tragically one day, falling from a ladder to his death. Within a year, his wife followed him. Some say she died from a broken heart. Of all the buildings the Historical Society currently owns, the Meetinghouse is Lori's favorite. "I think of it like my own home, a historic White Lady sitting there majestic and proud." Board Member Christine Ehlers moved with her husband upon his job transfer to Monroe in 1968. Their two children are graduates of Fawn Hollow, Chalk Hill and Masuk High School. The Ehlers's daughter and her family live in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Their son and his family reside in nearby Maplewood, New Jersey. The Ehlers visit their children quite often. Ms. Ehlers has a BA in History from Adelphi University. In addition to being a stay-at-home mom while her children were young, Christine substituted in the Monroe school system and was also a Banking Officer at Citytrust. She is current treasurer of the Historical Society, assisting as well in the Society's many activities, including the Schoolhouse program and Hands On History. Chris is an active member of the American Association of University Women, serving as a member of their finance board and publicity committee. Chris is also a member of the Friends of the Monroe Library. Of all the buildings which the Historical Society currently owns and maintains, Chris's favorite is the East Village Schoolhouse built in 1790. "It is a true living museum where children can experience what it was like to go to school in Monroe in bygone years." The classes arrive eager to start the day, many in outfits as their ancestors might have worn. There are no computers at the schoolhouse, only horn books, quill pens, slates, McGuffy's readers and learning tools used over the years. With guidance from the Historical Society, teachers have prepared lessons as predecessors might have over 100 years ago. A day at East Village Schoolhouse offers youngsters insight into life when Monroe was a small farming community and at a time when so many of the conveniences we have now were nonexistent. As Chris once said, "I think it is an experience every child in Monroe should have." Save Our Stepney Cobblestones The Save Our Stepney Task Force is offering for sale Engraved Cobblestones for the walkway around the Stepney Heritage Trail Kiosk on the Stepney Green. A circular walkway surrounds the kiosk into which engraved cobblestones will be placed. Each cobblestone measures 6" x 8" and includes space for three lines of text. They make great personal gifts with your message permanently placed in the circular walkway. Why not honor a family member, a pet or favorite person by purchasing an engraved cobblestone today. To order visit www.stepneyct.org and download an order form, call Joan at 203-400-0922, or email soscobblestones@yahoo.com. Christmas Fair Thank you to everyone who helped in any way with the Christmas Fair. This year was our best ever and it's all because of the many donations of time, talent and goods that we received. We had so much "stuff" that we added extra hours during the week. Another reason for the weekday hours was to give children who had visited the Old Schoolhouse an opportunity to bring their parents.. Special thanks go to the Masuk Band and Chorus Interact Service Club and to Rachel Wolfe who coordinated the large number of student volunteers who helped us price and organize before the sale and came during the sale to help with just about anything and everything. As they have been in the past, vintage ornaments were our most popular items. Please keep us in mind when you have Christmas ornaments, decorations or collectibles to give away. Total sales were over $4,000 this year. All proceeds from the sale will go to the maintenance of our three buildings. |
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