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Monroe Historical Society Box 212 Monroe, CT 06468 Home Table of Contents Calendar Newsletter Archives Membership Information Properties Hands-on- History September, 2000, Newsletter David Merrill Open House      In a section of the Masuk High School Library, David Merrill has painted a mural that students have enjoyed for years, but many people in the area have not seen. David had done a mural in Southbury and felt he wanted to do something in his home town, Monroe. He worked at the school from September 1981 to November 1982 on a wall that depicts scenes of Monroe past and present. High school students who saw the artist at work have come back to see the completed mural after they graduated.      David Merrills efforts at that time were supported by the Monroe Historical Society, the Womens Club and local churches. A painting donated by the artist was raffled by the Historical Society, which helped finance the project.      The Monroe Historical Society is offering its members and friends a special time at Masuk High School on Sunday, October 15th. From one p.m. to four p.m. the library will be open for people to view the mural. Privately owned art work by Merrill will also be displayed.      Everyone looks forward to cool, crisp October, with the vibrant colors that our area is famous for. If you cant take a trip to northern New England, take a ride around Monroe to see our trees at their brilliant best and stop by Masuk on October 15. . David Merrill Limited Edition Print      Nineteen eighty-one was not the first time David Merrill was there to help the town of Monroe. In 1972, the old Town Hall, Library and Annex were about to be replaced by the present Town Hall complex. As the story goes, Jean Loveland, a long time Historical Society Member, called David Merrill in Maine, where he was living at the time, and begged him to come and paint a picture of these historic buildings. Monroe town officials commissioned him to do the painting. He worked twelve hours per day, six days a week to finish in one month, before the wrecking ball. He says he had lots of energy then!      The painting, displayed prominently in the Town Hall, will be reproduced in a limited edition of 500 prints which will be sold by the Historical Society at Masuk High School on October 15. Ken and Barbara Waite made the arrangements for the print and will be selling it for the Historical Society. The close association between David and the Society is continuing, and he will autograph the prints sold on this special day.      Our home town artist appreciates the work done by the Historical Society which has limited means and three buildings to maintain. A group of dedicated people will be glad to welcome you on this special day. At left is a picture of the painting that is being offered as a limited edition of 500 prints. The painting was done in 1972 by local artist, David Merrill. It is currently on display in the lobby of the Town Hall Schoolhouse Visits      With the start of a new school year, we are anticipating many class visits to the 1790 East Village-Barn Hill Schoolhouse on Wheeler Road. Each class is met by a greeter who welcomes them to the Old Schoolhouse and gives a brief introduction to the building and to education in the colonial era.      Please call Nancy Zorena at 261-8554 if you would like to volunteer as a schoolhouse greeter. All the historical information you need is available at the schoolhouse. Christmas FairDo your share Mailbox Decorations       Lets get an early start this year on Tuesday, September 26, at 10 a.m. We will assemble bows and pinecones at Millie Ohms house. Coffee will be provided! Call Millie at 268-0058 to let her know that you will be there.       Helpers will be needed November 16 and 17, 9:30 a.m. at the Beardsley Barn to assemble the mailbox covers. Please give us at least three hours. Depending on the number of helpers, we may need an additional work session or two between November 18 and 30. These decorations have proven to be one of our best sellers year after year. It is important that we have as many as possible for sale. Craft and Chat Help us prepare our Made in Monroe items. No experience is necessary. Tentative dates for these work sessions are:           Wednesday, October 11morning and/or afternoon.           Tuesday, October 17morning and/or afternoon. If these dates/times are not convenient, but you would still like to help, call Millie. Some easy projects can be done on your own. We will give you the materials and instructions. St. Peters Fair      On September 9 and 10 we participated in the St. Peters Crafts Fair on the Green. We especially want to thank St. Peters for donating a space for our booth. We sold over $1,000 in Monroe Historical Society collectibles, books, prints and coverlets. Thank you to the following people for helping to set up, take down, and man the booth.: Barbara Waite, Bob Gondar, Rita and John Sparano, Joan Marr, Pat Rychlik, Millie Ohm, Carolyn and Myron Adelman, Nancy Zorena, Mary Forbes and Judy Standerford. Monroe Womens Club Crafts Fair< November 11       We are looking for workers to man the booth at the Monroe Womens Club Crafts Fair November 11 at Masuk High School. Call Rita Sparano at 261-8897 if you can work for a few hours. As all those who worked last weekend will tell you, this is a great way to volunteer. You get to talk to friends, see all the craft show has to offer, and help out the Historical Society. This work is easy and fun. Highlights of our Upcoming Annual Christmas Fair December 11 p.m. to 8 p.m. December 29 a.m. to 4 p.m. December 312 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Christmas Fair will feature ornaments, gifts and collectibles, baked goods (including English muffin bread and jams and jellies), evergreen mailbox decorations, wooden collectibles of the Old Schoolhouse and the East Village Meetinghouse by Mariann Hudak of Primrose Path in Stratford, Nanas Attic and much more. Christmas Fair Help Wanted! We need help for the Christmas Fair. Please call 268-5511 (Judy Standerford) or 261-8897 (Rita Sparano) if you can do any of the following:      1. Help set up. This includes pricing items for sale and displaying them in the schoolhouse.      2. Work on the days of the Fair. Call Rita Sparano at 261-8897 to arrange a time.      3. Clean up after the Fair. This year we will be doing this on Monday afternoon. Help us box the left over items and straighten up the Schoolhouse so it will be ready for student visitors.      4. Help with workshops. Call Millie Ohm (268-0558) for details.      5. Donate handmade items and baked goods for sale. These may be dropped off at the Schoolhouse on Friday morning, December 1, between 10 and 12.       6. Donate gently used treasures such as linens, glass, metal and wooden ware, and old ornaments for Nanas Attic. Excerpts from Fanny Burrs Diary The following diary entries were made in September, 1894 by Fanny Burr. 14. Rainy  I wrote to Mr. Hartshorn. I went down to the box on the bicycle with Mr. Hartshorns letter. Did house work. I studied wall paper designing  in the afternoon I began a sketch of oak and chestnut trees in N.W. country. . . Mr. Lutz is home on his vacation so the church was closed. I studied S(unday) S(chool). lessons to teach and illustrated almost all day. I find it makes ones perceptions of truths clearer to try to teach them. . HOT. . .Tired. . . Did house work . . and worked on Js portrait in the forenoon. . In the P.M. I took a nap and waited for the sun to come out so I could work in N.W. country but it didnt come out enough . . A man came round and wanted to trade horses. Papa went to Stepney with a load of applies. Mr. Mallett called to get a begonia. . . 18. Cloudy and rainy.  day sort of a (failure)  I felt very tired, fussed round the house, went to the post office in the P. M. Papa ordered a 2- seated wagon from the Elkhart Co., price $41.71. In the evening J. and I commenced Blithdale Romance GOOD. 15. Rained hard most of the day and night. One of those indigo days  Why will some people insist upon making everybody else miserable whenever they dont happen to feel quite as well as usually. . Tired. . . 23. Sunday  Church closed. I worked on S. S. lesson illustration  a tough one, review of the quarter. HOT 24. The day so far as I was concerned, seemed mostly wasted  didnt feel very well. Theres one consolation however, I might have made matters worse by working. . .Lena came down for advice about a rug she is making for the fair. Papa picked a lot of fruit for the grange show at the fair . . . . 25. COLD . . .In the forenoon we canned a case of strawberry tomatoes, then I went up to Lenas and put some gold dots on the border of a rug she is making for the fair. In the afternoon I went over to church and put the review illustration on the board. Also wrote a note to Mr. Lutz explaining the illustration. . .I called on Elma and left the tracing of a design for her to put on the board for Oct. 7th.

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