the P e ille P e
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On Wednesday, September 22, 2010, the Mystic River Historical Society presents a new sea- son of a monthly programs focusing on topics of historic interest. The first program features Arthur Liverant speaking on antique childrens chairs. Liverant will have a number of chairs on display, including a chair built in 1720. Liverant is the third generation owner of Nathan Liverant and Sons Antiques in Colchester, Connecticut. For 90 years, his company has specialized in the best Americana available, focusing on pieces of furniture and decorative arts from Connecticut and New England made before 1840. Liverant has been surrounded by antiques his entire life. He began his career as an apprentice when he was a child, folding packing blankets, polishing brass and loading boxes. Family dinners at the Liverant household were spiked with enthu- siastic discussions about the new discoveries that his grandfather, Nathan, or his father, Zeke had found. Today, Arthur and continues to search out the best examples of Americana - with a particular interest in children’s chairs. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Mystic Congregational Church Parish Hall and is followed by a question & answer period and refreshments. It is free and open to the public. For more information, call MRHS at (860) 536-4779, or email [email protected]. www.mystichistory.org • vol. xxxvii, issue i • september 2010 t h e P o rtersville Press William and Mary child's size ladderback mushroom arm- chair. New England, probably Coastal Connecticut or Southeastern Massachusetts, 1740-1765. www.liverantantiques.com The Mystic River Historical Society travelers will depart October 4th for a four-day trip to Montreal and New York State. We will head north across Vermont to Lake Champlain, cross the lake by ferry from Burlington, and spend our first two nights in Old Montreal. We will spend a day touring Montreal by motor coach and foot with time to explore and shop on your own. The next day we head south to Saratoga Springs by way of Fort Ticonderoga. Our last day we visit the house of painter Thomas Cole in Catskill before continuing to Storm King and on to West Point. We expect the leaves to be beautiful in the far north – we hope we are correct! If you missed a notice and would like to join us we may still be able to fit in one or two people more. Let Joyce Everett know immediately (860-536-6339) if you would like to come and have your passport ready! Fall Foliage Roadtrip toVermont, Montréal , New York - Joyce Everett Autumn evening view of Vieux-Montréal and the Bonsecours Market building. There’s a new book in town - sneak peek inside on p. 3! In September ~ How to Keep Children Seated for 250 Years
Transcript of the P e ille P e
On Wednesday, September 22, 2010, the Mystic River Historical Society presents a new sea-son of a monthly programs focusing on topics of historic interest. The first program featuresArthur Liverant speaking on antique childrens chairs. Liverant will have a number of chairson display, including a chair built in 1720.
Liverant is the third generation owner of Nathan Liverant and Sons Antiques inColchester, Connecticut. For 90 years, his company has specialized in the best Americanaavailable, focusing on pieces of furniture and decorative arts from Connecticut and NewEngland made before 1840. Liverant has been surrounded by antiques his entire life. Hebegan his career as an apprentice when he was a child, folding packing blankets, polishingbrass and loading boxes. Family dinners at the Liverant household were spiked with enthu-siastic discussions about the new discoveries that his grandfather, Nathan, or his father, Zekehad found. Today, Arthur and continues to search out the best examples of Americana - witha particular interest in children’s chairs.
The program begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Mystic Congregational Church Parish Hall and isfollowed by a question & answer period and refreshments. It is free and open to the public.For more information, call MRHS at (860) 536-4779, or email [email protected].
www.mystichistory.org • vol. xxxvii, issue i • september 2010
the
Portersville Press
William and Mary child's sizeladderback mushroom arm-chair. New England, probablyCoastal Connecticut orSoutheastern Massachusetts,1740-1765.
www.liverantantiques.com
The Mystic River Historical Society travelers will departOctober 4th for a four-day trip to Montreal and New YorkState. We will head north across Vermont to LakeChamplain, cross the lake by ferry from Burlington, andspend our first two nights in Old Montreal. We will spend aday touring Montreal by motor coach and foot with time toexplore and shop on your own. The next day we head southto Saratoga Springs by way of Fort Ticonderoga. Our lastday we visit the house of painter Thomas Cole in Catskillbefore continuing to Storm King and on to West Point. Weexpect the leaves to be beautiful in the far north – we hopewe are correct!If you missed a notice and would like to join us we may stillbe able to fit in one or two people more. Let Joyce Everettknow immediately (860-536-6339) if you would like to comeand have your passport ready!
Fall Foliage Roadtrip toVermont, Montréal, NewYork - Joyce Everett
Autumn evening view of Vieux-Montréal and the Bonsecours Market building.
There’s a new book in town - sneak peek inside on p. 3!
In September ~ How to Keep Children Seated for 250 Years
2
As I typically do during my one-hour commute toHartford, this particular morning in late August I was lis-tening to the Bob Edwards Show (who I rank as one of thetop two or three interviewers of all time). His interviewguest was Mary Walton, a journalist whose newest book, AWomen’s Crusade: Alice Paul and the Battle for the Ballot,details the final efforts to win the right to vote for women,a hard-fought battle that is hardly remembered today. Infact, I’d bet a fair amount of money that most people arenot even aware that women achieved the right only 90years ago or that the tactics employed by the suffragists, ledby Alice Paul, included demonstrations, rallies, parades,hunger strikes and picketing the White House (some chain-ing themselves to the fence—remember, Woodrow Wilsonopposed national suffrage until 1918!). How many areaware that many of the protesting women were arrested,force fed and brutalized? Few, if any, I imagine.
I’m sure that I’m not the only person struck by the factthat less than 100 years ago, our great progressive democra-cy still denied one-half its population a right we view todayas fundamental. A president, respected as one of the greatproselytizers of democratic principles, didn’t support theextension of the right to women until he finally viewed itas necessary in light of the war effort. 36 states wererequired for ratification, and the 36th, Tennessee, only didso on the strength of a single vote. (Our “great” state ofConnecticut didn’t vote to ratify until it no longer mat-tered—in other words, after Tennessee).
For the past year, I’ve used this column, in part, as anexhortation to remember the past, not so much because ofSantayana’s warning that a failure to do so condemns us torepeat it, but more for the connections and illumination itprovides in understanding the present. However, recentevents are certainly a reminder that ignorance and intoler-ance flourish when we don’t make the effort to understandthe past and fail to recognize that it was not so long ago andnot so many generations removed when western societieswere, by modern lights, grossly intolerant.
from the PReSIdeNt’S deSK
Jim Kimenker
Mystic River Historical Society Mission StatementThe Society exists to collect, arrange, exhibit and preserve records, papers, photographs, artifacts, relics and related archival materialsthat document the history of the people who lived in the area around the Mystic River from the first settlement in 1654 to the present.
•Officers: President - Jim Kimenker • Vice President - John Porter
Treasurer - Bill Everett • Corresponding Secretary - Kay Janney • Recording Secretary - Cathy Marco •
The Newsletter of the Mystic River Historical Society is published monthly September through May with a combined issue forNovember and December by the Mystic River Historical Society • Box 245 Mystic, CT 06355
Issues of the newsletter are available for online viewing at www.mystichistory.org
Lest we forget, it was barely 150 years ago that we actu-ally fought a massively destructive civil war to end slavery.And, only 100 years before that saw construction of thefirst Jewish synagogue in the British American colonies inNewport, Rhode Island, not so far from here—it remainstoday as both a museum open to the public and a continu-ing house of worship, a symbol of toleration in what wasat the time a religiously intolerant New England.
Gender, race, and religion. Matters of toleration (or thelack thereof) still manage to intrude in our public lifetoday, whether over Title IX and gender equality in theworkplace, continuing racial divides in everything fromhealth care to academic achievement, or the location of ahouse of worship.
There is an old aphorism that “past is prologue”.Mary Walton’s new book reminds us that the intoleranceof our past is not so very far away and any smugness on ourpart of our advanced principles could be construed asunenlightened hypocrisy. I certainly hope that we’re notproving ourselves living examples that Santayana was right.
A vintage postcard of the Touro Synagogue in Newport, RI
“To bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance”
- President George Washington in a reply letter to Moses Seixas
of the Touro Synagogue in 1790 a year before the Bill of Rights was ratified
For more information, see www.tourosynagogue.org
3
Black & white miniature samples of the illustrations pale in comparison to the lush pieces includedin the 9” x 12” book. Featured here from top to bottom: Clydes Cider Mill, MRHS’ own PortersvilleAcademy, and, of course, the drawbridge and stately Sabino. The front page features Captain’s Row.
It was a busy summer at the Downes Building withresearchers visiting, new items arriving, and work continuingon our existing collections.
In June we participated in an assessment program spon-sored by the Connecticut State Library. An archivist visitedus and conducted a pretty extensive survey. I just receivedher final report, which was quite complimentary. Here’s aquote: “The Mystic River Historical Society has a great col-lection that is well-cared for in a climate controlled, securebuilding . . . Overall, the staff of the Mystic River HistoricalSociety is doing an excellent job with their collections, partic-ularly given their time and budgetary constraints . . . Staffshould continue their good work in arranging and catalogingthe collections.”
What We Did This Summer: the downes Building Report- Dorrie Hanna
Wait until you can see it in color! This October, theMystic River Historical Society isproud to present a new paper-back celebration of Mysticillustrated and designed byAshley Halsey.
Nineteen of Ms. Halsey’soriginal watercolors will gracethe pages of the new book whichis due to launch with a signing atthe Mystic Arts Center onOctober 27th, and will be avail-able at the Mystic Noank Libraryand sold at Bank Square Books and the Mystic River HistoricalSociety for $14.95. Stay tuned for more information....
Colors of Mystic ~ toLaunch Just in time for Fall
There’s a copy of the report on the desk at the DownesBuilding if you’d like to read more. We owe a big pat on theback to our staff and volunteers. Thank you, as always, foryour efforts.
In August Lou Allyn and I attended a workshop on disas-ter planning. The presentation was excellent, and thoughtprovoking. MRHS is now participating in an on-lineDisaster Plan provided by the Northeast DocumentConservation Center. We have until January to enter all therequisite information. Because the plan is “on-line” it will beavailable to any of us in the event (God forbid) of an emer-gency, and we can easily update it so that all the informationis current and correct.
4
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The Board of Trustees of the Mystic River Historical Societymet on Monday, May 17, 2010. Board Members andCommittee Chairmen present were Cindy Allyn, David Evans,Bill Everett, Joyce Everett, Sally Halsey, Kay Janney, CathyMarco, Bettye Noyes, Betty O’Donnell, Jane Preston, JohnPorter, Stephanie Thorp, Kit Werner and guests, Aimee Allaireand Lou Allyn.
Vice President John Porter called the meeting to order andpassed Carol Kimball’s birthday card for signing. Lou Allynwas then invited to address the board on his proposal:
Background: Currently our membership records are kepton a Microsoft Access database maintained by Barry Thorpon his personal computer. The Membership Committeeuses a copy of this database to produce merge mailings andreports. These processes would be simplified if the databasewas converted to the Contact module in our PastPerfectmuseum software. This would also eliminate reliance on vol-unteers with Access software & specialized computer skills.
Since an upgrade to PastPerfect Version 5 is now avail-able, Lou recommended that a project team be established toinstall the new version and to develop the procedures andtraining to switch from Microsoft Access to Contact.Additionally, the team will determine the feasibility of estab-lishing remote access to PastPerfect so qualified individualscan work from home.
The Curatorial Committee and IT Committee havereviewed and approved the newest upgrade to Past PerfectVersion 5 ($300). The project would also need a new laserprinter ($200) and staff training ($400). Lou recommendedthat MRHS apply for a $900 grant to the Allyn Foundationfor these monies.
Motion: A motion was made and seconded to submitpaperwork for a Charles B.Allyn Foundation grant for $900to cover the cost for the PastPerfect upgrade, a laser printerand training. A motion was also made to approve $300 topurchase the upgrade now so that Lou can begin the project.
Discussion: Issues raised by the board were to make surethe Corresponding Secretary had membership informationin Excel, to make sure that the system does work outside thehistorical society building and "from home", and to makesure that the entry process for membership information isnot cumbersome or difficult. This will be reviewed by Louand the project team. Considering all issues are met with sat-isfaction, the board unanimously passed on the motion.
May Meeting Minutes - Kit Werner, Recording Secretary pro tem
Treasurers Report (Bill Everett): Bill reported that the bal-ance sheet and profit & loss statement had been distributedto all via email, monies have been put into the postal bulkmail account, and the Spring Trip was very profitable. Healso noted that membership income was down comparedwith last year and comment is welcome.
Finance (David Evans): The Finance Committee wants eachcommittee chair to review current P & L for accuracy andnotify Bill or David if anything seems amiss. Quotes for anaudit are being solicited - report at next meeting. Questionby Board member: Are we required to file Form 990-N?(Since 2008, tax-exempt organizations, whose gross receiptsare normally $25,000 or less, were required to submit anannual electronic notice, Form 990-N.) Answer: Yes, LouAllyn has made sure we were in compliance for years.
Corresponding Secretary (Kay Janney): 19 Thank youNotes were sent for gifts and patron & membershiprenewals, and to Joyce Everett for finding a program replace-ment for the April meeting, for organizing & runningAppraisal Day, and for the recent MRHS trip.
STANDING COMMITTEES*Building & Grounds (Alan Greener): It was noted that nomulch had been delivered. John Porter will followup.
Curatorial (submitted by Dorrie Hanna): Virtual is up andrunning and publicity is in progress. Archival Assessmentset for June 4. Lou will speak to Board about a grant appli-cation he is working on for PastPerfect upgrade and otherhardware. Excess used archival boxes were sold to GrotonHistorical Society and Avery-Copp house for $387 total.
Education (No chairman): Some board members spoke ofrecent school visits by Project LEARN - only issue was thatbuses arrived later than scheduled by as much as 25 minutes.
IT Committee (Stephanie Thorp): In May, IT performedmonthly system updates & backup and updated the websiteto reflect current schedule and edition of Portersville Press.In addition, the webmaster installed the first official versionof the Collections Exhibit on the server, and both a linkfrom the MRHS website to the Collections Exhibit and alink from the Collections Exhibit back to the MRHS web-site. All systems are deemed to be in working order. The ITCommittee repeats its recommendation that MRHS identifyfunds for the purchase of Past Perfect Version 5.
Marketing (Sally Halsey): Press releases for Annual MeetingPot Luck and Virtual Exhibit have been sent.
* Unlisted committees had no reports for this session.
The Annual Meeting of the Mystic River Historical Societywas on May 26, 2010.
Tim Evers, chairman of the Nominating Committee,gave the names of those nominated as three-year trustees:David Evans, William Everett, Jim Kimenker, and CathyMarco; and for a one-year, Aimee Allaire (filling the remain-der of Jane Preston’s three-year term, since she moved).There being no other nominations, all those nominatedwere elected unanimously by the MRHS members present(constituting a quorum).
Dorrie Hanna spoke about the upcoming Fall trip(October 4-7) planned by Joyce Everett and passed an inter-est sheet. Lou Allyn showed a sample of the new onlineVirtual Exhibit using PastPerfect. Work on this was a doneby Lou, Louisa, Helen, and Dorrie. Notice of this was sentvia Constant Contact to all who have given us their emailaddresses. To see the exhibit, go to www.mystichistory.orgJane Preston introduced Sarah Melcher, a reenactor of theFrench and Indian War as our guest speaker for the evening.
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MRHS Annual Meeting Notes
BAnk SquARE BOOkSBooks For All Ages • Extensive Children’s
Section • Special Orders Welcome •Greeting Cards and Maps
860-536-3795www.banksquarebooks.com53 W. Main Street, Mystic
HOuRS: MON - SAT 10- 8; SuN 10- 5
Membership (Cynthia Allyn): We are receiving manyrenewals & all members will be listed in theSept. newsletter.
hospitality (Louisa Watrous): Plans are under-way for the Annual Meeting’s May 26 Pot Luck.
Program (Bettye Noyes): Our substituteProgram for the April 28th meeting was rocky - thevideo, "The Battle of Wyoming, PA" and equip-ment didn't want to work. The film discussed alocal connection, Colonel Nathan Denison ofStonington, who was among the Connecticut familieswho migrated west after the War for Independenceand led Connecticut colonists in a violent war betweenPennsylvanian & Connecticut settlers. • On June 10, theProgram committee will discuss plans for speakers and eventsfrom September 2010 - May 2011. • Louisa Watrous,Hospitality Chairman will be added to the ProgramCommittee. The two committees work closely with eachother for every meeting.
Special Events (Joyce Everett): The final accounting for thespring MRHS trip is not yet complete, but it appears to havebeen a success financially as well as a success for the partici-pants. The fall trip in October will be to New York Stateand as far as Montreal. Those interested in the trip need toget a passport. • The Next House Tour: Joyce will contactLinda McArthur (soon to be President of the Mystic GardenClub) to discuss the possibility of a joint effort again. Thereis already a MRHS committee interested in again working onthis. The board discussed the possibility of “celebrating our40th anniversary” with this event.
Walking Tour (David Evans): During 2009 the MysticChamber of Commerce continued to partner with MRHS inmaking the Gravel Street Walking Tour available to the pub-lic. Nearly 800 copies of the Tour were distributed bringingthe two year total in excess of 1800. Weatherproof plasticholders were placed on the pumping station on Gravel Streetand outside the Downes Building to supplement holders at
various merchants, inns and theMystic & Noank Library. Theoutdoor holders were helpful asthe both stores at Main andGravel turned over and werevacant for part of the year.David spoke with theChamber and they would bewilling to partner with usagain. The cost would be$200. A motion was made
& passed unanimously for MRHSto appropriate $100 as our share in the expense to
publish 1000 brochures.
No New or Unfinished Business Next Board meeting is June 21.
Pssst! Are you in...?
Constant Contact Getsthe Message Out...If you would like to be sure tobe in touch with the latestMRHS information and break-ing news, please send a note [email protected]
A miniature version of the Tour brochure.
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The Board of Trustees of the Mystic River Historical Society meton Monday, June 21, 2010. Board Members and CommitteeChairmen present were Aimee Allaire, David Evans, BillEverett, Tim Evers, Joyce Everett, Kay Janney, Jim Kimenker,Cathy Marco, John Porter, Stephanie Thorp, Kit Werner andguest, Lou Allyn.
President’s Report (Jim Kimenker): Jim invited Lou Allynto present his proposal to the board. The Mystic and NoankLibrary (MNL) presently has a problem in their basementfor which an instrument, like a hygrothermograph (mea-sures moisture) would be most helpful. MRHS owns ahygrothermograph and it is presently not being used. As asign of non-profits’ cooperation, Lou suggested MRHS lend-ing our hygrothermogragh to MNL. A motion was made& approved “to carefully move the hygrothermograph fromMRHS to Mystic and Noank Library and let them use it(loan) for nine months.”
The crane temporarily parked at the Portersville lot on 76High St. to work on an air conditioning unit at Margaritashas left without incident. The signed license agreementbetween MRHS and New England Mechanical Services(EMCOR Services, Group Manager, Ray Sacks) to use thelot will be kept on file at MRHS. Hopefully Margaritas willseriously consider membership in MRHS in the future.
We are all deeply saddened by the loss of Carol Kimball.A motion was made and seconded “to dedicate the upcomingAshley Halsey book to Carol Kimball, a longtime contribu-tor to MRHS.” Other ways to honor her were discussed;however, the dedication in a beautiful book of local buildingsand their history seemed most befitting. The board unani-mously approved the motion.
The Akeley Trust Agreement was recently drawn up forapproval by the Board. History on the reasons for this agree-ment were discussed (i.e., we have been storing things forsome time now in exchange for a donation of $250 per year).After a cursory review, it was decided that a more thoroughreview of the agreement was needed - Dorrie will email theagreement to Jim for review. It was also indicated that wehave an inventory of the entire collection.
On Saturday, September 18 will be the Groton LocalHistory Fair in the large meeting room of the Groton PublicLibrary. We have been asked if we want to have a table todisplay things or sell merchandise. Dorrie volunteered toget the Curatorial Committee involved with this event and,perhaps if available, sell our new book.
The Indian and Colonial Research Center has solicited usfor a donation. The consensus was a no respond.
A list of all who have keys has been completed. Dorriewill ask Helen Keith to distribute this list to the Board so weall know who has a key.
June Meeting Minutes - Cathy Marco
Stephanie has volunteered to coordinate a review of theMRHS bylaws. It was noted that we haven’t done this since2005 and a number of things have changed and should becorrected and some things are outdated. All board membershave been asked to review the Bylaws and send Stephanieany comments. Jim will email a copy of the Bylaws to allmembers of the board for their review.
Treasurers Report (Bill Everett): Balance Sheet and P&Lstatement as of May 31, 2010 had been emailed to all.
Finance (David Evans): The statutory threshold for auditsfor nonprofits is $500,000 in revenues, if you solicit outsidefunds. This is now true for both Federal and CT require-ments. As a result it is recommended that we continue ourcurrent procedure. It was estimated that the cost of an auditwould be around $4000.
Corresponding Secretary (Kay Janney): 22 Letters weresent: Thank you notes for memberships, newspaper patron-age and gifts, and to the Akeley Trust, Mystic Garden Cluband Program Presenter, as well as sympathy cards/notes.
STANDING COMMITTEES*
Building & Grounds (Alan Greener): Paul Enterprises willcommence repairs and painting of the Schoolhouse earlynext week. We will be informed of the actual start date bythe Company’s General Manager. The foreman of the jobwill report to Alan on this progress and they will meet toreview this work as each major task is completed. Alan willprovide the team entry to the building when they are readyto begin preparation and painting of the ceiling on the firstfloor and secure the building when they have completed.
Curatorial (submitted by Dorrie Hanna): The ArchivalAssessment visit on June 4 went well & we should have areport in 6 - 10 weeks. We ordered and received the latestversion of PastPerfect and Barry will install. We are gettinga second estimate on restoring the George Albert Thompsonoil painting. The Procedures Manual and Research Requestforms have been updated. The update of the Disaster Planis in progress. Helen Keith has completed “clean up” of theStreet Files and is currently organizing our copies of CarolKimball’s columns into a more user-friendly arrangement.
Education (No chairman): Tim reported that the schooltrips were very successful. 20 schools (1st and 3rd graders)attended and weather was good. Part of the reason for suc-cess is attributed to having the email addresses of the teach-ers so we had direct lines of communication with them. On May 27, all Board members received an email fromHelen Keith suggesting consideration of a part-timeEducation/ Outreach Coordinator. The Board discussed theneed and wondered if the Denisons had funds to hire some-one with us - it would be looked into. The consensus wasfor Jim to ask Helen for a job description with time & finan-
* Unlisted committees had no reports for this session.
cial commitment. The possibility of grant fund for the posi-tion will be discussed further at the next Board meeting.
IT Committee (Stephanie Thorp): In June, the ITCommittee twice performed monthly system updates andbackup tasks on the systems. All systems were deemed to bein good operating condition and were functioning normally.The System Administrator also installed a recent PastPerfect Museum Software database update. The ITCommittee intends to install the new Past Perfect Version(5.0A2) in August. Detailed reports are available on request.
Membership (Cynthia Allyn): We are still receiving mem-bership renewals. The complete list will be published in theSeptember newsletter. We have two new members – LucyHowell and Jane Lohr, both in Individual category. Sadly,four of our members died during May and June: HansGram, Corinne Breed, Anita Thorp and Carol Kimball. A request was made by the Board for the MembershipCommittee to evalu-ate & compare thenumbers of mem-bers we have to-datewith the number wehave had during thesame period a yearago to determinegain or loss.
newsletter (JenniferPryor): Copy dead-line for Septembernewsletter will beFriday, August 20.Board is seeking adsales volunteer.
nominating (TimEvers): The nomi-nating committee(Tim Evers, Kit Werner, and Cathy Marco) presented theslate of officers for 2010-2011: President Jim Kimenker, VicePresident John Porter, Treasurer Bill Everett, and SecretaryCathy Marco. Lois Glazier has agreed to serve asCorresponding Secretary. The board unanimously passedthe slate of officers as presented.
Program (Aimee Allaire): The Program Committee meton June 10th with the following members present: BettyeNoyes, Betty O’Donnell, John Porter, Lou Allyn andAimee Allaire. While Aimee will serve as the new programchair, Bettye will assist with any transition issues. LouisaWatrous will serve as Hospitality Chair with the Programcommittee. Lou has agreed to work as the program commit-tee’s computer and projector extraordinaire and will be awonderful asset to the committee. The commit tee agreed togive Mystic River DVDs to speakers as a thank you gift.
The process will be for all press releases for programs will besent to Sally Halsey for Marketing, Jennifer Pryor forNewsletter, Stephanie Thorpe for the website and LouAllyn for Constant Contact emails by the committee mem-ber sponsoring each program. A tentative list of speakersfor the 2010/2011 programs are being worked on as follows: September 22, 2010: Arthur Liverant “250 Years ofChildren’s Seating,” contact- Betty O’DonnellOct. 27: Ashley Halsey “Colors of Mystic”/Aimee. AllaireNovember 17, 2010: Matthew Stackpole “The History ofthe Charles W. Morgan”, contact- Bettye NoyesJan. 26, 2011: Carl Abissi “Our Memories Preserved”, con-tact Lou Allyn with Virgil Huntley, contact- L. Watrous.February 23, 2011: Fritz Hilbert “More on the History ofMystic and its Fires”, contact- John PorterMarch 23, 2011: Bill Peterson “Mystic’s Photographer:Everett Scholfield”, contact- Lou AllynApril 27. 2011: James Baughman “The Mallorys of Mystic”,
contact- Jim KimenkerMay 25, 2011: RickSpencer “Sea Chanteys”/Bettye Noyes
Special Events (JoyceEverett): Joyce ismaking plans for thefall trip in October.We plan on spend-ing two nights outon our way toMontreal, taking aferry on LakeChamplain. Forthe next HouseTour, the new boardof the MysticGarden Club will beactive the end of thesummer & Joyce
will contact them at that time about a possible joint housetour again. It was also suggested that we might contact theMystic Art Center regarding a joint project due to theirupcoming 100th anniversary in 2013.
Walking Tour (David Evans): We have 500 tour guidesfrom the Chamber and there was an error in their quote.Rather than $100 for 1000, our cost will be $200.
Unfinished Business ~ None New Business ~ None
The next scheduled Board meeting is September 20, 2010.Respectfully submitted, Cathy Marco, Recording Secretary
7
Shroon Mountain, Adirondacks ~ Thomas Cole, (1801-1848)The MRHS foliage excursion may feature such vistas - as well as a stop at Cedar Grove,
the home of Thomas Cole and a National Historic Landmark in Catskill, NY.
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MRHS Membership 2010-11~ Individual ~Mrs. Charles Alfano Ms. Norma Aronson Miss Ruth M. Atcheson Mrs. Eleanor P. Ball Mrs. Deborah Bates Mrs. Charles R. Baxter Mr. Frank R. Bean Ms. Mara Beckwith Mr. Charles S. Beebe Mr. Richard Bennett Ms. Jennifer M. Billeci Ms. Sheila Bodine Mr. Bernard D. Boylan Mr. Philip L. Budlong Ms. Judith Cady Ms. Laurie Nelson Capener Mrs. Mary Carey Ms. Joanna Case Ms. Carrie Charles Mr. Thomas L. Cheney Mrs. Cynthia Allyn Clapp Mrs. Joan Cohn Mrs. Anna N. Coit Mr. Peter M. Coope Ms. Theresa Courchaine Ms. Rosemary Dayton Mrs. C. Philip Donnel III Ms. Hermine Dudda Mr. Rudy Favretti Ms. Alice Foley Ms. Gloria Fowler Ms. Barbara Lee Franciosi Mrs. Eleanor Gannon Ms. Judith N. Gifford Mr. Charles A. Glaza Ms. Rose Corbett Gordon Ms. Sandra I. Graham Mrs. Jules Hallum Mrs. Mary Hartman Mrs. James Hicks Mrs. Marion Hobaica Ms. Lucy T. Howell Ms. Joy Jastremski Ms. Janet Kellock Mr. Stephen King Mr. Arthur Kirkpatrick Ms. Chandler Kissell Ms. Herma C. Kluck Mrs. Calvin W. Lane Mrs. Everett B. Law Mrs. Elaine Lee Ms. Jane B. Lohr Mrs. Frank C. Lynch Mrs. Melissa Messina Ms. Patricia Miller Ms. Barbara B. Nelson Judith Nickerson Mrs. Virginia F. Niebling Mrs. William Noyes Ms. Janice Olson
Ms. Amelia Onorato Mrs. Louis B. Palmer Mr. Ted Parker Mr. David A. Patience Ms. Susan Phillips Ms. Geraldine Phillips Mr. Laszlo Pozsonyi Mr. James K. Pryor Mr. Edward Purcell Mrs. Eleanor B. Read Ms. Mildred L. Reed Mrs. Richard P. Robinson Ms. Jean E. Rowley Ms. Judith E. Sawyer Ms. Sharon E. Schnare Ms. Willa T. Schuster Mr. J. Donald Simpson Ms. Joan Smith Ms. Julia S. Stone Ms. Sharon Scott Stryker Ms. Amy Swan Ms. Dorothy Szestowicki Mr. & Mrs. L. Wilbur Taylor Mr. Wilfred Thompson Mrs. Richard Trimble Mrs. Simon Wohlman Mr. Gordon Woodbury Ms. Catherine Casey Zahn
~ Family ~Ms. Liz Allyn & Ms. Julie Whitney James Allyn Family Dr.& Mrs. James B. Anderson Mr. & Mrs. Richard G. Arms Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Peter M. Barres Dr. & Mrs. Richard Barry Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Barton Mr. & Mrs. Bill Billing Dr. & Mrs. Norman Boas Carole & Wayne Brown Mr. & Mrs. Donald Brown Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Burke Mr. Ambrose H. Burrows Mr. & Mrs. Josh Burrows Mr. & Mrs. Craig Bush Laurel Butler & Chris Daniels Mr. & Mrs. Richard Butler Mr. & Mrs. Franklin G. Davis Connie Desillier Mr. & Mrs. John T. Dobbin Mr. Marsh A. Enquist Mr. & Mrs. Timothy B. Evers Mr. & Mrs. George A. Fearn Jr. Capt. & Mrs. Donald R. Ferrier Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Fitton Robert & Marjorie Floyd
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Fulchiero Mr. & Mrs. Alan Greener Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Gunning William Haase & Laurie Whiting Mr. & Mrs. William F. Hermann Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Paul Ingle Mr. & Mrs. Paul Jalbert
Mr. & Mrs. Donald Jamieson Mr. & Mrs. David Kay Jack & Beth Komorowski Mr. & Mrs. Robert Krusewski Laurie Lamb & Colburn Graves, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Horace B. Lamb Frederic & Elizabeth Lebel Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Leeney Mr. & Mrs. Russell Leonard Mr. & Mrs. Frank Marco Mr. & Mrs. Robert Mark Mr. & Mrs. William Martley Sally McBee & Bruce Campbell Mrs. Lois McDonald Drs. John & Marcia McGowan Mrs. Clifford Mencer Nel and Mike Messick Michael Meyer & Philip Kuepper Mrs. James Nault Bill & Fran Oat Mr. & Mrs. Edmund F. Oliver Mr. & Mrs. Henry Peyton Ms. Louise Pittaway Mr. Oliver H. Porter Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Purinton Mr. & Mrs. Brae Rafferty Jr. Ms. Anita Repp Mr. & Mrs. O. Pomeroy Robinson Mr. & Mrs. Peter G. Roper Mr. & Mrs. Leonard M. Sawyer II Mr. & Mrs. Robert Scala Mr. & Mrs. William A. Scheer Mr. & Mrs. David Scott Evan Seehaus Dana and Richard Semeraro Mr. & Mrs. Newell Sly Mr. & Mrs. Carl M. Sommer Mr. & Mrs. Peter Springsteel Family Dr. & Mrs. L. Edwin Sproul Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Harold C. Tarbox Mr. William Topkin Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Van Winkle Mr. & Mrs. Claiborne C. van Zandt Mrs. Catherine and Karen Walker Mrs. William Wardle Walter and Louisa Watrous Mr. & Mrs. John K. Watson III Mr. & Mrs. Robert Welt Charles and Eleanor Wenderoth Mr. & Mrs. Norton C. Wheeler Jr. Mr. & Mrs. William Blunt White Mr. & Mrs. Edward S. Williams
~ Contributing ~Aimee Allaire Mr. & Mrs. George Allen Atty & Mrs. Robert P. Anderson Jr. Ms. Charlotte Barnum Dr. & Mrs. Alan Bentz Mr. & Mrs. Norman & SharonBoulanger Mr. & Mrs. Rudolph Brandt Mr. Randall Brooks Alan & MJ Brush Mr. James Burbank Mr. Frank Clay
Ms. Marilyn Comrie Mr. & Mrs. Webster Copp Mr. Trad Dart Ms. Sandra B. Dolan Mr. & Mrs. William Duff Mr. H. Bruce Fielding, CPA Mr. & Mrs. Carl Gehring Ms. Sally D. Halsey Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Hanna Lydia Herd & Micael DeAngelis Ms. Kathryn Hill Mr. James Holley Mr. & Mrs. Herbert A. Holmstedt Mr. Virgil W. Huntley Mr. & Mrs. Robert Irons Ms. Katrina M. Korpi Mr. & Mrs. John Lee Ms. Dorothy Leib Mrs. Leda M. Lord Mrs. William A. Lund Mr. & Mrs. J.A. MacGregor Mrs. Douglas McKay Mr. Dion Moore Ms. Barbara Nielsen Mr. & Mrs. Kevin North Cindy Palmer Mr. & Mrs. Roger Panciera Dr. & Mrs. David Percival John & Mary Katherine Porter Ms. Jane Preston Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Reid Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence A. Reiter Dr. & Mrs. David Rose Dr. & Mrs. Robert P. Rowe Mr. & Mrs. Mark Russell Mr. & Mrs. Roger B. Ryley Anne Schmidt & Roger Kuhns Mr. & Mrs. Tim Shepard Mr. & Mrs. Paul Simoncini Ms. Ellen Smith Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Smith Elizabeth & Peter Sorensen Mr. Carl A. Strand Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Jim Streeter Mr. William Thorp Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Walker Mr. & Mrs. Robert C. Whitford Ms. Delight Wolfe
~ Benefactor Dr. & Mrs. Sultan Ahamed Dan and Jane Brannegan Mr. & Mrs. Peter Briggs Jak & David Cruthers Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Deichmann Mr. & Mrs. Frank M. Durrschmidt Mr. & Mrs. James English David & Jean Evans Mr. & Mrs. Gabriel Ford Frank's Service Station Mr. & Mrs. William Glazier Ms. Audrey Golub Mrs. Mildred G. Hodgson Ms. Kay Print Janney Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Law Hon. & Mrs. Robert Leuba
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Charles & Margaret Maxson Ms. Barbara A. Pearson Mrs. Richard A. Perkins Sr. Mr. & Mrs. Richard Perkins Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Pippo Mr. & Mrs. Tod Schaefer Mr. & Mrs. Harold P. Smith Jr. Mr. & Mrs. J. Niel Spillane Mr. & Mrs. John M. Washburn Cmdr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Watkins IIIMr. & Mrs. William Webster Mrs. Royal C. Werner
~ Sustaining ~Mrs. James W. Lathrop Ms. Donna Ryan-Rose Mrs. Theodore T. Tylaska Elizabeth & Harry White
~ Life ~Mr. & Mrs. Louis P. Allyn Kate April Mr. & Mrs. Charles Beaumont Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd J. Boggio Mr. & Mrs. Anthony C. Dinoto Mr. & Mrs. Edward Ettinger Mr. & Mrs. William Everett Mr. & Mrs. John Fiore Mrs. William H. Forster Dan & Mary Fuller Mrs. Charles L. Gates Mrs. Ralph W. Halsey Mr. & Mrs. Charles J. Hamm Mrs. Muriel Hinkle Mrs. Joseph T. Imdahl Mr. Stephen P. Jones Mrs. George Keith Mrs. Ruth Keyes Mr. & Mrs. James Kimenker Mr. & Mrs. Jon Kodama Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Langlois Mr. & Mrs. William E Lewis Mrs. Clifford Mallory Tom & Nancy McLoughlin Ms. Sandra Morse Mr. & Mrs. Frank O' Beirne Mr. & Mrs. Brendan O'Donnell Mrs. Marion Palm Mr. & Mrs. Robert Patton Mr. William Peterson Mr. & Mrs. Edward Pryor Mr. Leonard C. Reid Dr. & Mrs. Trent J. Repko Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Sinnett Mr. Morgan St. John Mr. & Mrs. C. William Stamm Mr. & Mrs. Barry L. Thorp Mr. & Mrs. Brian A. Thorp Mrs. Barbara Walker Mr. Ted A. Wydler
~ Life (Honorary) ~Ms. Alison Goodsell Mr. & Mrs. Jon Kodama Mr. Stuart Lamson Bailey & Jennifer Pryor Family
II. A. W. (Arthur Ward) (1850-1931) m. Cornelia Winant 1877B. (C.A.) Charles Arthur (1880 – 1967) m. Helen Decker1. Carolyn (1909 – 1965)2. Arthur (1911 – 2001) m. Gretchen Horn, m. Adelaide Shaffer
a. Joan m. David CunninghamScott, Glenn, Kristen
b. Daniel m. Elizabeth (Betsy) GoodsonWesley (1964 - 1977), Laura, Amy
c. Linda m. Thomas WatkinsSonja, Blake, Heidi
C. Stirling (1886 - 1951)2. Robert (Bob) (1917 – 2009) m. Elizabeth Hands
B Peter m. Cynthia Harganm.Elisabeth (Betty) Reichart
Lee Reichart m. Gaye Townsend3. Thomas (1923 – 2009) m. Shirley Hossack
David, Susan, ThomasD. Theodore (1890 – 1947) m. Elizabeth Lloyd
Theodore (Ted) m. Katherine Sinclair (1922-1968) Katherine, Margaret, Nancy, Richard (Rick), Patricia
m. Geraldine Tanella
Last May I was browsing through old photographs at the Mystic River Historical Society and came across No.1983.001.0282 titled “People at Summer Cottage”. It looked to me as if it were taken on the west side of Nauyaug Pointin the area known as “Van Winkleville.” Always interested in a Masons Island story, I put on my historical detectivehat and went to work. (Any last name not given in this piece is Van Winkle.)
From various very helpful family members I learned that the cottage in the background was owned by A.W. (ArthurWard) and was located SSW of Dan & Betsy’s house. (The lot was since divided into Map-Block-Lot 179-3-8 (Dan’s) and179-3-7 (Peter’s). The picture was taken on the lawn in front of what is now Mary Hargan’s house. The youngsters inthe picture (left to right) are Arthur, Carolyn, unknown, Ann Everett, unknown, Allen Everett, Tom and Bill.
Once the information started coming in regarding the photo, I wanted a family tree to see how these kids relate to thepeople I know today. Fortunately I found out that Ted had published a booklet in 1987, “300th Anniversary Journalof the Van Winkle Family” which was extremely useful. (He has generously donated a copy to MRHS which is avail-able for viewing at the Downes Building.) The Van Winkle history starts in Holland around 1610 in the town ofWinkle and goes up until March 26, 1987.
The following partial family tree (numbering is from the book) traces the lines of those owning property on MasonsIsland today, or have lived here. It starts with Arthur and Charles, two sons of Daniel & Sarah (m. 1848). Charlesmarried into a New York family by the name of Gill who summered on Masons Island, renting a tent site fromAndrew Mason for $1. The Gill sisters later purchased the site from Andrew and built a cottage which burned down.It was rebuilt and is now owned by Mary Hargan. Billie Lanz’s house next door was built by Charles. His older broth-er A.W. and his three sons then bought property which is how they all started coming here in the summers.
VII. Charles (1862 – 1944) m. Susie Gill 1891B. Elizabeth (1893 - 1980) m. Frederick Ashton, Jr.
3. Amelia m. Kenneth ClarkeAnn Clark m. H.L. Christian Wenk
Amelia, Christian, Marguret, Elizabeth5. Margaret m. Charles Biggs, Jr.
Margaret Biggs m. Peter GordonAnn Gordon
C. Wilhelmina (1894-1951) m. Allen Everett1. Allen Everett, Jr. m. Mary Sterling2. Ann Everett m. Dr. Lucius Wing
m. Thomas VarlandWilhelmina (Billie) Varland m. Frederick Lanz
Frederick, BenjaminThomas (Rusty) m. Priscilla SmithSusan m. Kim MillerPamela m. Ribert Sual
m. Homer Petrie
E. Charles Ingersoll m. Anor Whiting1. Mary m. Roger Hargan
Cynthia m. Peter Stirling Van WinkleRobert
As you walk around the southern end of the island keep an eye out for various members of the Van Winkle family, early settlers.Current Property Owners: Peter & Margaret Gordon – 10 Andrews Road • Billie Lanz – 7-8 Andrews Road • Mary Hargan – 3-5 Andrews Road •
Dan & Betsy – 20 Nauyaug Point Road • Peter & Cynthia – 22 Nauyaug Point Road • Susan, David – 24 Nauyaug Point Road • Ted & Gerri – 43 Nauyaug
Point & 28 Chippechaug • Skip & Linda Watkins – 45 Nauyaug Point • Adelaide – 33-35 Money Point Road • Lee & Gaye Reichart – 6 Black Duck Road
the Van Winkles - Lou Allyn
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Payments to: Mystic River Historical Society, attn. Treasurer/Portersville Press AdP.O. Box 245, Mystic, CT 06355
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74 HigH Street
P. O. BOx 245
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NewsletterPatrons 2010-11CYNTHIA & LOuIS ALLYNJANE & DAN BRANNEGANDAVID CRuTHERS FAMILY
DENSMORE OILSANDRA DOLAN
DAVID & JEAN EVANSMR. & MRS. WILLIAM EVERETT
SALLY HALSEYMR. & MRS. DOuG HANNA
MR. & MRS. WILLIAM HERMANN, JR.JuDY HICKS
MRS. DAVID HINKLEMR. & MRS. FRANK MARCO
NANCY & TOM MCLOuGHLINMARJORIE MOORE
MR. & MRS. ROGER PANCIERACAPT. & MRS. JOHN PORTER
ELIZABETH & PETER SORENSEN
Membership MeetingWed., September 22, 7:30pMystic Congregational Parish HallAntiques expert Arthur Liverant discusses250 years of childrens chairs - with manyexamples to be seen on site!
Membership MeetingWed., October 27, 7:30pAshley Halsey presents her new MRHSco-publication, “Colors of Mystic”
CALeNdARNotables Membership Updates- Cindy Allyn, Membership Chair
We regret the passing of 8 MRHSmembers in the past few months.They are Loring Bailey, CorinneBreed, Judith Gifford, Hans Gram,Rosalind Jones, Carol Kimball,Spencer Leech and Anita Thorp.
Our full current membership list canbe seen on pages 8-9, and new or updatedmemberships are always welcome.
Lyman Allyn Art Museum Bus Tourto the
PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM &
YIN TU TANGCHINESE HOUSESept. 29, 2010$75members/$85non
Call Mollie Clarke at LAAM
(860) 443 2545, ext 110
