The Litchfield Historical Society
P.O. Box 385
7 South Street
Litchfield, CT 06759
phone: 860-567-4501
fax: 860-567-3565
Executive Director
Curator of Collections
Curator of Library and Archives
Curator of Education
Education Assistant and Visitor Services Coordinator
Assistant Curator of Library and Archives
Please visit us!
The Litchfield Historical Society is located on the Green in Litchfield,
Connecticut at the junction of routes 63, 118, and 202
Looking to Volunteer? Join the Litchfield Historical Society!
Do you love history? Do you enjoy talking to new people and telling them about Litchfield
and the surrounding area? If so, the Litchfield Historical Society would love to hear from you!
We are looking for additional people to join our dedicated corps of volunteers at the
Litchfield History Museum and the Litchfield Hills Visitor Booth.
Volunteers at the Litchfield History Museum are the first friendly faces visitors see
when they enter the museum. Front desk volunteers orient visitors to the building and
exhibits, help them in the gift shop, and answer any questions they might have for tourists
about Litchfield and its history. Volunteers are needed for two-hour shifts, Tuesday through Thursday.
The Litchfield Hills Visitor Booth is a well-visited site on the Litchfield Green. Our informative
volunteers here provide visitors with information about the town and answer any questions they
might have about restaurants and attractions. Volunteers are needed at the booth for 3.5 hour shifts,
seven days a week. The Visitor Booth is open Memorial Day through Columbus Day weekend.
Volunteers must be at least 13 years of age. For more information, please contact the
The Litchfield History Museum is located at 7 South Street, Litchfield, CT.
For more information about our programs, please call (860) 567-4501
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Museums Open for the Season
The Litchfield History Museum and the Tapping Reeve House
are now open for the season.
Please stop by and learn about Litchfield and the Civil War in 'The Hour of Conflict'
and local businesses through The Art of Advertising!
The Art of Advertising
Taking a walk through Litchfield's center you can't help
but notice the businesses lining West Street.
Brightly colored window displays catch your eye.
Perhaps you smell lunch being served in a nearby restaurant.
To distinguish themselves from each other, each business
has a sign hanging outside the door.
While many things have changed over the past two hundred years, one thing has remained the same:
Litchfield is dotted with signs. The Litchfield Historical Society's new exhibition,
The Art of Advertising: Signs around Town, will explore these symbols that
mark the retailers, museums, schools, and establishments that make up the community.
These beautifully crafted objects let us know what can be found behind
each door, and each has something to reveal about the establishments
that have helped create the community in which we live.
Come see 19th- and 20th- century signs from the museum collection and learn more
about the businesses that helped shape Litchfield's past.
This exhibit will be on view through the end of June, 2013.
The Litchfield History Museum is located at 7 South Street, Litchfield, CT.
The History Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm,
and Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
For more information, please call (860) 567-4501
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Free Family Day
Saturday, May 25, 2013
12:00-4:00pm
Litchfield Historical Society
Litchfield Historical Society to Host Free Family Day on May 25th
Warm weather is on its way! To celebrate the start of another great season,
join us for our annual Family Day program on May 25th from noon to 4:00pm.
This year’s activities focus on Litchfield’s agricultural history and include local musicians and dancing,
baby animals, a great one-day only exhibit, old fashioned games and an exciting scavenger
hunt through the museum. Admission is free so come for a short time or stay for the whole afternoon!
To kick off our festivities, Kais and Dollz, a local Litchfield group, will perform originals and
covers of various folk songs. Composed of talented musicians and singers from the ages of 7 to 10,
their performance will begin at 12:00 pm and will entertain the crowd using an assortment of
instruments including piano, bass, drums, and ukulele.
Grab your favorite dance partner for the second and last performance of the day.
Long-time Connecticut contradance caller Bill Fischer and the musicians of Wry Bred will
teach visitors a variety of 18th- and 19th- century group dances starting at 2:30 pm.
Featured throughout the entire afternoon is a live animal exhibition with a small exhibit curated
by the middle schoolers from the farm-based section of the Litchfield Montessori School.
The students have been hard at work researching and developing a small exhibit on Litchfield’s
agricultural history and the transition from small scale to commercial farming. Their mama and
baby goats will be situated at the front of the museum over the course of the afternoon.
Additionally, visitors can try their hand at an agricultural-themed scavenger hunt through
our exhibits. If crafts are your forte, you can make a bird feeder using recycled materials.
If spending more time outside is on the agenda, channel your inner
child with some old fashioned games on the green.
Refreshments will be provided. Bring your friends!
The Litchfield History Museum is located at 7 South Street in Litchfield, CT.
For more information about these or other programs or to register for these camps,
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More Offerings for the Leather Apron Book Club
at the Litchfield Historical Society
The Litchfield Historical Society will continue its successful Leather Apron Book Club
into spring with more adventures for our young historians.
On the third Wednesday of each month from 3:30–5:00 pm,
Leather Apron Book Club participants read a different book on a historically
significant topic, hold a discussion, look at artifacts from the Society’s archives,
and then play games or make a craft relating to the story.
Our upcoming spring selections are:
June 19: Counting on Grace
New England is filled with old mill buildings that once produced textiles that were
used all across the country. Join us in reading this story about one of those mills,
and a young girl who wants to help change the world.
The Leather Apron Book Club is open to children ages 9 and up,
and is $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
Registration is required—call (860) 567-4501
Please register at least two weeks in advance
to get a complimentary copy of the month’s book.
The Litchfield History Museum is located at 7 South Street, Litchfield, CT.
For more information about this or other programs, please call (860) 567-4501
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Historical Society Offers Walking Tours through Litchfield’s History
Have you always wondered what Litchfield looked like in the 1800s?
Or where George Washington slept on his visits to town?
Why is there a jail in the center of town, and what are all those monuments for, anyway?
Join the Litchfield Historical Society for exciting and informative walking tours
on the first and third Saturday of each month throughout the summer
and learn more about the history and people that make up Litchfield’s past!
Beginning at the Litchfield History Museum at 10:00 am, each tour will explore
a different section of town or moment in time. Here are some of our upcoming tours:
May 18 ~ Hidden in Plain Sight:
Evidence of Litchfield's past remains visible to those who look for it. Join guest tour guide,
WCSU history professor, and high school history teacher Peter Vermilyea on a walking tour
of sites associated with his “Hidden in Plain Sight” blog. Clues to the town's military,
architectural, environmental, and criminal history will be examined, as will the
ways in which Litchfield has commemorated its past.
June 1 ~ South Street:
What do these things have in common?: the first automobile tag, the home of a signer of the
Declaration of Independence, and a sanatorium for the crippled. The houses on South Street
are not only varied in their architectural styles but in their contributions to local and
national history, as well. Explore one of most storied streets in Litchfield.
June 15 ~ Henry Ward Beecher and the Beecher Family:
“This country is inhabited by sinners, saints, and Beechers.” In honor of Henry Ward Beecher’s 200th birthday
on June 24, join us on a tour through the places relating to the Beecher family, from the Congregational
church to the sites of their homestead and the Litchfield Female Academy on North Street.
Hear the Beechers’ reflections on their childhood in Litchfield and the events
that shaped their lives as activists, authors, and preachers.
July 6 ~ Litchfield in the Revolution:
Litchfield was a hotbed of activity during the Revolutionary War! Prisoners of war were jailed in
this safe town, a military presence guarded stores and provisions, and families were divided by
those seeking their independence from the British crown. Step back in time with
an exploration of the Village Center during our nation’s quest for independence.
All tours begin at the Litchfield History Museum.
Tours are free for members and $10 for non-members.
Please wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water.
Registration is required—call (860) 567-4501
The Litchfield History Museum is located at 7 South Street, Litchfield, CT.
For more information about this or upcoming programs,
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Celebrate Henry Ward Beecher’s 200th Birthday
with the Litchfield Historical Society
Monday, June 24 at 7:00 pm
Litchfield History Museum
This year is the 200th anniversary of Litchfield native and famous preacher Henry Ward Beecher’s birth.
Join the Litchfield Historical Society on Monday, June 24 at 7:00 pm for a celebration of Beecher’s birthday,
as well as a discussion of Debby Applegate’s 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winning biography,
The Most Famous Man in America: The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher.
Led by retired Litchfield High School English teacher Jerry Geci, our conversation will focus on Beecher
as a fascinating and complex man: celebrated in his own time, though not untouched by scandal.
The Most Famous Man in America creates a powerful portrait of Beecher, highlighting both his charisma and his flaws.
Applegate’s book has been touted as “Thoroughly researched, passionately written, and richly detailed”
(Harry S. Stout). Joan Hendricks, a Harriet Beecher Stowe scholar calls it “A lively narrative of
nineteenth-century religion, power, passion, and politics, as well as a perceptive study of the
elusive preacher who rode them to the top.”
Whether you think Beecher was a saint or a scoundrel, please join us for a rousing book discussion.
We will also view Beecher family-related items from the Historical Society’s collections and have birthday cake.
This event is free; a copy of the book can be purchased for $8 from the Historical Society.
Please register by Friday, June 14, to receive a copy of the book.
The Litchfield History Museum is located at 7 South Street, Litchfield, CT.
For more information about this or upcoming programs,
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Litchfield Historical Society to Host
Two Historical Experiences for Children
Looking for some historical adventures this summer?
The Litchfield Historical Society will hold two exciting week-long
experiences for children during this summer season.
Adventures in Early America
July 22 to July 26
9:30am to 12:30pm
Litchfield History Museum
From July 22 to July 26, children ages 7 and up are welcome to join us for Adventures in Early America.
From 9:30 am to 12:30 pm each day, participants will explore what life was like in early America.
We will learn about Litchfield’s earliest residents, dress up in period clothing, play colonial games,
explore the town’s unique architecture, examine objects from our collection that were used at that time,
and try our hand at the daily activities of these early residents.
Native American demonstrator Drew Shuptar and reenactors from the
Governor Oliver Wolcott Senior Branch of the Sons of the Revolution will engage the
students in learning experiences throughout the week.
The fee for the week is $60 for members
of the Historical Society and $100 for non-members.
Civil War Experience
August 12 through 16
9:30am to 12:30pm
Litchfield History Museum
Our popular Civil War Experience will return from August 12 through 16.
From 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, each day will focus on different aspects of the Civil War.
Students will assume the identities of students that studied and lived in Litchfield.
During the class they will explore our new Civil War exhibition, The Hour of Conflict;
learn about a day in the life of a soldier; make hardtack; dance the Virginia Reel;
and investigate photography of the time period.
Reenactors of the 2nd CT Heavy Artillery will engage the students in drilling
exercises and learning experiences at the end of the week.
The Civil War Experience is open to children ages 8 and up
and is $65 for members and $105 for non-members.
The Litchfield History Museum is located at 7 South Street in Litchfield, CT.
For more information about these or other programs or to register for these camps,
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Volunteers Needed!
The Historical Society needs more volunteers!
If you are interested in volunteering at the museum's front desk or the visitor's booth,
please contact us at (860) 567-4501.
If you have some other talents you would like to volunteer to us,
such as transcribing, scanning, and more, we would be more than happy to have you.
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New Acquisitions: The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe
Most everyone has heard the nursery rhyme "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe,"
but have you seen her? The Litchfield Historical Society is delighted to announce
the addition of a unique new folk art item to its museum collection.
Handmade by Betsey Brace, the small leather shoe seen here depicts
"The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe,"
complete with all ten children and the old woman inside.
Betsey was the wife of Abel Brace--a nephew of Sarah Pierce.
Family tradition holds that Betsey attended the Litchfield Female Academy as a young woman.
This charming decoration was displayed in a place of prominence in Betsey and
Abel's parlor throughout the maker's life until it was passed to a granddaughter.
The shoe remained in the family well into the twentieth century
and was recently acquired by the Historical Society.
Interested in seeing the shoe in person? Stop in when the museum opens in
April to see the shoe on display in the Liggett Gallery alongside other
objects related to the Litchfield Female Academy.
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Previous Events
Lecture Series:
History and Crème Brûlée
Sunday, January 27, 2013
@ St. Michael's Community House
Author Thomas J. Craughwell, author of the new history Thomas Jefferson's Crème Brûlée.
Craughwell discussed how Jefferson and his slave James Hemings changed the way we cook.
Because of his love of fine cuisine, Jefferson brought Hemings with him across
the Atlantic to master the art of French cooking. The two men brought back new
foods with them-including French fries, macaroni and cheese, pasta, and crème brûlée-
to America. In exchange for his intense training, Hemings received his freedom.
Join us as we learn about this fascinating time in American food history.
Thomas J. Craughwell is the author of numerous books, including Stealing Lincoln's Body
(which also became a History Channel documentary), Saints Behaving Badly, and
The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History:
How Genghis Khan's Mongols Almost Conquered the World.
His articles have appeared in the New York Times,
the Wall Street Journal, and the American Spectator.
Thomas Jefferson's Crème Brûlée has already won an award for Best Culinary History (US)
from France's Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, and is a contender for the world prize,
to be awarded at the Louvre in February. Craughwell is a resident of Bethel, Connecticut.
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Book by Litchfield author receives
Historic New England Book Prize award
L-R: Jessica Jenkins (Curator of Collections), Linda Hocking (Curator of Library and Archives),
Rachel Carley (receiving award), Clo Tepper (presenting award) and Catherine Fields (Executive Director)
On Saturday, November 3rd, Rachel Carley received an award for
Litchfield: The Making of a New England Town
as Historic New England’s eighteenth Book Prize.
Litchfield: The Making of a New England Town is a lively exploration of the
town’s history and architecture, not only during the colonial period,
but also during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
The book is generously illustrated with maps, photographs, and paintings
of this quintessential New England town, including many
that are published for the first time.
Carley is a preservation consultant and architectural historian.
Her previous books include:
Building Greenwich, Architecture and Design, 1640 to the Present;
The Visual Dictionary of American Domestic Architecture;
Cuba: Four Hundred Years of Architectural Heritage;
Cabin Fever; A Guide to Biltmore Estate; and Wilderness A to Z.
She is a resident of Litchfield.
About Historic New England’s Book Prize
The Historic New England Book Prize recognizes works that advance the
understanding of the architecture, landscape, and material culture of New England
and the United States from the seventeenth century to the present.
This includes works in the decorative arts, archaeology, historic preservation,
and the history of photography. To qualify, works need not deal exclusively
with New England but must make a significant contribution to our
understanding of New England and its relation to the wider world.
About Historic New England
Historic New England is the oldest, largest, and most
comprehensive regional heritage organization in the nation.
We bring history to life while preserving the past for everyone
interested in exploring the authentic New England experience
from the seventeenth century to today.
Historic New England owns and operates thirty-six historic
homes and landscapes spanning five states.
The organization shares the region’s history through vast collections,
publications, public programs, museum properties, archives, and family stories
that document more than 400 years of life in New England.
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Eighteenth Annual Borough Days
Sunday, September 9, 2012
on the Litchfield Green
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Photos from the Civil War Experience
Our eighteen soldiers had a great time last week learning
about the causes of the Civil War, making crafts and hardtack,
playing games, and meeting a reenactor from
the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery.
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TEA TIME: Deming Family Silver on View!
The Litchfield Historical Society is excited to announce that
Julius Deming's silver tea service will now call our museum home.
This extraordinary piece of local history was recently
donated to the Historical Society through the generosity of Mrs. Ellen Deming Small
and is now on display in the Litchfield History Museum.
The five piece silver tea service, made by Marquand and Company
of New York City between 1833 and 1838, was purchased by Mr. Deming late in his life.
Upon Mr. Deming's death in 1838, his daughter Lucretia took possession of the family silver,
and she then gave it as a wedding gift to her nephew, J. Deming Perkins, in 1868.
The tea service passed down through the family, most recently being cared for by Mrs. Small
who donated it to the Litchfield Historical Society at the end of April.
These silver tea services, made by talented silversmiths,
were considered an upscale improvement on ceramic tea sets.
Like many 18th and 19th century tea services, Mr. Deming's beautiful set includes
the typical teapot, matching coffee pot, sugar bowl, creamer, and waste bowl for used tea.
As a thriving politician and merchant dealing in imported goods from Europe and China,
Julius Deming communicated his success and prominence even through his choice in silver.
To view pieces of the Deming silver tea service
drop by the museum during our open hours
on Tuesday - Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm, or Sunday, 1 pm to 5 pm.
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The Hour of Conflict, the Litchfield Historical Society’s Civil War Exhibition
Now Open! (11am-5pm)
The Litchfield Historical Society’s new exhibition
The Hour of Conflict examines the ways in which the American Civil War
impacted the residents of Litchfield, Connecticut in the 1860s.
Although no battles occurred in Connecticut, local Litchfield families
were directly affected by the events of the Civil War.
Men departed town to enlist in the Union army,
leaving their families behind to worry and wonder,
waiting for a letter to make its way from a campground or battlefield.
Women spent their time sewing clothing, wrapping bandages,
and sending packages to their loved ones on the front lines.
How did Litchfield families deal with the anxiety of war?
How did they mourn, celebrate and cope?
The Litchfield Historical Society invites visitors and families
of all ages to examine these questions through letters,
diaries, photographs, and artifacts from the Historical Society’s collections.
Articles carried by local soldiers, everyday objects used by Litchfield’s children,
and items related to Dr. Josiah Gale Beckwith and the Litchfield Peace Movement
are just some of the collection pieces that will be highlighted.
Visitors will also have the chance to view Civil War uniforms
thanks to the Museum of Connecticut History and the Cornwall Historical Society.
The exhibit will also incorporate hands-on activities
and the opportunity to experience camp life as
Litchfield’s men did more than a century and a half ago.
Students of the Litchfield Montessori School will act as Junior Curators
to research, design, and create a special portion of the exhibition.
The Hour of Conflict will run through the 2012 and 2013 seasons
at the Litchfield History Museum, located at 7 South Street in Litchfield.
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Pet Parade and Turn-of-the-Century Fest
July 4, 2012
Video by Spencer Poulin
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Photos from Adventures in
Early America
The week-long Adventures in Early America was a success!
From a Litchfield walking tour, to learning code with Benjamin Tallmadge,
to ice cream making, our young participants had a great time!
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Family Day visitors relive the past
Litchfield.bz (05-21-12)
Family Day at the Litchfield Historical Society on Saturday
provided a free afternoon of experiences, entertainment and information
to learn more the rich history of Litchfield.
Activities included a bandage rolling race, music, Civil War era refreshments
and a historical scavenger hunt around Litchfield center.
Visitors discovered what life was like in Litchfield and on the battlefield
during the Civil War in conjunction with the new exhibition,
“The Hour of Conflict.” Re-enactors from the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery
were on hand to tell tales about Civil War camp life and answer questions.
Throughout the afternoon, local musical group “Free Thought”
performed British and Scots-Irish songs adapted by American soldiers during the Civil War.
The Litchfield History Museum is located at 7 South Street in Litchfield, CT.
For more information about this or other programs, please call (860) 567-4501
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Junior Curators from Litchfield Montessori School
Play Important Role in New Civil War Exhibition
A small group of students from the Litchfield Montessori School
have joined with the Litchfield Historical Society’s Junior Curator program
to curate the death and dying component of the Society’s new
Civil War exhibit, The Hour of Conflict.
Guided by their teachers and staff members at the Historical Society,
the three Junior Curators spent weeks scouring into soldier’s letters
and advertisements of the time period; delving into contemporary readings
on mourning customs and the Civil War; and gaining hands-on research experience
in the archives and collections storage, where they learned how to use
a microfilm reader and gathered the best artifacts to convey Civil War-era
mourning customs to museum visitors.
Finally, the Junior Curators composed museum labels
and will install their portion of the exhibit at the beginning of April.
Some of the pieces the Junior Curators found intriguing will be on display,
including a pocket watch carried by Sgt. General E. Goodwin Osborn
and advertisements for mourning clothing.
Junior Curator Brooke Hurst says that this experience
“improved (her) ability to research a topic
and then present the key information in a display for others to view”
and that she “learned a tremendous amount of Civil War history
by taking part in activities, such as transcribing letters
and researching information about the culture of mourning.”
The Hour of Conflict opened to the public on Saturday, April 14.
The Litchfield Historical Society is located at 7 South Street in Litchfield, CT.
For more information about this or other events, please call (860) 567-4501,
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Author of new book on Litchfield signs copies
Litchfield.bz (12-10-11)
Rachel Carley, author of "Litchfield - The Making of a New England Town,"
signed copies of her book at the Litchfield Historical Society on Friday.
Below, Martha and Kevin Phillips of Goshen wait for their copy to be signed. BZ photos
A big crowd filled the Litchfield Historical Society on Friday evening
for a book signing by Rachel Carley, author of the newly-published
"Litchfield - The Making of a New England Town."
The 304-page hardcover tells a story of Litchfield
beginning with its incorporation in 1715
and focuses on the town's historic buildings and landscapes.
It is the first comprehensive documentation of the town's history since 1920.
The historical society published the book, which is on sale for $75
and contracted with Carley to be its author. Carley lives in Litchfield
and is an independent preservation consultant and architectural historian.
Material Carley mined from the archives of the historical society
is combined with recent photographs of the town and its landscapes,
three of which were taken by Scott Petersen of Morris (below).
Above, photographer Scott Petersen of Morris
displays one of his three photos published in the book and below,
Carley signs a copy for Hugh Schoelzel of Litchfield. BZ photos
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'Litchfield: The Making of a New England Town'
It's here! The first history of Litchfield to be published in nearly 100 years,
this lively portrait of the town is sumptuously illustrated
with rarely seen maps, photographs, and paintings.
Architectural historian, preservation consultant, and local resident Rachel Carley
engages readers with an expansive view of the town's rich heritage
through its buildings and landscapes in Litchfield Village,
Bantam, Northfield, Milton, and South Farms.
The book is now available in the Museum Gift Shop
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'Make Your Own Gingerbread House'
Tuesday, December 13th @ Litchfield History Museum
photos by Elizabeth O'Grady
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Borough Days celebrates 1800s in Litchfield
Litchfield.bz (09-12-11)
A sample of what life was like in Litchfield during the 1800s
returned to the Green on Sunday when the Litchfield Historical Society
held is annual Borough Days celebration.
There were old-time craftsmen and musicians and a demonstration
by the 5th Connecticut Regiment, a Civil War reenactment group.
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Children experience lesson in Civil War history
Litchfield.bz (08-20-11)
Litchfield's Green provided the backdrop for a lesson on Civil War history
from the likes of Paul Cerruto, above, and other re-enactors from the
2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment.
Cerruto was and the group were part of the Litchfield Historical Society's
"Civil War Experience," a weeklong program for children that
focused on the history of the war and how Litchfield was involved.
The 2nd Connecticut consisted of men from Litchfield County
who trained at Camp Dutton in town and met on the Green
for a final farewell before leaving for Washington, D.C.
The regiment first guarded Washington and later fought
at the Battle of Cold Harbor in Virginia.
The appearance by Cerruto and other re-enactors
concluded the program. BZ photos
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Harriet Beecher Stowe's 200th birthday
The Litchfield Historical Society celebrated the 200th birthday of
Litchfield native Harriet Beecher Stowe with events
for children in the afternoon and a book discussion in the evening.
Jane Sabatelli of Torrington, a Harriet Beecher Stowe impersonator
was featured during the children's events.
In the evening, Jerry Geci of Litchfield
led a discussion of Stowe's book, "Poganuc People."
Stowe's most famous work among the more than
30 books she authored was "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
Harriet Beecher Stowe was born on June 14, 1811 in Litchfield
and spent her childhood in the Beecher family home on North Street.
Her father, Lyman Beecher, was an eminent reverend at the town's Congregational Church,
and Stowe and several of her siblings attended the Litchfield Female Academy.
Though most well-known for writing the anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin,
Stowe penned over 30 books, including Poganuc People,
an autobiographical novel based on her own childhood in Litchfield.
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Event pays tribute to Litchfield's role in Civil War
Litchfield.bz (05-15-11)
photos by John McKenna
Re-enactors from the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery leave Camp Dutton in Litchfield
on their way to the Green for a Civil War remembrance. Photo by John McKenna
A celebration held on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War
drew more than 50 uniformed re-enactors playing the roles of Union soldiers,
local residents and town and state officials to the Green in Litchfield on Saturday.
Litchfield's entry into the war came in 1862 when the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery
mustered at Camp Dutton and received a farewell on the exact spot
on the Green where Saturday's festivities were held.
Paul Cerruto of Morris, a re-enactor with the 2nd Connecticut, came up with the idea
for the celebration and signed up the Litchfield Historical Society as a sponsor.
Cerruto and his fellow re-enactors even camped out at Camp Dutton on Friday and Saturday nights.
The re-enactors marched from Camp Dutton to the Green to reprise the farewell ceremony,
which saw William Curtis Noyes, a Litchfield lawyer played by Willi Runk of Bristol,
address the troops and present colors.
Selectman Paul Parsons played the role of Litchfield First Selectman Issac Morris.
Re-enactors also played Gov. William Buckingham, Litchfield's own Harriet Beecher Stowe,
Julia Tallmadge Noyes, and Bantam resident Howard Bissell.
The 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery was initially assigned to guard Washington, D.C.
But in June of 1864, the regiment was called to the front line by
Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and fought at the Battle of Cold Harbor in Virginia.
By then the regiment had been re-named the 19th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.
Below, Litchfield Selectman Paul Parsons, left, as Civil War era First Selectman Isaac Morris,
and Willi Runk of Bristol, as William Curtis Noyes of Litchfield. Photo by John McKenna
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Litchfield Borough Days
September 12, 2010
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Collection Documents the Revolutionary War through the Colonial Revival
The Litchfield Historical Society is pleased to announce the availability of an
Emancipation papers, commissary accounts, international trade,
the Countess Mary von Waldersee- this one has it all.
The collection documents several generations of Litchfield residents
from the late 18th to early 20th centuries.
The patriarchs earned wealth through their activities as merchants,
traders, and investors, enabling them, and members of subsequent generations,
to live lives free from financial concern, if not outright luxury.
The collection also provides evidence of their servants and slaves.
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Julius Deming
Portrait Miniature
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Invitation to a ball to
Julius Deming's daughter Dorothy
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The papers of Julius Deming (1755-1838), born in North Lyme, Conn.,
highlight his work during the Revolutionary War in the commissary department
with his uncles Henry and Epaphroditus Champion.
A detailed account of the attack on Stony Point in 1777
challenges the account provided to General Washington.
In 1781, Deming married his first cousin, Dorothy Champion (1759-1830)
of Colchester, Conn., and relocated to Litchfield.
Following the war, Deming became a leading merchant
during the town's most prosperous period.
He was also politically active in his town and in the new nation.
The papers of the Deming children are also included.
Son Charles was plagued by bad health.
Correspondence in the collection details his many doctors' visits,
treatments, and even a respite in the West Indies,
accompanied by his sister Lucretia, in the 1830s
culminating with a harrowing trip back to the United States.
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Engraving of Julius Deming
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Charles Deming House, Litchfield
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Charles's sister Clarissa married Charles Perkins,
a graduate of the Litchfield Law School.
Perkins family papers include documentation of voyages
of a sea faring family, including Captain Andrew Perkins
account detailing "two negroes" as part of his cargo.
Charles Perkins also kept a journal of a sea voyage
he embarked on as a 15 year old boy, and a voyage with his sister
as a younger child is documented as well.
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Clarissa Deming Perkins
Portrait Miniature
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Mary Perkins Quincy
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While the papers of Charles and Clarissa's children have not yet been processed,
they comprise a significant collection of materials and are listed in the finding aid.
Charles and Clarissa's daughter, Lucretia Deming Perkins,
married John Williams Quincy.
The papers of their daughter, Litchfield grande dame Mary Perkins Quincy (1866-1921),
comprise the remainder of this remarkable collection.
Quincy's papers reflect her extravagant lifestyle and include
correspondence, ephemera and mementos of her domestic and international travels,
genealogical records, and items relating to her affiliations with memorial institutions.
Her correspondences with family, diplomats, and members of several royal families
span the globe, documenting Prussia, Canada, Switzerland, Austria-Hungary,
Great Britain, Russia, France, Italy, Morocco, Greece and Egypt.
She co-authored a privately published book
entitled Pages of Azure and Gold with Sarah Gardiner.
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Ardley, Mary Perkins Quincy's
Litchfield Home
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Julius Deming House, Litchfield
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The remarkable papers, notable for both the span of time
they encompass and the considerable writings of women they include
addressing everything from issues of religious conversion, race relations,
and political matters to family affairs, are now open to researchers.
Papers created prior to 1840 have been thoroughly processed,
and all of papers in the collection have been listed in this finding aid.
Staff will continue to add description for later materials.
Processing this collection has been made possible by several granting agencies
including the Council on Library and Information Resources,
the Connecticut Humanities Council,
and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
The Litchfield Historical Society is dedicated
to collecting, preserving, and interpreting
the history of Litchfield, Connecticut.
Its Helga J. Ingraham Memorial Library is open year round,
Tuesday through Friday, from 10 AM-12 PM and 1 PM-4 PM.
Litchfield History Museum
Collections
There are two ways to learn about the collections online.
To read a description, go to Scope of the Collections.
To view images, choose Highlights of the Collections.
The Reeve House and Litchfield Law School
Tapping Reeve House & Law School takes visitors on a journey
through the life of a real student from the early 19th century.
Through role-playing, hands-on areas, and interpretive exhibits,
each visitor explores timeless issues of travel, communication, education, and community.
Visitors meet the students as they watch the introductory video Coming to Litchfield.
They discover the students' stories as they try on clothes that a student might have worn,
make decisions about what supplies to buy, and vote on issues of the day.
More about the Litchfield Law School
The Reeve House & Law School is open mid-April through November.
Click on the link above for complete information about hours, fees and directions.
In 1773, the newly married Tapping Reeve and Sally Burr Reeve
settled in Litchfield where Reeve promptly established a legal practice.
The following year, Sally's brother Aaron Burr
came to live with them and Reeve began to instruct him in the law.
Several prominent residents of Litchfield also sent their sons to Reeve
for legal training, establishing his reputation as a teacher and forming the nucleus
of what was to become America's first formal school of law.
More than 1,100 students attended the school before it closed in 1833.
The Litchfield Historical Society has compiled a list of them.
Helga J. Ingraham Memorial Library
THE HELGA J. INGRAHAM MEMORIAL LIBRARY
is open free of charge and year round to all researchers.
Materials may be used in the library reading room, but do not circulate.
Staff members are always available to help researchers.
A photocopier and a microfilm reader/printer are available for patron use.
The library is located on the ground floor of the Litchfield History Museum
and often hosts programs and workshops for adults and children.
Please call ahead or check our calendar to see
if there is an event the day you plan to visit.
Description of Holdings
The Helga J. Ingraham Memorial Library houses information
about Litchfield's 280 years of growth and change as reflected
through the papers, publications, photographs, and ephemera of
local residents, homes, businesses, institutions and organizations.
The Society's library also serves as the official repository
for the records of many local institutions including the Garden Club,
the Litchfield Red Cross, the Junior Women’s Club
and the Mary Floyd Tallmadge Chapter of the DAR.
Official birth, death, and marriage records,
as well as land and probate records,
are located in the town halls of each town.
Information on contacting town halls
can also be found in the Guide to Local Resources.
Other Resources
The Details
Litchfield's History
Litchfield is a small town of approximately 8,000 people
located in northwestern Connecticut.
Founded in 1719, Litchfield has a rich history.
The town was the home of the first law school in the United States
as well as an early school for girls.
At the end of the 19th century, Litchfield residents
became leaders in the Colonial Revival movement.
Today, carefully preserved 18th and 19th c.
homes share space with innovative 20th c. architecture.
Travelers from all over the world visit Litchfield
to enjoy its architecture, shops, restaurants, and natural beauty.
Favorite pastimes include outdoor sports such as hiking, boating, and cycling.
The town is one hour from Hartford and New Haven
and two and a half hours from New York City and Boston.
Litchfield During the Revolutionary War
Litchfield’s inland location on major trade routes
gave the town unique role during the American Revolution.
Because Litchfield’s inland location made it a “safe town” the community
was used to house important loyalist prisoners and as a supply depot for military stores.
The Society's 2006 exhibition The Tale of the Horse
presented information about both the activities of Litchfield's residents
during the war and their efforts to memorialize it in subsequent years.
After the Revolutionary War
The fifty years between 1784 and 1834
was a time of growth and prosperity for the community.
During these years Litchfield was an active growing urban center,
and by 1810 the town had become the fourth largest in the state.
During these years Litchfield was home to
two pioneering educational institutions,
the Litchfield Law School and the Litchfield Female Academy.
The Litchfield Law School
With more than 1,100 students attending
from every region of post-revolutionary America,
the Litchfield Law School, America’s first law school,
launched the careers of many well-known politicians, jurists, educators
as well as leaders in the nation’s emerging corporate,
mercantile, industrial and financial establishments.
The Litchfield Female Academy
The Litchfield Female Academy was one of a small group of schools
that played a critical role in shaping later educational,
social and economic opportunities for women in the United States.
Over its forty-one year history the academy attracted over 3,000 students
from fifteen states and territories, Canada, Ireland and the West Indies.
During the Colonial Revival
By the 1840's water power and railroads had become
critical components in the growth of manufacturing.
Industries by-passed Litchfield’s hilltop location in favor of
valley towns, and the village settled into a sleepy existence.
Modern Litchfield
Today, Litchfield is a vibrant community.
The town’s population continues to grow,
and residents and visitors alike treasure the
historic character of the architecture and landscape.
My Country
My Country Society, Inc. was founded in 1967 with the purpose of publishing
a journal, My Country, related to American history.
Initially, the journal was distributed throughout Litchfield County.
New and established authors were encouraged to submit manuscripts.
The Society also awarded scholarships to Litchfield High School students.
In 2008, the Society ceased its operation and merged its assets
with the Litchfield Historical Society intending that the Society
continue publishing articles specific to Litchfield's history on its Web site.
About the Litchfield Historical Society
The Litchfield Historical Society, founded in 1856, is dedicated to
collecting, preserving and interpreting the history of Litchfield County, Connecticut
through its museum, research library and historic house.
The Ingraham Memorial Research Library houses local business
and organizational archives, manuscripts and family papers,
reference books, and genealogical material.
The Tapping Reeve House, built in 1774, and the 1784 Law School
interpret the family and home life of Tapping Reeve
and his role in the development of American legal training.
The Historical Society is a private non-profit organization
supported by an active and growing membership.
Supporting the Society's Work
The Historical Society is a private non-profit organization
supported by a talented group of volunteers and an active and growing membership.
There are many ways that you can support the work of the society.
You can adopt an object in our collections and support its restoration,
you can donate a collection or the money to purchase a collection.
There are also opportunities for planned giving that benefit both you and the society.
