Historical Society of Easton Connecticut



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News, Articles & Calendar Events from the HSE

Winter 2014

“WHAT AM I?”

A HISTORY of HANDTOOLS

By Katie Vespe and Harry Audley

The Historical Society of Easton has a magnificent collection of antique tools on display in the Barn of the Bradley-Hubbell Homestead. This collection is on a generous loan courtesy of Harry and Pat Audley. Audley’s tool collection dates mostly from the late 1800s to the early 1900s and contains countless numbers of antique tools. This treasure trove of tools provides a unique glimpse into Easton’s past.

Historically, Easton has predominantly been a farming community. Families were virtually self-sufficient. Anything they needed, from clothing to candles, would be made by hand. Every farm family had a series of tools to assist them in their daily labors. Each tool had a practical use, and would enable the farmer to provide necessary items for his family’s survival.

Harry Audley has graciously opened the doors to the barn and selected a few tools for us to showcase in the newsletter. See if you can guess what these tools were used for. (See page 3 for answers). To see the complete collection and learn about how they were used, please attend one of our Bradley-Hubbell Homestead Open Houses this spring/summer.

Tool #1: Tool #2: Tool #3:

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Inside this issue

“WHAT AM I?” (1 AND 3)

Thank Yous (1)

Save the Date (2)

-Paranormal Investigation Lecture

-Indian Wars in CT Lecture

-Letterboxing Event

BHH Barn Update (2)

Rent the BHH or ASH (2)

2014 Membership Drive (3)

2014 Corporate Membership (3)

Volunteer opportunities (4)

THANK YOU

The Historical Society of Easton would like to extend its most sincere gratitude to:

Joel Barlow Select Choir for singing at the holiday celebration.  

Steve Olexa and Tom Spurr for their tireless work on behalf of our organization. Thank you for your years of service to the HSE and the Easton community. 

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Thank you to Forger Kunkel Plumbing and Heating for their wonderful work on the Bradley Hubbell Homestead. Without their generous work on the outdoor pipes, we would not be able to open the house to visitors this season.

SAVE THE DATE! UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE HSE

Paranormal Investigative Group Lecture

Sunday, March 16, 2 – 4 PM

Easton Racquet Club,

36 Wimbledon Lane

FEE CHARGED:

$10 per person for non-members

$5 per person for members

Adam Shefts, chief investigator of the Northeast Paranormal Investigations Society (NPIS), will share his team’s findings of spirit activity and haunting of historic houses around the state. They will also present findings from their investigation of the Bradley-Hubbell House here in Easton too! Please join us for this fun and informative lecture at the Easton Racquet Club.

For further information, email the Historical Society of Easton at hseastonct@ or call 203-261-2090.

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Page 2

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Indian Wars in Connecticut History Lecture

by David Koch

Sunday, March 9th, 2-4 PM

Easton Public Library

Community Room

691 Morehouse Road

David Koch, Associate Professor of History at Housatonic Community College, returns to Easton for the fourth time to present Indian Wars in Connecticut History. Early in Connecticut’s history, the state saw bloody battles, both between Native American tribes and between natives and colonists. This talk will center on two major Indian wars of the period: the Pequot-Mohegan War and King Philip’s War. It will also deal in part with the battle fought in Fairfield that ended the Pequot-Mohegan War in 1637.

For further information, email the Historical Society of Easton at hseastonct@ or call 203-261-2090.

The lecture is free, but donations are always appreciated.

Regional Historical Society Letterboxing Scavenger Hunt

March 29–April 6

Visit eight different Connecticut area Historical Society’s in a Letterboxing Scavenger Hunt.  We will give you the clues and directions to all Eight Historical Society properties.  Follow the clues to find a letterbox on each property. Stamp your passbook using the stamp provided in the letterbox.  If you find all eight letterboxes and stamps, submit your name to win one of eight grand prizes. 

More information will be available in the coming weeks. Please check the HSE website for more details:



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RENT THE BRADLEY-HUBBELL HOMESTEAD OR THE ADAMS SCHOOLHOUSE

Planning a unique wedding, special event, private party, reception, or kid’s birthday? The Historical Society of Easton offers two extraordinary and unique locations to choose from. We are now offering the Bradley-Hubbell Homestead and the Adams Schoolhouse as event venues.

Imagine entertaining your child’s birthday party guests in an authentic one-room school house or hosting an anniversary party on the beautiful grounds of a restored historic homestead! The possibilities are endless.

For more information, contact Chester Burley at ccb124@ or 203-292-3533.

BRADLEY-HUBBELL BARN UPDATE

We have secured the funding to replace the trim; however we do not have enough funds to purchase and hire a professional to hang the shingles. For those who are new to the Society, the restoration of the Bradley-Hubbell Barn began in 2008 with a wonderful and successful barn tour and a grant from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. In the intervening years, we received private donations and grants which have helped fund the timber frame and trim restoration work. Our future plans for the barn includes a restoration of the front roof and finally a plan to replace the current cement floor with a threshing floor so that we can demonstrate the preparation of flax and grain for use. Funds are still needed to finish this restoration project. Our goal is to finish the Barn this spring/summer so that we can open the Homestead for greater public use. Barn donations can be sent to: P. O. Box 121, Easton, CT 06612.

Become a Corporate Member

of the Historical Society of Easton

The Historical Society of Easton means many things to our community: an educational organization devoted to historical preservation, a community organization presenting unique exhibitions of Easton history, a family organization offering imaginative events for visitors of all ages, a cherished community partner and resource.

The HSE keeps Easton’s history alive through its ambitious public program of events, exhibitions, oral history program and the careful supervision of historic collections and archival materials.

Corporate Membership in the Historical Society of Easton affirms your company’s position as a leader in corporate citizenship, and establishes your company’s active role in a Easton organization which has been a part of our town for more than 40 years.

What benefits will my company receive for its membership?

-Acknowledgement on the HSE website with a link to your business; our website has over 4000 hits a year

-Special insert in the HSE quarterly printed Newsletter mailed to 150 families annually and 250 families electronically

-Sponsorship of a program or activity of special interest

-Sponsorship recognition in the event program

Rates :

Full Page: $50 per issue, $200 per year

Half Page (horizontal): $25 per issue, $100 per year

1/4 Page (horizontal): $15 per issue, $60 per year

¼ Page (vertical): $15 per issue, $60 per year

Website: $100 per year

For more information, please contact the Society at (203) 581-0850.

Page 3

What am I? (Continued from Page 1)

Tool #1: Tomahawk No. 98, made by the Bridgeport Hardware Company, Bridgeport, CT

The shipping of materials was done in wooden boxes. This tool built, opened, removed nails, and repaired wooden boxes for multiple uses.

The 1925 Catalogue (No. 23) showed these tools selling for $6.00 per dozen

Tool #2: Eel Spear

Used in fall and winter, this tool enabled the handler to spear eels for food. The eels were hibernating in the mud of rivers and ponds.

This tool was made by Ordham Bros., New Haven, CT.

Tool #3: Stand and shoe-sized anvils

This tool was used to repair worn shoe soles. Worn shoes were placed over the anvil. Old soles were removed and new soles were placed on the shoe with glue and nails. These nails bent over when they hit the anvil, so as to not stab the wearer in the foot. A collection of anvils was necessary to fix all the sizes of shoes for the family. Until the early 1800’s, there was no distinction between left and right shoes.

2014 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE CONTINUES

Thank you to all who have already renewed your membership. For those who have not, it is time to renew your membership in the Historical Society of Easton for 2014. Benefits of membership include:

• The quarterly HSE Newsletter

• Free admission to HSE Lecture series

• Reduced admission to Bradley-Hubbell open houses and tours

• Email Invitations and early notification of all HSE events

By renewing your membership, your contribution helps fund the Society’s mission to preserve and promote the history of Easton. Your donations also help maintain the Bradley-Hubbell Homestead and the Adams Schoolhouse, providing educational and cultural activities for citizens of Easton and the surrounding areas.

Please consider renewing your membership today, using the form found below. Thank you!

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PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY!

_____Yes, please count me as a member of the Historical Society of Easton for 2014.

 I enclose a check for $__________ for dues in the following member category:

Family (Parents & children under 18), $35_____ ; Name:_____________________________________________

Adult, $15_____ ; Senior, $10_____ ; Sustaining, $100_____;

Patron, $250_____; Benefactor, $500_____; Other, $_____. Phone:____________________ Email: __________________

 

Please detach this document, make check out and mail to: Address:___________________________________________

 

Historical Society of Easton Town:_________________ State:_____ Zipcode:__________

P.O. Box 121

Easton, CT 06612 ____ Yes, I would like to volunteer. Please call me!

Our Board & Committees

Phone: (203) 261-2090

President Ex-Officio, Lisa Burghardt   Vice President, David Katz                  Treasurer, Joan Kirk

Marketing/PR, Emlyn Duemmler

Meeting Secretary, Frank Pagliaro 

Corresponding Secretary, Eleanor Burns 

Membership Director, Chester Burley

Newsletter, Katie Vespe          

Bradley-Hubbell Homestead/Tool Historian, Harry Audley 

Bradley-Hubbell Homestead/Architectural Historian, Sonia Bodie

Adams Schoolhouse, Cole and Paula Barker 

Website, Katie Vespe

Events, Open

HSE 2014

WE ARE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF EASTON

 

Our mission is to research, interpret and preserve Easton's history.

 

To stimulate interest in Easton's history, we:

• Educate people to its changing life ways.

• Commemorate its founding stories.

• Sponsor programs and events that bring our community together.

 

To facilitate the study of Easton's cultural past, we:

• Chronicle its narratives and genealogies.

• Archive and exhibit its material culture.

• Manage historic properties.

• Conduct research to uncover its histories.

• Publish historical information.

 

Our members advocate an understanding of our town's architectural and historic links to the past.

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS

The Society is looking for volunteers to help with leaf removal and lawn care for both the Bradley-Hubble Homestead and the Adams Schoolhouse properties.

We are also looking for an Events Coordinator to oversee and manage the different events and programs planned for 2013 and 2014. 

 

If you are interested in either of these positions, please contact the Society at (203) 581-0850.

P.O Box 101

Easton, CT 06612

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