The Legacy of Steamboats on the Thames ~ 2013 Cruise

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Plan now to Join us for the 2013 Cruise on the Thames River, sponsored by Cross Sound Ferry

Saturday 19 October, 2013

Boarding at Cross Sound Ferry Landing begins at 12:30 pm ~ Departing 1 pm ~ Returning to the wharf at 4 pm

Cruise on the Cross Sound Ferry SEAJET (or JESSICA W) from New London to Norwich and back with the New London County Historical Society

Tickets can now be purchased for our Fall Foliage cruise of the Thames River. Members: $45.00, Non-members $55.00.

Purchase tickets on the web at our Constant Contact event listing. Or call the Shaw Mansion (401.443.1209) during the day with your credit card information or send a check to us at 11 Blinman Street, New London, CT 06320.

Join us for an extraordinary afternoon of fall colors, wine, and hors d’oeuvres while revisiting the legacy of steamboats on the Thames River. A free wine-tasting will be offered by Gordon’s Yellow Front Wine and Spirits aboard the vessel during the cruise with special offers of case pricing available only for orders taken that day.

Bill Peterson, Senior Curator Emeritus from Mystic Seaport and author of Mystic Built, will share his knowledge of the history of steamboat travel to Norwich. From a summer steamer who carried day-trippers to Watch Hill to a full Long Island Sound steamer commuting to New York, they all traveled the Thames River to Norwich. Steamboat music will resound through the vessel.

Also aboard will be a number of “people from the past” portraying the late 19th century. Hors d’oeuvres, both sweet and savory will be available at several stations on the boat.

Tickets may be purchased with a credit card by calling the Shaw Mansion 860.443.1209; or send a check with your order. Groups pricing is available for groups of ten or more ~ call to get additional information.

Or visit this website link.

Wine and History ~ Cruise the Thames with the NLCHS

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Saturday 20 October, 2012

Boarding at Cross Sound Ferry Landing begins at 12:30 pm ~ Departing 1 pm ~ Returning to the wharf at 4 pm

Cruise on the Cross Sound Ferry SEAJET from New London to Norwich and back with the New London County Historical Society

Tickets can now be purchased online for our Fall Foliage cruise of the Thames River. Members: $40.00, Non-members $50.00.

Join us for an extraordinary afternoon of fall colors, wine, and hors d’oeuvres while learning the history of the Thames River as a refuge for Commodore Stephen Decatur during the War of 1812. A free wine-tasting will be offered by Gordon’s Yellow Front Wine and Spirits aboard the vessel during the cruise with special offers of case pricing available only for orders taken that day.

Several authors of the NLCHS published book, THE ROCKET’S RED GLARE: The War of 1812 and Connecticut, will take turns at the microphone sharing some of the important connections between the war and the places we will be visiting. Music of the War of 1812 will be featured between speakers.

Also aboard will be a number of “people from the past” portraying the 1812 period. Hors d’oeuvres, both sweet and savory will be available at several stations on the boat.

Tickets may be purchased with a credit card by calling the Shaw Mansion 860.443.1209; or send a check with your order; or get registered online and pay with credit card, paypal, or a follow-up check. Groups pricing is available for groups of ten or more ~ call to get additional information.

“Miss Perkins” invites you for a tour

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Miss Perkins at the door… well actually, it is Jennifer who portrays Miss Perkins who will be greeting you at the door and providing a tour of the Shaw Mansion with a special perspective.

Jennifer Emerson has done a great deal of research to create the role of “Miss Jane Perkins” as she lived in this house in 1876 (and sold the house to the historical society in 1907), and we have offered “first-person interpretive performances” staring Jennifer in the role of Miss Perkins. These “Tea with Miss Perkins” performances have been very popular over the past three years. The cast of characters grew to include the maid, and “Mother” – Mrs. Perkins, and occasionally a brother or two.

The tours on these Saturdays, however, will feature Jennifer in the “third-person” sharing with our visitors some of the intimate knowledge she has gleaned in her research. Although Jennifer will be in her “period attire” (as her dress and accessories are accurate to the time we prefer that phrase to “historic costume”), she will not be trying to maintain the role of Miss Perkins. So you won’t be seeing the ghost of Miss Perkins, but you will be gaining some truly hidden information.

This unique opportunity to learn more about our community and our past is only available for a limited time. This will be an ideal time to return to the Shaw Mansion and bring your visitors for a “limited edition” experience.

24 June ~ Connecticut’s Historic Gardens Day at the Shaw Mansion

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Come to the Shaw Mansion for Connecticut’s Historic Garden Day

Sunday 24 June join us at the Shaw Mansion for  Connecticut’s Historic Gardens Day. Your $5 admission to the gardens will provide opportunities for learning and enjoying the garden in the current, or the 19th century. Connecticut Master Gardener Trainer Susan Munger will host garden tours and share her expertise. A local Croquet Club will set up their wickets on the lawn and share some of the secrets to this game (as played by the serious-minded competitors).

In the afternoon, “Miss Perkins and friends” will entertain with period music, a “Language of Flowers” tour and perhaps a game of croquet.

There will be plants available for sale, and strawberry shortcake for everyone!

Open 12 noon to 4:00 pm.

Thames Base Ball Club Announces Season Schedule

Thames Base Ball Club Announces Season Schedule

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The Thames Base Ball Club will again be playing their style of 1861 Rules Base Ball this season with home games taking place at Fort Trumbull. Everyone is invited to these free exhbitions of the National Pasttime in its infancy.

So, “What’s different about 1861 rules from today?” I hear you ask. Well: In 1861 gloves have yet to be invented; in 1861 you were not allowed to overrun first base; in 1861 you could catch a fly ball on its first bounce and it would be an out — but you might not want to since runners didn’t tag up on a “bounded ball;” and a method to punish the batter for not swinging at good pitches — the called strike — had just been invented and added to the rules; but there was still no way to punish the pitcher for throwing bad pitches since “the ball” wasn’t invented until three years later.

April 22 — LYME TAVERNERS 11am
April 29 — COLUMBIA (tentative)
May 12 — @ Newtown
June 3 — @ Bristol (historic town green)
June 16 — @ Colt Meadows Invitational
July 7 — @ Columbia
July 15 — DODD STADIUM v. TBA 2pm
July 21 — NEWTOWN
July 28 — BRISTOL
August 4 — HARTFORD DARK BLUES
August 12 — ATLANTIC BASE BALL CLUB (guys from Long Island)
August 18 — @ Red Onion (Old Wethersfield)
September 9 — @ Lyme Taverners
September 15 — @ Hartford Dark Blues (Old Wethersfield)
ALL CAPS signify home games.

“Emma” comes to the Shaw Mansion

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The newest Flock Theatre production in their Shaw Mansion Series is an adaption of Jane Austen’s “Emma.” Emma Woodhouse is intelligent, wealthy and attractive, but she has also been indulged most of her life. She considers herself to be quite a match maker, but she may have met her match in the Woodhouse’s gentlemanly neighbor, Mr. Knightly.

Preview performances are available 7, 8, and 9 of February, and the show runs through 19 February. Evening performances are at 7pm, and on Saturday and Sunday matinee shows are at 2pm.

Tickets are available through Flock Theatre’s box office by calling 860.443.3119

Ticket Prices:

Preview Performances Adults $25, Children and Seniors $20   

Regular Shows: Adults $35, Children and Seniors $30

860.443.3119 for tickets