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.

Connecticut and the War of 1812 Website Launched

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Militia Camp ImageOn the 200th anniversary of the declaration of war against Britain, the New London County Historical Society launched a new website “Connecticut and the War of 1812.” Available at: http://warof1812ct.org, the internet resource is a third component sharing information about this important turning point in the state and the nation’s history.

“THE ROCKETS’ RED GLARE” commemorates the bicentennial year of the beginning of the War of 1812 and was created by a partnership of the historical society with Mystic Seaport, the Stonington Historical Society, the New London Maritime Society, and the Lyman Allyn Art Museum. These museums and historical societies have worked together in creating a book which has just been released, and an exhibition which opened at the Lyman Allyn on Friday 6 July.

Edward Baker, Executive Director of the New London County Historical Society, describes the website as, “A little bit of the book, and a little bit of the exhibition,” whose aim is to share this information as broadly as possible. “If you search through most books on the War of 1812 and look for references to Connecticut you won’t find many. But if you look at our website and check just the listing of British ships stationed off of New London you’ll see this was not a minor effort.”  Web visitors can navigate the timeline to see the number of local events and how they intertwine with national and international events.

Creating the website was funded through a grant from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut. The book and exhibition are supported by grants from the Connecticut Humanities Council, the Coby Foundation and the Edgard and Geraldine Feder Foundation.

While most Americans were shielded from the war, the people living along the coast of Connecticut were repeatedly attacked and actively engaged. In the last days of the American Revolution almost the entire town of New London was burned by the British (under Benedict Arnold) and the defenders at Fort Griswold in Groton were massacred. Just thirty years later, the same enemy is visible on Long Island Sound every day for almost two years. “That is the reality we are trying to bring to our local audience,” added Baker.

The exhibition showcases items from the collections of each of the partners. The 16-star American flag that flew over the defenders of Stonington is featured in the exhibit. The victories of our tiny Navy against the largest Navy in the world fostered a sense of national identity that had not previously existed. The War of 1812 inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner” and laid the groundwork for a national patriotism that is still felt today.

“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.

Book Launch for THE ROCKETS’ RED GLARE

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THE ROCKETS’ RED GLARE: THE WAR OF 1812 AND CONNECTICUT, Glenn Gordinier (primary author), with additional contributions from James Boylan, Meredith Mason Brown, Fred Calabretta, Frances M. Caulkins, James Tertius de Kay, Andrew German, Jerry Roberts, Nancy Steenburg, and Matt Warshauer
Book cover THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE
This new book published by the New London County Historical Society, will be celebrated at a reception and book-signing at the Shaw Mansion, 11 Blinman Street, New London, CT, Friday evening, 8 June, 4:30 to 6:30.
The book is accompaniment to the forthcoming exhibit: The Rocket’s Red Glare ~ Connecticut and the War of 1812, which will open the following month at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum. Both projects are the result of a partnership between Mystic Seaport, the Stonington Historical Society,
the New London County Historical Society, the New London Maritime Society, and the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, and have been supported by grants from the Connecticut Humanities Council and others.

Although the two projects are similar in name, they are not the same. The book attempts to provide a broader focus and to put what was happening in Connecticut within the larger framework of the war and international affairs. The exhibition is a bit more limited in scope, and shaped by the objects available to share these stories. Objects from each of the partners’ collections will be on display in the exhibition.

Though largely overlooked in the American narrative, the War of 1812 was a turning point for the nation, and for the state of Connecticut. The Rockets’ Red Glare: The War of 1812 and Connecticut, examines the many facets of America’s second major war, and its impact on destiny.

The war was not a distant event for the residents of Connecticut, especially those who lived along the coast. Enemy warships attacked shipping and communities up and down Long Island Sound, and the state’s military and civilians responded. The region saw aerial bombardment, kidnapping, torpedo warfare, espionage, and improvised explosive devices.

This book gathers a series of essays to provide international and national context to the issues and struggles in Connecticut. A series of
sidebar articles provide more local connections, and full-color images of objects from the exhibit illustrate the topic.

Price for the book is $18 and will be available for purchase at the launch celebration and book-signing, and can be purchased through the NLCHS website online shop once it is available.

Commemorating the War of 1812

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Exhibits

The Rockets’ Red Glare ~ Connecticut in the War of 1812

Open 6 July 2012 at the Lyman allyn Art Museum

waroof1812ct.org

Web exhibit will be available soon

Books

The Rockets’ Red Glare: The War of 1812 and Connecticut, Gordonier, Glenn; New London, CT: New London County Historical Society, 2012

At the printers ….

Events

Book Launch, 8 June 2012 at the Shaw Mansion

Exhibit Opening, 6 July 2012 at the Lyman Allyn

Thames River Cruise, 20 October 2012 https://www.nlchs.org/wordpress?p=1735