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Brookfield Museum and
Historical Society Museum Hours of Operation - Saturdays noon - 4 p.m. & by appointment | |
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225th Brookfield Anniversary Photo Contest
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Click here to print the Calendar2013 Calendar of Events For more information about any of the events or other activities of the Brookfield Historical please call 203-740-8140 to speak to a representative or leave a message. You may also contact us by email at brookfieldhistsoc@snet.net . The calendar for 2012 continues to develop and additional programming details may be added from time to time.
March 4 - American Military Forum - Gettysburg, though the eyes of a Civil War Re-enactor
Time of Event: Monday, 7:30 Location: Historical Society's Museum, 165 Whisconier Road (at the junction of CT Routes 25 and 133) You
will experience a spell-binding presentation, as veteran civil war re-enactor
and movie actor Ralph Langham of New Fairfield, outfitted in an authentic civil
war union officer’s uniform of the 79th New York Cameron Highlanders
Regiment, lectures on key Civil War battles with particular focus on the
monumental conflict at Gettysburg. He will also incorporate some history of the
79th Regiment, of which he is a re-enactment member, into his
presentation and share day by day actions of the Highlanders during the war from
actual letters written during the war by the unit’s Adjutant Captain William
Thomas Lusk. An avid collector of civil war weapons he will exhibit vintage
Civil War swords, side arms and muskets..
Langham
appeared in the acclaimed movie Gods
and Generals as Stonewall Jackson’s Chief of Staff, plus the Chief of
Staff to the 20th Maine and Irish Brigades. He will also appear in
the upcoming PBS production Young American Heroes – The
Elisha Stockwell Story in which he plays the part of Brigadier General
Crittenden. A highly articulate Civil War historian he has been published in the
Civil War News and lectured at many venues to include Westcon as a visiting
professor on the Civil War. In civilian life Langham spent his career at IBM as
a Systems Programmer and High Tech Security Specialist
and honed his talents as a seasoned lecturer having
been a lead speaker for IBM, and later US Trust and the NSA, In
the
re-enacting world Langham is among the most experienced
Civil War soldiers rising thorough the ranks to Lieutenant Colonel in the
Highlanders Regiment. Over the past 15 years he has participated in numerous
staged battles fighting his way up the coast from Florida to New England. In
addition he serves as treasurer to the 11th Connecticut Volunteer
Infantry and is a Colonel in the 7th Arkansas, a confederate
re-enactment unit. The program is free of charge and refreshments will be served.
March 27 - Special Presentation on the Women Work in WW II Time of Event: Monday, 7:30
Location: Historical Society's Museum, 165 Whisconier Road (at the junction of CT Routes 25 and 133) Author John
Cilio will present a moving lecture
about his latest book Women’s Work in WWII:
Millions of working women breakdown the barriers of gender discrimination.
The discussion will be followed by a book signing.
This timely program occurs during the month of March which is
National Women’s History month. Cilio hails from Sherman, Connecticut. He is a prolific author who has written six historical books and freely admits he enjoys researching the ghosts of our past. He believes that often the consequences of a historical incident were hidden from those that experienced it yet looking back one can sense the full impact of their moments in time. Such is the case of his latest work which adeptly transports the reader back to the era when men went off to war and the majority of women remained behind to care for families and fill the enormous gaps left vacant by the soldiers. Cilio describes how these untested women faced and met the challenges proving their competence in thousands of roles including the production of war materials previously performed by men only. These women imagined success and achieved it but when the war ended, so did female equality. The book concludes with how the women of WWII would not accept that outcome and worked in and with Congress, with the president, the unions and across the courts. Their objective: remove the barriers to equal pay for equal work and provide a workplace free from gender discrimination. Cilio will tell some of the anecdotal stories and discuss a selection of vintage photographs that highlight a desperate time in America.
For
each copy of his book which is purchased, Cilio will generously donate $10.00 to
the Brookfield Museum and Historical Society to support future public programs
conducted by the Society.
Admission to this presentation is free and complimentary refreshments will be available for attendees.
March 23 & 24 - Brookfield Museum's Train Show Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24 from 10 - 5
April 6 & 7 - Saturday and Sunday - part of Brookfield's 225th Anniversary, a Museum Open House
Time of Event: Saturday and Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. Location: Historical Society's Museum, 165 Whisconier Road (at the junction of CT Routes 25 and 133) Museum and Historical Society will host an Open House exhibit and lecture as part of Brookfield’s 225th Anniversary. The event will highlight the evolution and history of Brookfield from its humble origins as primarily an agrarian community to its current status as a center for business and commerce. Laura Mancuso, Town Historian, will give a chronological overview on Brookfield’s vibrant history in her “Then and Now” lecture, which will take place each day beginning at 1:00 P.M. The exhibit will be open between the hours of noon and 4 P.M. Rare vintage Brookfield images of historic scenes and buildings, many long since passed will be continuously projected on a large screen. Among the items in the exhibit will be photographs and literature on the creation of Candlewood Lake. In addition a large selection of the Museum’s artifacts will be on display to include 19th century farming tools and period household kitchen implements, antique Victorian dolls and turn of the century toys, and vintage clothing as well as a host of other items which have since been replaced by advances in technology but were once used by the town’s people. The events are free and complimentary refreshments will be served.
April 8 - American Military Forum - Spying Activity During the American Revolution
Time of Event: Monday, 7:30 Location: Historical Society's Museum, 165 Whisconier Road (at the junction of CT Routes 25 and 133)
The Brookfield Historical Society will host a multi-media presentation on
Spying Activities During the American Revolution. The guest
speaker will be Silvan Gleissner of Danbury. Gleissner, a Revolutionary War re-enactor and lecturer, is a member of the Living History Association, the Continental Line, the Brigade of the American Revolution and a former staff member of the Board of Trustees of the Scott-Fanton Museum in Danbury. He is an ardent historian of undercover intelligence activities, which took place throughout our military history. Gleissner has made presentations at historic venues to include Mount Vernon, Virginia and Fraunces Tavern in Manhattan. He will focus on noted spies who operated during the War of Independence and the techniques and gadgets used at that time to transmit secret intelligence. The event is free and complementary refreshments will be served.
May 6 - American Military Forum - Presidential War Powers
Time of Event: Monday, 7:30 Location: Historical Society's Museum, 165 Whisconier Road (at the junction of CT Routes 25 and 133) Local attorney and retired Probate Judge, Joseph Secola, also a member of the Society’s Board of Directors will present a multi-media presentation on the subject of Presidential War Powers. Refreshments will be served.
May 12- June 2 - A Salute to Our Military Exhibit Time of Event: Every Saturday from noon - 4 p.m. with extended hours on Sunday, May 29 Location: Historical Society's Museum, 165 Whisconier Road (at the junction of CT Routes 25 and 133)
An annual memorial exhibit at the Brookfield Historical Society Museum,
located at 165 Whisconier Road, will honor the memory of those former
residents from Brookfield who died in our country’s wars. Their service
periods began with the American Revolution
and continued through many of our Nations armed conflicts up to and
including Operation Iraqi
Freedom. The exhibit will
open each Saturday from noon to 4 P.M. beginning May 11. It will also be
open on Sunday, May 26 in conjunction with Brookfield’s Memorial Day parade
and observances until 4P.M. at which time it will end. The public is
encouraged to visit the memorial exhibit and join the community in
expressing our sincere gratitude for the sacrifices they made in the cause
of freedom. May 26 – Museum's Annual Strawberry Festival Time of the Event: Sunday from noon through 3:00 Location: Historical Society's Museum grounds, 165 Whisconier Road (at the junction of CT Routes 25 and 133) Following the Brookfield Memorial Day parade, the Museum and Historical Society will host its annual Strawberry Festival. The festival will feature, at no charge, a live jazz band and an antique car exhibit. In addition homemade strawberry short cake and soft drink beverages will be sold to the public. All proceeds will go to sponsor future public programming at the Museum. A memorial exhibit honoring Brookfield residents who died while in service to their country will also run concurrently at the Society Museum.
June 3 - American Military Forum - The Story of Guadalcanal
Time of Event: Monday, 7:30 Location: Historical Society's Museum, 165 Whisconier Road (at the junction of CT Routes 25 and 133) Military Historian, Peter Cronin will present Refreshments will be served.
July 8 - American Military Forum - The Boxer Rebellion
Time of Event: Monday, 7:30 Location: Historical Society's Museum, 165 Whisconier Road (at the junction of CT Routes 25 and 133) David Montgomery of Newtown, a former U.S. Marine officer, with a life long interest in military history will present. Refreshments will be served.
Aug 5 - American Military Forum - The Shenandoah Valley Campaign and it's impact on the Hite Family of Page County Time of Event: Monday, 7:30 Location: Historical Society's Museum, 165 Whisconier Road (at the junction of CT Routes 25 and 133) Presentation by Harlan Jessup Refreshments will be served...and the Museum is air conditioned!
September 9 - American Military Forum - To Be Announced... Time of Event: Monday, 7:30 Location: Historical Society's Museum, 165 Whisconier Road (at the junction of CT Routes 25 and 133) Refreshments will be served
September 22 - Brookfield's Second Annual Farmfest - Blacksmithing Demonstration and much more!
Time of Event: Sunday, 10-4 p.m. Location: Gurski Farmstead forge area just a half mile north of the Museum on Route 133 heading toward Bridgewater
The Brookfield Museum and
Historical Society together with the Brookfield Conservation Commission is
presenting the communities first Farmfest on Sunday, September 23rd,
2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Gurski Farmstead on Route 133. There
will be vintage tractors and trucks, and antique machinery, as well as exhibits
by the Historical Society, Conservation Commission and Brookfield Girl Scouts.
Farmfest organizer Ryan Blessey, will give a
hands-on blacksmithing demonstration at the restored Gurski Farmstead forge.
Lorraine Ballato of Brookfield along with others
Master Gardeners will field questions from attendees at the Ask the Master
Gardener booth on gardening and flower related concerns. In addition, tours,
of the Merwin Brook Cemetery, Brookfield’s second oldest cemetery, situated next
to the blacksmith shop, will be held. In
recent years a number of headstones at this site, buried by time, were
discovered with the help of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the
United States Department of Agriculture. Using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR),
the locations of grave markers obscured over the years were discovered and
subsequently uncovered as well as markers identifying the parameters and
boundaries of the Cemetery.
Food will also be available along
with a bake sale. Admission is free and
refreshments will be served.
The Gurski Farmstead is located on the left side of
Route 133 approximately 1/2 mile from the intersection of Routes 25 and 133 in
Brookfield Center heading in the direction of Bridgewater.
Admission is free.
October 7 - American Military Forum - Civil War, 1863 in review... Time of Event: Monday, 7:30 Pete Cronin will present... Location: Historical Society's Museum, 165 Whisconier Road (at the junction of CT Routes 25 and 133) Refreshments will be served
October 23 – The Museum's Annual Meeting & DinnerTime of the Event: Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Location: The Hearth Restaurant, Federal Road, Brookfield This event is open to Historical Society members only and features an original presentation and dinner. Please RSVP to the Museum's phone or email. Cocktails at 6:30 and dinner served at 7.
November 2 – 21st Annual “Festival of Crafts” Craft Fair Time of the Event: Saturday, 9 – 4 Location: Brookfield Whisconier Middle School, 17 West Whisconier Road, Brookfield The Brookfield Museum and Historical Society will sponsor its 19th Annual “Festival of Crafts” Craft Fair at the Brookfield Middle School on West Whisconier Road. Among New England’s largest craft shows, this year’s Festival will offer for sale jewelry, artwork, textile products, holiday treasures, toys, gourmet foods and many other uniquely hand crafted items by highly recognized northeast artisans perfect for gift or home use. More than sixty juried crafters will be on hand. Admission is $5 without discount coupon for adults and children over 12 years of age. Click here for more information and a discount coupon.
November 3 – 9th Annual Veteran’s Day Program & ConcertTime of Event: Sunday, 2:00 p.m.. Location: Brookfield Public Library 182 Whisconier Road (Rt. 25)
The well known area vocal and musical Group J and B Lite will appear at a free concert to honor area veterans. The event is part of the community's 9th annual veteran's program, "A Musical Salute to Veterans", sponsored by the Brookfield Museum and Historical Society. Billy Michael, who will lead the group, will present a selection of popular music which emerge during the war years with particular emphasis on the music of the two World Wars. In addition three area veterans will be honored for their wartime service to our country. The program and concert are free. Refreshments will be served.
December 14 - Museum Annual Family Christmas Day Time of Event: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: Historical Society's Museum, 165 Whisconier Road (at the junction of CT Routes 25 and 133) 
Model trains, gifts, toys, refreshments, and Santa... The Brookfield Historical Society, will host a Traditional Christmas Family Day event at the Brookfield Museum Saturday, December 14, 2012 from Noon to 4 P.M. Santa will be stopping by with his helpers bearing complimentary treats for the kids. The sight of Model trains in a winter display, will entertain children of all ages, while the sound of antique music boxes will fill the air with well-known Christmas musical classics. Attendees will enjoy complimentary home made Christmas cookies and assorted pastries, as well as hot chocolate and mulled cider. Carolers will also be on hand to sing favorite seasonal songs. Admission is free. A must see visit for families that is guaranteed to get everyone into the spirit of the season.
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