January 2012 Newsletter

January Meeting Notice

The Ellington Historical Society will meet on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hall Memorial Library at 93 Main Street. Following the business meeting, Rick Spencer will present his program, “The Boys of the Battlefield: The Civil War As Told By Its Popular Songwriters,” accompanied by the guitar and banjo. Events to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War began last year, and we are pleased to be able to present this timely program.

Refreshments for the January meeting will be provided by Doris Johnson and Nancy Long.

Note: The Hall Memorial Library has scheduled some of their adult programs on historical topics in conjunction with our meetings. Our January program is one of these. Press releases about these programs say to call the library to register. Registration does NOT apply to Ellington Historical Society members.

News from the Curator-Nancy Long

Open House/Winterfest

A wonderfully mild and sunny December 3 made all the town activities a pleasure! We had a steady stream of visitors at the museum from mid-afternoon until closing at 7:00 p.m. 

To herald the coming of 2012 and the 200^th anniversary of the house that would become our museum, we displayed photographs dating from the late 1800s to the 1940s. The many changes to the house over the years were apparent in the display including the realization that there was an ell attached to the rear of the house on the west side (facing the Congregational Church).

A house model, done by Hilary Brady while in the Ellington School system, was decorated for the holiday season by Tim Fahy and included skaters, carolers and even Nellie peeking out of an upstairs window.

We were treated to Christmas carols played on the piano by nieces of Karyn Kloter. Karyn and her daughter Emma decorated a tabletop tree in the dining room with little aprons and thread spools found in a dresser drawer during the refurbishing of Nellie’s bedroom.

Visitors came to see Nellie’s bedroom, open to the public for the first time. The room is decorated with memorabilia from Nellie’s life in town and showcases her furniture and some pieces of her weaving. The public was intrigued at having access to a previously closed area of the house, and walking through the closet connecting the two bedrooms was of added interest.

Our members cleaned, decorated and acted as docents for the open house and we appreciate their talents and time spent at the museum.  As always, special thanks to Tim Fahy for lending a hand wherever needed from decorating to feeding the volunteers. Tim, with the assistance of his friend Rick, drained the pipes and winterized the house for the season. Thank you Tim for all you do!

Volunteers: Mary Temple, Tina Fiore, Angie DeLuca, Don and Lennie Ellis, Dave Lehmann, Nancy Lombard, Shirley Hayden, Karyn Kloter and nieces, Dave Danforth, Tim and Lynn Fahy, Jim and Nancy Long.

News from the Archivist-Lynn Fahy

I had a request recently for information about the origin of the name “Jobs Hill Road.” Who was Job? Dorothy Cohen’s 1987 book Ellington: Chronicles of Change has a section called “Place Names to Remember” that gives the history of many names. This is the entry for Jobs Hill:

“Proximity of Green Rd. and Jobs Hill Rd. in the northwest part of town. Jobs Hill Road from Morris Corner north-northwest to Somers line (laid out in 1749). Legend has it that Job Colton, who lived near Buckhorn Brook on top of the hill near the Somers-Enfield line made paths down the hill to Broad Brook, one of which Jobs Hill Road closely follows.”

Ellington: Chronicles of Change was reprinted in 2010 by the Ellington Historical Society, and copies are still available at the Hall Memorial Library for $20. Out-of-towners can order copies by sending a check for $22.50 (includes shipping), payable to Ellington Historical Society to our P.O. Box.

News from the President-Tim Fahy

It’s 2012 and Nellie McKnight house is 200 years old. She will celebrate her 200^th anniversary dressed up in a new coat of paint, Hepplewhite Ivory, which was applied in October, just before the surprise snowstorm. Most folks in town think the house looks great.

We hope to have a few special events this year including an archaeological dig. To showcase the house, we will be open a few times on weekends during the summer.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Nancy and Jim Long for all they did to get the house and yard in shape. They seemed to spend more time at the museum then they did at home.