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Contact 203-222-1424, press@westporthistory.org

3/26/07

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Westport Historical Society Plans Holiday House Tour December 2nd

The Westport Historical Society Holiday House Tour will be held on Sunday, December 2nd from 11 AM until 4 PM. The theme of Architecture, Art and Antiques highlights the depth and breadth of homes on the tour. This year’s homes are range from the oldest House in Westport to one of the newest. Each of the homes is unique and together they will offer a delicious delights for a day of fun. The gracious home owners know that the tour is one of the most important fund raisers for the Historical Society as well as a favorite event for over five hundred people who attend each year and thus are willing to open their homes. Sponsors including TDBank North, Cohen and Wolfe and Connecticut Cottages and Gardens are supporting the Historical Society’s education and preservation activities. In addition, five local real estate firms have chosen to sponsor the individual homes. Prudential, Caldwell Banker, Raveis Realty, Country Living and Fairfield Country Living are each sponsoring and staffing a house bringing their expertise to the event.

The festive holiday decorations include collections of ornaments from Georg Jenson, some Christmas trees that are upside down, some large and some small and welcoming Santas in hallways. Several local florists have generously offered to add to the beauty with floral designs made especially for each home. The florists include Blossoms Event and Floral Design Center, Daybreak Nurseries and Florist, Betsy and Company. As these florists meet with the home owners they are designing to blend the décor and seasonal themes with familiar showy flowers, such as Amaryllis and Calla Lilies as well as exotic booms and lush greenery. Particular attention is always focused on the dining table where some of the most elaborate centerpieces showcase the talents of designers.

Holiday arrangement by Primrose Floral Design, who will be bringing their
beautiful touches to one of the homes on the Holiday House Tour.

The homes include a luxurious shingle-style house built by local developer, Rick Benson, a contemporized Frazier Peters home, and the oldest homes on the Jennings Trail. There is a lakeside Nantucket-style home and a cozy New England beach house. Many of the homes owners are collectors of magnificent classic and contemporary art making this a tour a celebration of living with art.

This event marks the beginning of seasonal home decorating and celebration. Many of the tour attendees make an annual date with friends to visit the five homes on the tour and share a special lunch at one of Westport’s many restaurants. There are many ideas to bring home for your own holiday events.

The day finishes off with a Festa Elegante, a special hors d’oevres party, at another glamorous Westport home from 4:30 until 7:30 where Chef Giona Stanco of Giona’s Global Cuisine will prepare tasty bites. The chef’s early years in Florence and travels through Europe and Asia inspire his cooking. Giona’s voluptuous appetizers will be accompanied by cheeses and crudites from Chef Jamie Cooper at Bonda, recently given rave reviews by the New York Times. Desserts from Chef Bryan Malcarney of Blue Lemon in Westport will cap off the celebratory day along with wine, music and a silent auction including a styling by Phillip Addario, the preeminent stylist of Fairfield County at Phillip Bruce.

Totney Benson and MaryAnn Laurita are Co-Chairs of the event. Tickets are $45 or $35 for members of the Westport Historical Society. The cocktail party tickets are $75.

Something Wicked in Westport, a Haunted House to benefit the Westport Historical Society, will be open Friday and Saturday evenings, October 19th and 20th and October 26th & 27th from 7 to 10 p.m. Located in the Post Plaza in Westport (next to Barnes and Noble), this promises to be the experience of an “after-lifetime.” Ghouls and fiends alike abound in a ghastly event not to be missed. Appropriate for adults and children over age 10, admission to this house of terrors is $10. Not recommended for younger children.

The Westport Historical Society presents its fourth annual Lantern Tour on Sunday, October 14, at Willowbrook Cemetery, 395 Main Street, Westport, beginning at 5 pm. with an introduction by Peter Jennings, an eleventh generation Westporter. The tour that follows features famous people buried at the cemetery. Among those highlighted this year will be Laura Gardin Fraser, wife of celebrated sculptor James Earl Fraser and a renowned sculptor herself, and Baron von Langendorff, founder of Evyan Perfumes and the original owner of “Baron’s South.”

Following the tour, there will be storytelling and music around a campfire. Refreshments will also be served. Admission to the tour is $5 per person, $15 for families of four or more. All proceeds support the educational programs of the Westport Historical Society.

Susan Gold, Executive Director for the Westport Historical Society, says, “This tour is a different kind of outing, filled with intrigue and mystery. The lantern tour is a fun way to learn first-hand about the sacred burial places in our community and the people who left their mark on our community.”

Sponsors of the tour include the Harding Funeral Home in Westport and the Brown’s Monument Works in Monroe, CT. Debbie Truhowsky of Willowbrook Cemetery invites all participants of the tour to come early and walk the new labyrinth.

Reservations for the Lantern Tour are strongly recommended. Call the Westport Historical Society at 222-1424 for information and reservations or email sgold@westporthistory.org.

The Westport Historic District Commission and the Westport Historical Society are inviting the general public to an Open House at the Emily McLaury House at 99 Myrtle Ave. on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 1 to 3 p.m. After touring the nearly completed restoration of the house, visitors can walk across the street to 25 Avery Place, home of the Westport Historical Society, for refreshments and a visit to the current exhibits, historic rooms and carriage barn.

The Westport Historical Society invites families to take a visit back in time at the Town’s only remaining one-room schoolhouse during the Little Yellow Schoolhouse Shindig on Saturday, September 29, from noon to 3 pm. at the Adams Academy just off the Post Road on Morningside Drive North.

The Academy is a well-preserved one-room classroom that allows people to discover the educational experience of children over 150 years ago. Dressed in period costume, historical interpreter Wendy Cole will show Early American attire and demonstrate wool and flax culture; including carding, spinning, and weaving. Kids can try spinning and take home some hand-spun wool, visit an old-time dress-up booth with period costumes, and enjoy games and Victorian-era refreshments.

Children who attended the Adams Academy, which was Westport’s first private high school, came from all over the East Coast and were boarded in the homes of Westport families. The coed prep school helped prepare students for college and life. From 1837 to 1867, when Ebenezer Adams taught at the school, there were 637 students who graduated—and none were refused admission to college.

In the 1880s, the Westport school system used the one-room schoolhouse for children in the West Long Lots area. After years of use as a home for needy town families, the restoration committee raised the funds to restore the building and added two rooms for use by the Town School Guidance Office. The Westport Historical Society occupied the building for a number of years until it purchased the downtown Wheeler House in the 1980s. Since then, the historic schoolhouse became part of the Jennings Trail tour in which third grade students visit landmarks throughout town, facilitated by the Westport Historical Society.

Admission to the Schoolhouse Shindig is $3 per person. All proceeds support the Educational Programs of the Westport Historical Society.

Rudy von Bernuth is the Vice President and Managing Director of the Children in Emergencies and Crisis Development at Save the Children US. He is responsible for all of the agency’s international emergency responses, food security programs working with children in conflict situations, and child exploitation. In 1979, when he was with CARE, he witnessed the Khmer people fleeing from Cambodia to Thailand. He recorded what he saw with his camera, and one photo ended up on the cover of a U.S. government publication. He then realized that he could share with others what he experienced through photographs.

Since then von Bernuth has photographed village rituals, the seasonal rhythms of agrarian cultures, the mix of misery and beauty, timeless patterns and rhythms, needless disease and death. As he looks back on 30 years of photographs, he is struck by how much of what he photographed is disappearing or has already disappeared as “global progress” has reached the smallest villages in developing countries all over the world.

The Westport Historical Society is honored to showcase these meaningful photographs that dramatically display a hardened reality for many children in war-torn areas of the world. The exhibit will officially open on Sunday September 30 and will run through the end of December.

Save Sunday, September 23 from 2 to 4 PM to attend the not-to-be-missed gala opening of A Cartoon Legacy, a family fun exhibit featuring three of the nation’s most beloved comics: Beetle Bailey, Hagar the Horrible and Hi and Lois. In addition to more than 50 original comic strips representing all three, the exhibit features artwork from children’s books and other very special memorabilia, at the Westport Historical Society through January 4, 2008.

Members of the Walker-Browne families who have continued the family tradition as the artists of all three strips for more than one-half century will be on hand to answer questions like, “Where do your ideas come from?” and “Will you ever show Beatle Bailey with his eyes open?” If you’ve ever wondered what a cartoonist’s workplace looks like, you're in luck, as a replica of one of the artists’ studios will be on display. Collaborations in the comics are rare, and the Dik Browne - Mort Walker partnership on Hi and Lois was one of the most successful.  It is even more unique in that the duties have now been handed down to the next generation; Brian and Greg Walker and Chance Browne have been producing Hi and Lois since the 1980s.  The exhibit at the Westport Historical Society celebrates this rich family tradition.

This is truly a family event. There will be books featuring the cartoons, (great for holiday gifts) which will be available in the gift shop and will be signed personally by the artists upon request. Bring the kids!
 

The Westport Historical Society gratefully acknowledges the receipt of a grant of $10,000 from the Board of Directors of the Newman's Own Foundation. The Newman's Own Foundation is an independent private foundation which derives its grant making income from royalty payments received in conjunction with the sale of Newman's Own food products. The Westport Historical Society is thrilled to receive this money which will help us continue to preserve the special heritage of Westport and to bring vibrant and innovative programs to the community. This grant will enable WHS to hire staff to facilitate a wide variety of vacation programs and workshops as well as offer scholarships to families in need who want to attend the popular summer Time Travelers program as well school vacation programs.

WHS is an educational organization dedicated to presenting, preserving and celebrating Westport's history. The educational programs offered are collaborative, engaging, eclectic and inspirational and with the generous support of the Newman's Own Foundation, WHS will be able to engage youth and adults in programs throughout the year that truly celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Westport community.

Local personal chef speaks at Westport Historical Society on May 10 at 1:00 PM. 

As the weather changes, so should the menu, according to local chef and food consultant, Daniel Lanzilotta. “For each of the changing seasons comes another chance to integrate colorful, organic fruits and vegetables into your diet for a healthy lifestyle” says Chef Daniel. A wholesome “from-scratch, seasonal approach” along with raw food recommendations are helping local households “put spirit back into food”. In this informal setting he will describe the process, joy and satisfaction of cooking, relative to our lifestyle and culture. With the fast pace of life in this area, consumers don’t always have the time to research, shop and acquire the knowledge of how to prepare healthy meals. The “process” is taking the time to enjoy the planning, shopping and preparation of a meal which will translate into a nurturing and bonding family experience. Lanzilotta says “put one day aside a week for the family to plan a meal, from concept to completion”. His community-based cooking classes attract corporations for team building exercises, ladies night out to learn how to integrate raw food into a diet, and heads of households to promote family unity through cooking together.

The Mindful Chef was founded in 2001 and provides elite personal chef services, event catering, and in-home private dining.

Just in time for wedding season, author Rita Smircich will be signing her new book, To Do Before ’ I Do’ – Advice, Wisdom & Practical Ideas for Organizing and Planning Your Wedding, at The Westport Historical Society. Smircich, a Wedding Planner, Wedding Coach and author, draws on her many years of experience to help engaged couples plan both a wedding as well as a marriage. The book signing, discussion and event will include wonderful door prizes from Lux Bond & Green, Derma Clinic, LCR and Printemps, among others, and is a chance to get great tips, budget ideas and more. Light refreshments will be provided by Zest Cafe and Restaurant. Proceeds from the book support WHS. Free admission.

Mon., Tues., Wed. April 16 -18, 10 AM - 3 PM at The Westport Historical Society

Just in time for spring recess, the Westport Historical Society's April Fun Days are back. Highlights from this history and education-based program, geared to keep kids creatively engaged during their time off from school, include: a walking tour of Winslow Park and a behind-the scenes tour of the Westport Country Playhouse; cooking every afternoon with Chef Daniel discovering some wonderful healthy snacks; drama with Jeannie, yoga with Susan, visits by artist and children's author Hans Wilhelm and artist/photographer Martha Bloom. There will be outdoor games, arts & crafts and a sneak preview of the Westport Historical Society's newest train exhibit in the Bradley-Wheeler Carriage Barn. Advance registration is required. WHS members: $45 per day, non-members: $50 per day.

"A Weekend of Gardening Adventures" includes four Garden Seminars on Saturday, June 9 and the Garden Tour, Garden Marketplace, and after-tour Party on Sunday, June 10.

Join Michel Nischan, chef, cookbook author and co-producer Westport’s Dressing Room Dressing Room—A Homegrown Restaurant, for an afternoon talk (and tasting) about artisan foods, locally grown produce, the Westport Farmer’s Market and so much more at the Westport Historical Society at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 27.

In this intimate afternoon affair, Nischan will present a seasonal spring soup for tasting and talk about the importance of supporting local farmers through the way we eat. He says, "Our goal is to recapture the simple and pure tastes found in locally grown, organic ingredients for this generation and those to come." The afternoon dovetails nicely with the Historical Society’s current exhibit, “Art and the Good Earth: As Seen Through the Painter's Eye," which features 14 local "Pink House" artists and celebrates Westport’s origins as a farming community. The paintings depict the days when ships pulled up to our wharves on the Saugatuck River and loaded barrels of onions and produce for delivery in New York and beyond. Reservations are recommended. Price; $10 members, $12 non members. Michel will be happy to sign his cookbook, Homegrown: Pure and Simple, which will be available for sale.

With all the talk of town teardowns, it’s refreshing to hear that Westport takes pride in maintaining and celebrating it’s historic homes.

To this end, Bob Weingarten, a specialist on historic homes, will be at the Westport Historical Society, 25 Avery Place, Westport, at 2 p.m. on March 31, speaking about what it takes to have one’s home designated with a historical plaque from the town.

If you’ve ever driven by any of the town's picturesque historical homes, you’ll note many are adorned with a charming plaque that lists the home’s original name (if available), and the date that it was originally built.

In Westport, there are about 160 homes honored with such Westport Historical Society plaques. The plaques serve to recognize the significance of the house to the history of Westport and provide the historical name associated with the house.

Whether you are the owner of an older home or are interested in historic preservation, you will be interested in hearing Weingarten discuss the various methods of learning how to go about obtaining an historical plaque for display, including techniques for dating one’s home—using the Internet, property deeds, tax records and the Westport Historical Society.

This lecture is a $5 donation for members, $10 for non-members. Light refreshments will be served.

In honor of our George Washington's birthday, the Westport Historical Society is hosting a fun and informative bus tour of Washington's old haunts in Westport and Fairfield on Saturday, March 10th at 2 p.m.

Celebrate our first president's 275th birthday in two towns where he made overnight stays. Starting in Westport, the bus will follow the route of the original King's Highway—still marked by Benjamin Franklin's milestone telling us it is “23 miles to New Haven.” See where the first shots were fired in Connecticut during the Revolution and go over the bridge where Benedict Arnold was trapped by the British.

Visit Burr Homestead, where Dorothy Quincy married John Hancock—grandly although hastily—for reasons that will be explained.

Top off the celebration at Fairfield's newly restored Rising Sun Tavern, looking as smart as it did when Washington stayed there, October 16, 1789. Refreshments will be served.

Participants will meet at the Westport Historical Society at 25 Avery Place, Westport on Saturday, March 10 at 1:45. Cost: $13 WHS members; $15 nonmembers. Children $4 WHS members; $5 nonmembers.

This award-winning bubble artist will bring laughter, music and amazement for all ages to Saugatuck Elementary School's Auditorium on Sunday April 29 at 2 p.m.

An extremely popular show, Casey combines polished entertainment with high quality visual art and practical, age appropriate science. All ages learn how bubbles form, why they're spherical, how to make a cube bubble and the science of bubble bursting—each topic related to the physical laws of the natural world. He's presented over 3000 school assemblies presented since 1990. In addition to the science aspects the program is full of the same humor and riveting skills that make Casey's comic show so popular: visual comedy, quick wit, swing music, and amazing soap bubble manipulations— from intricate and detailed Bubble Art (bubble chains, spaceships, crystal balls and square bubbles) to placing a child inside a giant bubble!

Tickets: $10; available at The Westport/Weston YMCA and Totally Kool in Westport

This family-fun performance is a fundraiser created so that the "bubble will not burst" for children with Down Syndrome. Breakthrough treatments can greatly improve the quality of life for those children with Down Syndrome.

For a preview of Casey Carle's artistry with bubbles, visit his website at www.bubblemania.com.

The Westport Historical Society presents two new exhibits, on view until May 11, 2007.  In the Betty & Ralph Sheffer Gallery, Art and the Good Earth: as seen through the painter's eye celebrates Westport's beginnings as a farming community. Featured are works of 15 Pink House Painters plus an additional ten artists whose vibrant paintings are harbingers of Spring. In the Little Gallery: Unseen Westport: Looking Up, Down, From, Through, Forward, a special collection of photographs by Carol Young. Programs for adults and children are planned during the run of these exhibits. WHS Gallery and Gift Shop Hours: Monday-Friday 10-4, Saturday, Sunday, 12-4

Art and the Good Earth: as seen through the painter’s eye celebrates Westport’s beginnings as a farming community – the days when ships pulling up to our wharves on the Saugatuck River loaded barrels of onions and other produce for delivery to New York and beyond.

Westport onions were in great demand at that time, with New York wholesalers providing a ready market. During the Civil War the army purchased thousands of barrels of pickled onions to combat scurvy. The lucrative onion business continued to the end of the 19th century, when a cutworm plague destroyed Westport’s onion fields. However, orchards, vegetable farms and dairies were very much a part of the local farm scene until after World War II when the acreage was sold to housing developers.

Family-owned farm stands such as Rippe’s, located where Harvest Commons is now, Christie Masiello’s Country Store and Wakeman’s Farm on Cross Highway continued to provide Westporters with homegrown vegetables, especially tomatoes and corn, until the late 1970s. Fillow Flowers, Daybreak Nursery and The Flower Farm were known for their extensive array of annuals and unusual perennials. The Westport Garden Club, founded in 1924, still has a dynamic membership that helps keep Westport’s public areas blooming every season.

Westport’s Community Gardens, with plots made available to all Westport residents, were first established in the 1970s and were located where Bedford Middle School now stands. Plots are still available today – albeit in another location. Amazingly productive when they were first established, they also supplied the local soup kitchens with their surplus.

Westporters’ preference for home-grown produce continues today in the form of the Farmers Market held on each Thursday from June through October on the grounds of the Westport Country Playhouse. A project of Michel Nischan, award-winning chef of The Dressing Room restaurant, in partnership with Paul Newman, the Farmers Market features only products grown in Connecticut. It returns for its second season in June.

The Westport Historical Society chose Lilacs and Onions as the exhibit’s signature painting. With its swirl of lilacs that are a harbinger of springtime and the earth's awakening - plus the onions that symbolize Westport’s beginnings as a farming community, artist Arlene Skutch has portrayed with paint what we have tried to express in words.