Last update: 7/26/2014 5:12 p.m.
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News from the Bryan-Andrew House!
The OHS has received a grant from the CT Trust for Historic Preservation and is now putting up the plaster walls and, when that is done, we will lay down the original floors that have been stored for these many years. Edd Oberg and Joseph Carney are our heroes in helping us finish the interior in the exact manner in which it was done when the house was first constructed.
What was missing, from years of changes, was the front hall or porch walls. Not originally plaster but feather edge wood walls. What we needed was purchased from a home in Massachusetts and with the expertise of Karan Oberg, the walls have been painted the original blue to match a portion of an adjacent plaster wall where the color could be still seen. Look for our 2nd Open House this fall!
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The President's Corner
After several snow and ice delays, May 15th turned out to be a banner day at the grave site of Aunt Icy (Isabella) Oviatt in the Evergreen Cemetery in New Haven. Last year Bob Belletzkie, Jan Clarke and I took a trip to find the graves of our beloved Schaghticoke Native American who died at the age of 102 in 1902. Her 100th birthday party picture is prominently displayed in The Academy along with two of her baskets. The family members show up on various census records in many combinations of children, grandchildren, husbands, in-laws, etc. and it is hard to find a continuous line. We do know, however, that there should be 11 Oviatt family members and two in-laws in the site.
Being told that sons George and John were buried next to their sister, one on top of the other, gave our team the incentive to look for their stone. We did find a stone but not what we were looking for. What we did find was one, not listed on the burial card but belonging to two-year-old Marshallena whose stone was buried 12" below the surface from at least before 1934. The director of Evergreen was most gracious in having this stone reset as well as two others that had fallen into the street in previous years. He also donated a stone for Aunty Icy which apparently never existed. Below you see pictures of the ground-penetrating radar system that looks for disturbed soil which implies a burial site. Shown in the diagram at the top, right are two possible graves depicted by two yellow ovals. State Archaeologist Nick Bellantoni will return this summer to re-check the plots. |
Calendar of Events
Watch for the $Dollar Sale in August-Date will be posted here
and in the local newspapers. The Nathan Bryan-William Andrew House is now open to the public by appointment. Plan to bring food of your choice and spend a few hours with your invited family and friends in the oldest house in Orange. Docents will be on hand for tours and the fireplaces lit for your comfort and enjoyment in an atmosphere of 1740. For information call 203 795-3106. The Academy Museum Antique Shop, 605 Orange Center Road, is open every Saturday from 10:00 to 3:00. Come visit the 1878 Academy with historic displays of Orange's past. Available for the first time in many years: Scenes of Orange Crocks. Originally sold by the Orange Community women and now on sale at the Academy. Only 5 remain. For information, call: 203 795-3106 Email: orangehistorical@yahoo.com ****************
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OHS T-shirts
are selling like hotcakes. Limited stock! |
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See the
Join, Visit, Shop page. Get yours today! |
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New OHS logo!
In May of 1822, a petition was presented to the General Assembly by members of both North Milford and West Haven communities to be incorporated as a separate town. Upon the resolve, a new town was established with boundaries set out to encompass the two communities.
A committee was chosen to select a name for the town and with some differences of opinion, the group chose Orange. Although no longer tied to British rule, with the support given to the Connecticut colony in 1687 by the English monarch, William of Orange, it was agreed to name the new town in his honor. His coat of arms became official in 1972, when the First Federal Savings Bank of New Haven presented First Selectman Ralph Capecelatro with the official Town flag, designed by Orange residents Robert Hiza and Curt Thompson.
The Orange Historical Society has used the center portion of the coat of arms as their logo that was depicted on the original official Town flag but has since changed to the original English version which includes the lion and the unicorn with other symbols of English royalty as seen in the coat of arms throughout history. The logo graces the bottom of each page of this website, as well as being used in our newsletter and on the new T-shirts.
A committee was chosen to select a name for the town and with some differences of opinion, the group chose Orange. Although no longer tied to British rule, with the support given to the Connecticut colony in 1687 by the English monarch, William of Orange, it was agreed to name the new town in his honor. His coat of arms became official in 1972, when the First Federal Savings Bank of New Haven presented First Selectman Ralph Capecelatro with the official Town flag, designed by Orange residents Robert Hiza and Curt Thompson.
The Orange Historical Society has used the center portion of the coat of arms as their logo that was depicted on the original official Town flag but has since changed to the original English version which includes the lion and the unicorn with other symbols of English royalty as seen in the coat of arms throughout history. The logo graces the bottom of each page of this website, as well as being used in our newsletter and on the new T-shirts.
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The Society
Founded in 1964, the Orange Historical Society strives to collect and preserve those items of history that pertain to the settlement of Orange as well as the surrounding area.
In addition to protecting the history and the future of the Town of Orange, the Society maintains the Stone-Otis House, a restored 1830's homestead, The Academy, which was built in 1878 and now serves as a museum housing the Mary Rebecca Woodruff Research Center, and the Bryan-Andrew House, a 1740 residence built by one of the earliest Orange families in the area then known as Bryan's Farms.
The Stone-Otis House at 615 Orange Center Road is open by appointment. The Academy and antique shop 605 Orange Center Road is open Saturdays from 10:00-3:00 P.M The Bryan-Andrew House at 131 Old Tavern Road is open by appointment by call 203 795-6106 .
The Society is always seeking to increase membership and financial support for its preservation efforts. See the Join/Visit/Shop page.
For information call (203) 795-3106 Email to orangehistorical@yahoo.com with questions or comments about our site. Address U.S. mail to Orange Historical Society, P. O. Box 784, Orange, CT 06477.
In addition to protecting the history and the future of the Town of Orange, the Society maintains the Stone-Otis House, a restored 1830's homestead, The Academy, which was built in 1878 and now serves as a museum housing the Mary Rebecca Woodruff Research Center, and the Bryan-Andrew House, a 1740 residence built by one of the earliest Orange families in the area then known as Bryan's Farms.
The Stone-Otis House at 615 Orange Center Road is open by appointment. The Academy and antique shop 605 Orange Center Road is open Saturdays from 10:00-3:00 P.M The Bryan-Andrew House at 131 Old Tavern Road is open by appointment by call 203 795-6106 .
The Society is always seeking to increase membership and financial support for its preservation efforts. See the Join/Visit/Shop page.
For information call (203) 795-3106 Email to orangehistorical@yahoo.com with questions or comments about our site. Address U.S. mail to Orange Historical Society, P. O. Box 784, Orange, CT 06477.
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OHS Officers and Directors
Ginny Reinhard, President
Jill Westgard, Recording Secretary Danielle Izzo, Corresponding Secretary Marlene Silverstein, Treasurer |
Carla Birmingham, Director
Julie Davis, Director Phyllis Gwatkin, Director Susan Noonan, Director Nina Ruckes, Director Kate Taylor, Director Kathy Steinberg, Director |
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Webmaster: Bob Belletzkie
Volunteer Staff Members: Frances Vadney, Jan Clarke, Jane Opper, Rich Breitenbach
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Webmaster: Bob Belletzkie
Volunteer Staff Members: Frances Vadney, Jan Clarke, Jane Opper, Rich Breitenbach
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Visitors since 12/25/2012
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