News Archive & Calendar of Past OHS events!
Bryan-Andrews Open House, September 29, 2013
A most spectacular day was shared by the staff of the Orange Historical Society on September 29th, 2013 when they greeted over a hundred and twenty five guests at the opening of the 1740 Bryan-Andrew house. After 13 years of restoration, the oldest house in the Town of Orange made its debut, completely furnished and ready for company. Upon the request of the OHS, the town purchased the house in 2000 and then the fun began. Finding suitable restoration contractors and funding was all part of the effort to bring this historic treasure to the citizens of Orange. Historic Preservation of Weston brought the house back to its original condition using funds from the State of CT for historic preservation. We made a recent purchase of a set of buttery shelves (pantry) that came from a 1760 homestead in Massachusetts, installed by Edd Oberg, a historical contractor from Ashford, CT. The buttery room did not have period flooring so an additional purchase was made, installing flooring from the period.
The fireplaces in all three rooms have been certified and gave a sense of a 1740 family atmosphere. Staff members, Frances Vadney and Jan Clarke, gave a demonstration of hearth cooking with an OHS signature recipe of potato lovage soup which the visitors were clamoring to try. With additional funding, plaster walls and the original floors will complete the restoration.
The house is open by appointment and the staff hopes that visitors will plan to come with family and friends, bringing food and beverages to celebrate an occasion that will be enhanced by the wonderful colonial atmosphere of the Nathan Bryan - William Andrew House. Call 203-795-3106 to reserve your spot.
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The fireplaces in all three rooms have been certified and gave a sense of a 1740 family atmosphere. Staff members, Frances Vadney and Jan Clarke, gave a demonstration of hearth cooking with an OHS signature recipe of potato lovage soup which the visitors were clamoring to try. With additional funding, plaster walls and the original floors will complete the restoration.
The house is open by appointment and the staff hopes that visitors will plan to come with family and friends, bringing food and beverages to celebrate an occasion that will be enhanced by the wonderful colonial atmosphere of the Nathan Bryan - William Andrew House. Call 203-795-3106 to reserve your spot.
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Historic Railroad Tunnel Rescue Begins, July 19, 2013
The detailed story of this historic rescue effort can be found on page 24 of the 8/2/2013 Orange Town News [click here]. For more on the history of the NH&D in Orange, visit TylerCityStation at www.tylercitystation.info [click here] and go to Track 4B.
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Left: Peering into the 'eerie glow as workmen shore up the tunnel;
Center: Bracing the damaged south wall;
Right: The 130-year-old beautifully intact masonry of the barrel-vaulted tunnel ceiling.
Center: Bracing the damaged south wall;
Right: The 130-year-old beautifully intact masonry of the barrel-vaulted tunnel ceiling.
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Left: Sinkhole created by stormwater runoff. Metal rods may have braced the timbers of the old trestle;
Center: Looking at the damaged exterior of the south wall;
Right: Cement being poured into the abyss to repair the damaged wall.
Center: Looking at the damaged exterior of the south wall;
Right: Cement being poured into the abyss to repair the damaged wall.
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Left: Rendition of pre-1883 crossing of Derby-Milford Rd., with Davis Brook running through trestle timbers.
Center: Newer bridge photo by the Public Utilities Commission on 10/14/1929;
Right: North abutment remains after this part of the NH&D taken out in May, 1941; south abutment was demolished.
Center: Newer bridge photo by the Public Utilities Commission on 10/14/1929;
Right: North abutment remains after this part of the NH&D taken out in May, 1941; south abutment was demolished.
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Emily Prudden Reception, June 2, 2013
Emily Prudden Reception, June 2, 2013
Emily Prudden, a native of Orange, is proudly remembered as a teacher and humanitarian who established 15 schools in North Carolina, giving of herself and her finances to build and furnish them for young people who would otherwise not have had a formal education. Of the 15, seven of them were for black children. It was with great pleasure that the society held a reception on June 2 to highlight another part of Emily's life, her watercolors. The initial collection was donated by the family of Audrey Burke through her daughter Susan Chernock [pictured right]. With an additional donation of six original watercolors from the estate of Charlotte R. Clark, twenty-six of Emily's sketchbook drawings are currently on display at The Academy.
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Emily Prudden Visits Turkey Hill School, March-May, 2013
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Left: Turkey Hill School students busy with an art project inspired by Emily Prudden and the OHS visit.
Middle: The finished work on display and a big 'Thank You' for the program which was a hit for all involved!
Right: The OHS goodwives pose for the camera
Middle: The finished work on display and a big 'Thank You' for the program which was a hit for all involved!
Right: The OHS goodwives pose for the camera
As in the previous two years, 2nd grade teacher, Kitty LaFrance was awarded a grant from the Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation to present the history of Orange to three classes at T.H.S. OHS Goodwives Nina Ruckes, Ginny Reinhard and Jan Clarke presented programs to introduce the children to the life of early Orange with artifacts common to family life at that time. Each child was given a badge with the name and description of early members of the community and many responded to the name when called upon. They made their own hand-dipped candles and were introduced to Emily Prudden teacher and water colorist whose artwork is on display at The Academy. Goodwife Reinhard introduced the children to Emily and her original work and Mrs. LaFrance followed with a mini-lesson on form, style and shape. The children were each given a single floral stem, watercolor pencils and a paintbrush. Emily would have been pleased with their work.
The last presentation was a reception in Emily's honor with an invitation for the parents to join in the festivities. As their last history lesson, the children were gathered around Goodwife Reinhard as she showed them pictures of houses in the Historic District as well as pictures of some of the 19th century citizens of Orange. They enjoyed seeing some of the people they portrayed during the previous presentations. The children were encouraged to look for the houses and landmarks while driving through town this summer. Adams Hometown Market through Bozzuto Foods generously donated the lemonade and Hermits, an old New England cookie, to celebrate the day.
Emily was born in Orange but spent the greater part of her life in North Carolina, establishing schools for poor communities whose children were denied an education. One of the schools that evolved to the 21st century is Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, NC. The school honors Emily with a statue in front of the Administration Building and they have her original sketchbook given them by her nephew.
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The last presentation was a reception in Emily's honor with an invitation for the parents to join in the festivities. As their last history lesson, the children were gathered around Goodwife Reinhard as she showed them pictures of houses in the Historic District as well as pictures of some of the 19th century citizens of Orange. They enjoyed seeing some of the people they portrayed during the previous presentations. The children were encouraged to look for the houses and landmarks while driving through town this summer. Adams Hometown Market through Bozzuto Foods generously donated the lemonade and Hermits, an old New England cookie, to celebrate the day.
Emily was born in Orange but spent the greater part of her life in North Carolina, establishing schools for poor communities whose children were denied an education. One of the schools that evolved to the 21st century is Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, NC. The school honors Emily with a statue in front of the Administration Building and they have her original sketchbook given them by her nephew.
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New OHS T-Shirts a Hit, March 3, 2013
Amity Girl Scout Troop 60095 shows off the Orange Historical Society T-shirts they selected to wear for Girl Scout International Thinking Day, March 3, 2013. Troops from area towns celebrated Thinking Day by presenting food and dances from different countries. The troop chose to research Ireland and they learned that William III was at one time King of England, Ireland, and Scotland as well as a benefactor to the Connecticut Colony and the namesake of the town of Orange. They learned about the symbolism of the Coat of Arms, now on the OHS T-shirt.
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Chilly Chili Run, New Year's Day, 2013
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At left: The runners are off! At right, Jan Clarke, Bob Belletzkie, Marlene Silverstein and Ginny Reinhard pose in the kitchen while making preparations for the big chili feed.
