May Newsletter 2003
WHPT's First Annual Victorian Spring Tea was a Success!
The First Annual Victorian Spring Tea for 40 guests was held at the Franklin Johnson Mansion and American Silver Museum on Saturday, May 13. Tea master Sarah Glidden of Bones & Botanicals spoke about the specialty teas she created for the occasion and served by the museum's docents. Guests dined on a variety of tea sandwiches, including Tarragon Chicken and Cranberry, Egg Salad, Ham and Pickle, Roast Beef and Horseradish, Cucumber and herbed cream cheese, and enjoyed blueberry and lemon poppy scones. Thank you to our guests and sponsors: Jim Vitali's Tuxis-Ohr's Oil; Cervoni Law Office; The Latimer Group; Wallingford Community Women; RDS Media; Bones & Botanicals; Le Jardin Cafe; and Sweet Cicoccolata. And a special thank you to the Events Planning Committee: Trustees Dina Rawling, Dee Prior-Nesti, Dick Straub, and Jill DeChello from Winc Marketing, and the many volunteers who served our guests. Attendees urged us to do it again next year!
Pond Hill Elementary School Students Visit Royce House and Johnson Mansion
On May 22, 24, and 25, 120 third and fourth grade students visited the Royce House and the Johnson Mansion and the American Silver Museum to learn about life in Wallingford during the Colonial era up to the Civil War. WHPT President Jerry Farrell and Director of Operations Lorraine Connelly toured students and teachers through Royce House where students later completed a scavenger hunt. Docent Kim Gregoire and Trustee Dick Straub welcomed students at Johnson Mansion where they were treated to a silver plating demonstration. Through a grant from the CT Council for the Social Studies, the Trust partnered with teachers to develop a local museum history curriculum for Wallingford during the Colonial, Revolutionary, and Civil War periods. The partnering with local museums dovetails with the College, Career, And Civic Life (C3) Framework For Social Studies State Standards initiative, an invaluable tool for teachers, school districts, and curriculum writers to strengthen their social studies programs. Last month, the 7th grade classes of Most Holy Trinity also visited our museums.
Welcome New Trustee - Emily Brenner
On May 25, the WHPT Board of Trustees welcomed Wallingford resident Emily Brenner as a new trustee. Emily earned her B.A. in American studies and art history from Wellesley College and her M.A. in history from Yale, specializing in American slavery and abolition. She has nearly 20 years of experience as an independent school teacher, coach, and adviser first at Deerfield Academy, then Kingswood Oxford School, and finally Choate Rosemary Hall. In addition, Emily is a co-owner, with her husband, of The Latimer Group, a corporate coaching and training company.
Kathy Birney Book-signing Sponsored by WHPT and Gaylord Specialty Healthcare - June 3
The Wallingford Historic Preservation Trust and Gaylord Specialty Healthcare will host a book signing for local author Katherine Birney, on Saturday, June 3, from 11:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. at the Franklin Johnson Mansion and American Silver Museum (153 South Main Street). Birney, age 83, has published her first book, The Bench: A Family Story” at age 83. Based on her parents’ immigrant history, the book is historical creative nonfiction. It follows the life of Carina, who at age 7, loses her 29-year-old beloved uncle, Billy Mazzeo in a tragic accident. Growing up, Carina struggles to cope with the loss of her uncle. When the family receives a graveside bench in his memory an unusual connection between Carina and her deceased uncle is discovered. The book is dedicated to Birney’s late husband, who encouraged her finish the book. It is available for purchase on Amazon and will be available at the book signing as well.
Juneteenth Service and Enslavement Walking Tour Sponsored by WHPT and St. Paul's Episcopal Church
On Saturday, June 17 at noon, the Wallingford Historic Preservation Trust and St. Paul's Episcopal Church will partner on an observance and celebration of Juneteenth 2023. The service, led by Rev. Dee Anne Dodd, will begin at noon and include a music program. A quartet of student musicians will play music composed by Sawney Freeman, a Black musician who was born into slavery and emancipated in the 1790s. After gaining his freedom, Freeman moved to Essex, CT, where he lived with his family. Freeman’s sheet music was discovered in an archive at Trinity College and adapted for the quartet by St. John’s Episcopal Church’s Musical Director Anthony Pandolfe. After the service, John Sanzo will conduct an Enslavement Walking Tour of Wallingford that he created in conjunction with the Public History program at Central Connecticut State University.
Thank you for Lighting the Spark!
Through your contributions to The Great Give 2023, the 36-hour online giving event benefitting Greater New Haven nonprofits, we were able to raise $3,700 for the Wallingford Historic Preservation Trust. Maintaining our buildings in good condition and lighting the spark for the next generation of school children through creative educational programming - all takes money. Your generosity has helped us ready ourselves for the next big historical celebration - the 250th anniversary of America's founding, which we will mark in 2026. Throughout the year, you can make your WHPT gift electronically through this link to our page on The Community Foundation of Greater New Haven website, or mail your gift to The Wallingford Historic Preservation Trust at 54 North Elm Street, Wallingford, CT 06492.
